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Patterns of criticality in the recent seismic activity in the vicinity of Athens, Greece

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Abstract

New data from the Mw 5.4 earthquake on 17 November 2014 in the vicinity of Athens and its seismic electric signal (SES) precursor confirm patterns of criticality in the pre-seismic region during the last preparatory phase. In detail, the stress drop of the main shock and the lead time of the associated SES are interconnected through a power law with an exponent a = 0.327 falling in the range of critical exponents for fracture. We note that this exponent is derived from a large amount of data and successfully passes the z-score statistical test. This fact supports the hypothesis that upon the emission of the SES the pre-focal area enters a critical stage where nonlinear dynamic processes dominate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Solid State Section, Department of Physics, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 157 84, Athens, Greece

    Elizabeth Dologlou

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  1. Elizabeth Dologlou
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Correspondence to Elizabeth Dologlou.

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Dologlou, E. Patterns of criticality in the recent seismic activity in the vicinity of Athens, Greece. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 105, 1051–1054 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-015-1234-7

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