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How Fast Can We Reliably Estimate the Magnitude of Subduction Earthquakes?
Author(s) -
Leyton F.,
Ruiz S.,
Baez J. C.,
Meneses G.,
Madariaga R.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2018gl078991
Subject(s) - magnitude (astronomy) , subduction , residual , seismology , geology , geodesy , gnss applications , earthquake magnitude , satellite , tectonics , computer science , mathematics , physics , geometry , astronomy , scaling , algorithm , aerospace engineering , engineering
Fast and reliable characterization of earthquakes can provide vital information to the population, even reducing the effects of strong shaking produced by them. In this study, we explore the minimum time required to estimate the magnitude for subduction earthquakes. Using traditional P wave earthquake early warning parameters and considering a progressively increasing time window, we are able to estimate magnitude for subduction earthquakes ~30 s from the origin time (with an average residual of 0.01 ± 0.28). However, estimations for larger events (Mw ≥ 7.5) present larger errors (average residual of −0.70 ± 0.30). We complement our data with Global Navigational Satellite System observations for these events, enabling magnitude estimations ~70 s from the origin time (average residual of −0.42 ± 0.41). We propose that rapid estimations of magnitude should consider, initially, P waves in a progressively increasing time window, and complemented with GNSS data, for large events.