Open AccessOn the consistency of earthquake moment release and space geodetic strain rates: Europe
Author(s) -
Ward Steven N.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
geophysical journal international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0956-540X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-246x.1998.t01-2-00658.x
Subject(s) - geodetic datum , seismic moment , seismology , geology , geodesy , consistency (knowledge bases) , deformation (meteorology) , strain rate , tectonics , seismotectonics , earthquake prediction , structural geology , moment (physics) , very long baseline interferometry , fault (geology) , mathematics , geometry , oceanography , physics , classical mechanics , materials science , metallurgy
In this paper, approximately 100 VLBI/SLR/GPS velocities map European strain rates from <0.09 × 10 −8 to >9.0 × 10 −8 yr −1 with regional uncertainties of 20 to 40 per cent. Kostrov’s formula translates these strain‐rate values into regional geodetic moment rates M¯˙ geodetic . Two other moment rates, M¯˙ seismic , extracted from a 100‐year historical catalogue and M¯˙ plate , taken from plate‐tectonic models, contrast the geodetic rates. In Mediterranean Europe, the ratios of M¯˙ seismic to M¯˙ geodetic are between 0.50 and 0.71. In Turkey the ratio falls to 0.22. Although aseismic deformation may contribute to the earthquake deficit ( M¯˙ seismic values less than M¯˙ geodetic ), the evidence is not compelling because the magnitudes of the observed shortfalls coincide with the random variations expected in a 100‐year catalogue. If the lack of aseismic deformation inferred from the 100‐year catalogue holds true for longer periods, then much of Europe’s strain budget would have to be accommodated by more frequent or larger earthquakes than have been experienced this century to raise the ratios of M¯˙ seismic to M¯˙ geodetic to unity. Improved geological fault data bases, longer historical earthquake catalogues, and densification of the continent’s space geodetic network will clarify the roles of aseismic deformation versus statistical quiescence.