On the size of the strained region prior to an extreme earthquake
- Creators
- Bullen, K. E.
Abstract
A previous formula of the author's has been adapted to give the volume V of the region in which the material is near breaking-point, just prior to an extreme earthquake, in terms of the released energy and breaking-strength near the focus. In the light of recent earthquake energy-magnitude data of Gutenberg, Richter, and Benioff, it is inferred that V is at least of the order of the volume of a sphere of radius 25 km. Comparison with other estimates of the size of strained regions in earthquakes suggests that V may possibly reach the order of the volume of a sphere of radius 50 km. It is suggested that a factor in the occurrence of extreme earthquakes is the existence, in the zone of strain, of strength rather greater than in the majority of major earthquakes of magnitude one unit or more less than the extreme value.
Additional Information
Copyright © 1955, by the Seismological Society of America. Manuscript received for publication April 8, 1954. Finally, the writer wishes to thank Professors Gutenberg and Benioff for helpful discussion on various points in this paper, and for the use of the facilities of the Seismological Laboratory of the California Institute of Technology; and the United States Educational Foundation in Australia for kindly providing assistance in the form of a travel grant to California.Attached Files
Published - 43.full.pdf
Files
| Name | Size | Download all |
|---|---|---|
|
md5:6024e7851356152edee22d64617ff89f
|
309.5 kB | Preview Download |
Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 48026
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20140805-162946173
- United States Educational Foundation, Australia
- Created
-
2014-08-06Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
-
2019-10-03Created from EPrint's last_modified field
- Other Numbering System Name
- Caltech Division of Geological Sciences
- Other Numbering System Identifier
- 667