Abstract
Large earthquakes in southern California with epicentres between 33 and 36° N have statistically significant 12-hourly, lunar fortnightly and 18.6-yr periodicities. Smaller earthquakes in the same region do not display these periodicities. A search for tidal effects associated with these periodicities shows that large earthquakes have significant correlations with the times and orientations of daily/semi-daily tidal stresses while the lunar fornightly term is associated with the ocean tides along the southern Californian coast.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Tamrazyan, G. P. Icarus 7, 59–65, (1967); 9 (1968), 574–592.
Van Ruymbeke, M., Ducarme, B. & deBecker, M. Proc. 9th int. Symp. on Earth Tides, (Schweizerbart'sche, Stuttgart, 1983).
Davison, C. Studies on the Periodicity of Earthquakes (Murby, London, 1938).
Knopoff, L. Int. J. lunar Stud. 1, 140–143 (1970).
Jeffreys, H. Gerl. Beitr. Geophys. 53, 111–139 (1938).
Lomnitz, C. Rev. Geophys. 4, 377–393 (1966).
Knopoff, L. Bull. seismol. Soc. Am. 54, 1865–1870 (1964).
McNutt, M. & Heaton, T. H. California Geology 12–16 (January, 1981).
Young, D. & Zurn, W. J. Geophys. 45, 171–182 (1979).
Knopoff, L. & Gardner, J. K. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 28, 311–313 (1972).
Knopoff, L. Interdisciplinary Symp., 16th General Assembly, Grenoble, 205 (International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, 1975).
Klein, F. W. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 45, 245–295 (1976).
Heaton, T. H. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 43, 307–326 (1975).
Allen, M. W. Bull. seismol. Soc. Am. 26, 147–157 (1936).
Nordquist, J. M. Bull. seismol. Soc. Am. 54, 1003–1011 (1964).
Hileman, J. A., Allen, C. R. & Nordquist, J. M. Seismicity of the Southern California Region, 1 January 1932 to 31 December 1972 (Seismology Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 1973).
Friedman, M. E., Whitcomb, J. H., Allen, C. R. & Hileman, J.A. Seismicity of the Southern California Region, 1 January 1973 to 31 December 1974. (Seismology Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 1976).
Coffman, J. L. & vonHake, C. A. (eds) Earthquake History of the United States (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Publ. 41-1, 1973).
Wood, F.J. The Strategic Role of Perigean Spring Tides (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1976).
Lewis, T. A. W. J. Sound Vib. 12, 353–375 (1970).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kilston, S., Knopoff, L. Lunar–solar periodicities of large earthquakes in southern California. Nature 304, 21–25 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/304021a0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/304021a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Spectral coherence between climate oscillations and the M ≥ 7 earthquake historical worldwide record
Natural Hazards (2015)
-
The solar and lunar effect of earthquake duration and distribution
Earthquake Science (2013)
-
Tidal stress triggering effects of earthquakes based on various tectonic regions in China and related astronomical characteristics
Science in China Series G: Physics, Mechanics and Astronomy (2009)
-
An evidence for earthquake occurrence time related with geologic structure — Relations between local mean lunar times of earthquake occurrence and their fault trends
Acta Seismologica Sinica (1997)
-
A new approach to earthquake prediction: The Load/Unload Response Ratio (LURR) theory
Pure and Applied Geophysics PAGEOPH (1995)