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The lessons from the Simushir earthquakes of November 15, 2006 (M w 8.3) and January 13, 2007 (M w 8.1)

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Abstract

According to S.A. Fedotov’s long-term earthquake forecast, the Middle Kuril Is. has long (since 1965) been a likely location for the next M ≥ 7.7 earthquake, i.e., a seismic gap. The present study integrates seismological, geological, and geophysical data to assess the earthquake potential of the gap prior to November 15, 2006. Seismological data were used to carry out a comparative analysis of 3D seismic energy density for three zones of the Kuril region. The density for the Middle Kuril Is. turned out to be twice as small as that for the North Kuril Is. and nearly six times as small as that for the South Kurils. Various parameters of the seismic process for the Kuril region have been estimated in quantitative terms. It is shown that the rate of completely reported (M ≥ 6) earthquakes occurring down to 70 km depth in the Middle Kuril Is. is approximately three times as small as that for the entire Kuril arc. Increased heat flow was recorded there (up to 100 mW/m2). The top of the high conductivity layer is shallower (at a depth of 100 km). The trends of major faults and other seismotectonic features have been taken into account. Based on these data (prior to November 15, 2006), the previous conclusion about the low seismic activity of the Middle Kuril Is. was corroborated. Two great earthquakes occurred in the region on November 15, 2006 (M w = 8.3) and January 13, 2007 (M w = 8.1) with subsequent tsunami waves. The erroneous inference as to low seismic activity was related to the fact that the seismic cycle in the Middle Kuril Is. may be as long as 150–200 years. We come to the conclusion that an analysis of the level of seismic activity for the region should start with the construction of standardized recurrence curves and determining the magnitude of the maximum possible earthquake.

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  1. Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Far East Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 693022, Russia

    R. Z. Tarakanov

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Original Russian Text © R.Z. Tarakanov, 2008, published in Vulkanologiya i Seismologiya, 2008, No. 6, pp. 41–54.

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Tarakanov, R.Z. The lessons from the Simushir earthquakes of November 15, 2006 (M w 8.3) and January 13, 2007 (M w 8.1). J. Volcanolog. Seismol. 2, 411–423 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0742046308060031

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0742046308060031

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