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Number of aftershocks in epidemic-type seismicity models

Geophysics 2024-04-25 v4

Abstract

Let VM,(m0)V_M,(m_0) be the number of m>M aftershocks caused by m0m_0 event. We consider the VM,(m0)V_M,(m_0) distribution within epidemic-type seismicity models, ETAS(F). These models include the Gutenberg-Richter law for magnitude and Utsu law for average productivity of m0, but differ in the type of F distribution for the number v(m0) of direct aftershocks. The class of F is quite broad and includes both the Poisson distribution, which is the basis for the regular ETAS model, and its possible alternative, the Geometric distribution. Instead of the traditional threshold M=m0ΔM=m_0-\Delta, we consider M=maΔM=m_a-\Delta, where mam_a is the mode in the distribution of the strongest aftershock. Under these conditions we find the limit VM,(m0)V_M,(m_0) distribution at m01m_0\gg1. In the subcritical case, the limit distribution is extremely simple and identical to the v(mΔ)v(m_\Delta) distribution with a suitable magnitude m=mΔm=m_\Delta. Theoretical results of this kind are lacking even for the regular ETAS model. Our results provide an additional opportunity to test the type of F-distribution, Bath law, and the very concept of epidemic-type clustering.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2403.18526,
  title  = {Number of aftershocks in epidemic-type seismicity models},
  author = {G. Molchan},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2403.18526},
  year   = {2024}
}