Open AccessLarge‐magnitude Central American earthquakes, 1898–1994
Author(s) -
Ambraseys N. N.,
Adams R. D.
Publication year - 1996
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1996.tb04046.x
Subject(s) - seismology , geology , trench , slip (aerodynamics) , magnitude (astronomy) , seismic moment , geodesy , moment magnitude scale , episodic tremor and slip , subduction , tectonics , geometry , fault (geology) , mathematics , chemistry , organic chemistry , layer (electronics) , scaling , thermodynamics , physics , astronomy
We have collected and re‐examined macroseismic information for large Central American earthquakes since the beginning of the period of instrumental recording about one hundred years ago, and combined this with a reassessment of early instrumental information to produce a catalogue of 51 events that, we believe includes ail those with magnitudes ( Ms ) greater than 7.0. We have reassessed surface‐wave magnitudes by consulting station bulletins and we have derived a correction that gives an equivalent Ms for events of intermediate depth. We have also developed a regional relationship between Ms and seismic moment, which enables us to estimate the seismic slip rate across the Middle American Trench. Our best estimates give an average slip rate several times smaller than suggested convergence rates, but with the seismic slip in the central segment of the trench almost an order of magnitude smaller than that in the segments on either side. The low seismic slip rate may indicate aseismic crustal deformation