For shallow earthquake clusters in and around Japan in 1926-1980 which had main shocks with magnitude
M1 of 6.0 or larger, relations among aftershock magnitude, aftershock number and area of aftershock region are statistically investigated. The clusters are classified into three types according to the magnitude sequence as follows: i) the fundamental type in which magnitude gap between the main shock and the largest aftershock exceeds 1.0, ii) the complex type having two or more major events, i. e. the main shock and the aftershocks of which magnitudes are comparable to one of the main shock, and iii) the swarm type.
On the basis of the observed data for the earthquake clusters belonging to the fundamental type, an empirical relation among magnitude
M, the number
N(
M) of aftershocks with
M or larger (including the main shock and foreshocks) and the area
A (km
2) is obtained as follows:
log
A=αlog
N(
M)+β
M+γ, (a)
where
N(
M)≥2, and α, β and γ are constant. Using multiple regression analysis, α and β values are nearly 1, and γ -2.2--2.4. This is transformed into the equation, log
N(
M)=(1/α)(log
A-γ)-(β/α)
M, which corresponds to the cumulative frequency-magnitude formula of Gutenberg-Richter's with a constant term dependent on
A. When α and β values are approximatedd by 1, the equation (a) is changed into the form,
N(
M)/
A=10
-M+2.6. This form means that the clusters have the same apparent density of aftershocks with
M or larger in the epicentral regions.
The above relations are also applicable to the earthquake clusters belonging to the complex and swarm types. However, in many cases these clusters have wider epicentral regions compared to one of fundamental type with equal
M1. The following model on the formation of epicentral region is statistically examined: the complex or swarm type is consisted of the superposition of two or more fundamental types; the major events in the complex or swarm type individually take part in the formation of the region; the area of the region of complex or swarm type is constructed on the sum of those associated with the events. The results suggest that this model is suitable for the many clusters in the sea region but not always for the inland clusters.
抄録全体を表示