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Self-affine growth pattern of earthquake rupture zones

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Abstract

Data from 41 moderate and large earthquakes have been used to derive a scaling law for fault parameters. Fault lengthL, widthW and areaS are empirically related byL∝S ∝ andW∝S β where 0.6<α<0.7, 0.3<β<0.4 and α+β=1. These relations indicate that the growth pattern of earthquake rupture zones is statistically self-affine. It is also found that these relations are similar to the relation derived from a diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA) model with anisotropic sticking probability. This suggests that a modified DLA model could describe the evolution of earthquake rupture zones.

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  1. Institute of Geosciences, School of Science, Shizuoka University, Oya 836, 422, Shizuoka, Japan

    Hiroyuki Nagahama

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  1. Hiroyuki Nagahama
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Nagahama, H. Self-affine growth pattern of earthquake rupture zones. PAGEOPH 142, 263–271 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00879303

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00879303

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