Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Source parameters of the earthquakes of the Baikal rift system

  • Published:
Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The dynamic parameters of the earthquake source—the seismic moment, the moment magnitude, the source radius, the stress drop, and the amplitude of displacement—are determined by the amplitude Fourier spectra of the body shear waves (S-waves) for 62 earthquakes of the Baikal rift system with the energy class of K P = 9.1–15.7. In the calculations I used the classical Brune model. The seismic moment of the earthquakes being investigated changes from 3.65 × 1011 N m to 1.35 × 1018 N m, and the radii of earthquake sources vary from 390 m to 1.84 km. The values of the drop in stress Δσ grow with an increase in the seismic moment up to 1.7 × 108 Pa. For the group of weak earthquakes (M w = 1.7–3.3), extremely low values of the drop in stress 103–104 Pa are observed. The maximum amplitude of displacement in the source amounts to 5.95 m. The empirical equations between the seismic moment and the other dynamic parameters of the source are determined. The regional dependence of the seismic moment and energy class is obtained: log M 0 ± 0.60 = 1.03K P + 3.17. The character of the relationship between the seismic moment and the corner frequency indicates that the classical scaling law of the seismic spectrum for the earthquakes in question is not fulfilled. The obtained estimates of the dynamic parameters are in satisfactory agreement with the published data concerning the analogous parameters of the other rift zones, which reflects the general regular patterns of the destruction of the lithosphere and the seismicity in the extension zones of the lithosphere.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. R. E. Abercrombie and P. C. Leary, “Source Parameters of Small Earthquakes Recorded at 2.5 km Depth, Cajon Pass, Southern California: Implications for Earthquake Scaling,” Geophys. Res. Lett., 20, 1511–1514 (1993).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. K. Aki, “Generation and Propagation of G-Waves from the Niigata Earthquake of June 16, 1964: Part 2. Estimation of Earthquake Moment, Released Energy and Stress Drop from the G-Wave Spectra,” Bull. Earthq. Res. Inst, Univ. Tokyo 44, 73–88 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  3. K. Aki, “Scaling Law of Seismic Spectrum,” J. Geophys. Res., 72(4) 1217–1231 (1967).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. K. Aki and P. Richards, Quantitative Seismollgy. Theory and Methods (Mir, Moscow, 1983) Vol. 1, pp. 1–520.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Zh. Ya. Aptekman, Yu. F. Belavina, A. I. Zakharova, et al., “The Spectra of P-Waves in the Problem of Determination of the Dynamic Parameters of Earthquake Sources. The Transition from the Stationary Spectrum to the Source Spectrum and Calculation of the Source Dynamic Parameters,” Vulkanologiya i Seismologiya, No. 2, 66–79 (1989).

  6. R. J. Archuleta, E. Cranswinck, C. Mueller, and P. Spudich, “Source Parameters of the 1980 Mammoth Lakes, California Earthquake Sequence,” J. Geophys. Res., 87, 4995–4607 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. S. S. Aref’ev, “The Step-Wise Structure of the Spectra of Close Earthquakes. Macroseismic and Instrument Studies of Strong Earthquakes,” in Questions of Engineering Seismology Ed. by N. N. Shebalina (Nauka, Moscow, 1985) pp. 134–141.

    Google Scholar 

  8. J. N. Brune, “Correction: Tectonic Stress and the Spectra of Seismic Shear Waves from Earthquakes,” J. Geophys. Res., 76(20), 5002 (1971).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. J. N. Brune, “Tectonic Stress and the Spectra of Seismic Shear Waves from Earthquakes,” J. Geophys. Res., 75(26), 4997–5009 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. J. N. Brune, J. Fletcher, and F. Veruon, “The Low Stress Drop Earthquake Recorded by the Anza Digital Network of California,” in Earthquake Source Dynamics Ed. by S. Das, W. Doat, C.H. Scholz (Seismological Press, Beijing, 1991) pp. 226–236.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Daghestan Earthquake of May 14, 1970. Seismology, Geology, and Geophysics Ed. by Kh. I. Amirkhanov (Nauka, Moscow, 1980) pp. 1–220.

    Google Scholar 

  12. L. G. Danzig, “The Displacement Spectra of the Body Waves and the Source Parameters of the Weak Earthquakes of the Barguzin Region of the Baikal Rift Zone,” in Seismic Studies of East Siberia Ed. by V. A. Rogozhina (Nauka, Moscow, 1981) pp. 43–48.

    Google Scholar 

  13. A. A. Dobrynina, “Source Parameters of the Baikal Rift System Earthquakes,” Geophysical Research Abstracts 10, SRef-ID: 1607-7962/gra/EGU2008-A-06055 (2008).

  14. B. M. Douglas and A. Ryall, “Spectral Characteristics and Stress Droop for Microearthquakes near Fairview Peak, Nevada,” J. Geophys. Res., 77(2), 351–359 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. J. B. Fletcher, “A Comparison between the Tectonic Stress Measured in situ and Stress Parameters from Induced Seismicity at Monticello Reservoir, South Carolina,” Geophys. Res., 87, 6931–6944 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. V. N. Gaiskii, L. G. Danzig, and A. A. Dergachev, “The Data of Detailed Seismological Studies in the Barguzin Region of the Baikal Rift Zone,” in Continental Rift Genesis Ed. by S. M. Zverev and N. A. Logachev (Sov. Radio, Moscow, 1977) pp. 65–69.

    Google Scholar 

  17. S. I. Golenetskii and F. V. Novomeiskaya, “About the Thickness of the Earth’s Crust According to Observations at the Seismic Stations of the Baikal Region,” in Baikal Rift. Vyp. 2 Ed. by N. A. Florensov (Novosibirets, Nauka, Siberian Branch, 1975) pp. 34–43.

  18. T. Hanks, “Earthquake Stress-Drops, Ambient Tectonic Stress and Stress That Drive Plates,” Pure Appl. Geophys., 115, 441–458 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. T. Hanks and M. Wyss, “The Use of Body-Wave Spectra in the Determination of Seismic-Source Parameters,” Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 62, 561–589 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  20. N. Haskell, “Total Energy and Energy Spectral Density of Elastic Wave Radiation from Propagating Faults,” Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 54, 1811–1841 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  21. A. Jin, C. A. Moya, and M. Ando, “Simultaneous Determination of Site Responses and Source Parameters of Small Earthquake along the Atotsugawa Fault Zone, Central Japan,” Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 90, 1430–1445 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. H. Kanamori, “The Energy Release in Great Earthquakes,” J. Geophys. Res., 82, 2981–2987 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. H. Kanamori, “The Nature of Seismicity Pattern before Large Earthquakes,” in Earthquake Prediction-An International Review, Trans. Am. Geophys. Union, Maurice Ewing Ser. 4, 1–19 (1981).

  24. V. M. Kochetkov, N. S. Borovik, A. V. Solonenko, et al., “The Detailed Seismological Studies in the North Muya Region,” in Geology and Seismicity of the Baikal-Amur Mainline Railway Zone,” in Seismicity Ed. by S. L. Solov’ev (Nauka, Novosibirsk, 1985) pp. 123–180.

    Google Scholar 

  25. N. A. Logatchev and N. A. Florensov, “The Baikal System of Rift Valleys,” Tectonophysics, No. 45, 1–13 (1978).

  26. B. N. Margaris and P. M. Hatzidimitriou, “Source Spectral Scaling and Stress Release Estimates Using Strong-Motion Records in Greece,” Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 92(3), 1040–1059 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. O. K. Masalskii, V. V. Chechelnitskii, and N. A. Gileva, “The Contemporary State of Seismic Observations in the Baikal Region,” in Contemporary Methods of Processing and Interpretation of Seismological Data. Proceedings of the Second International Seismological School Ed. by/edited by V. I. Utkin (Geophysical Service, Russian Academy of Sciences, Obninsk, 2007) pp. 140–144.

    Google Scholar 

  28. V. I. Mel’nikova, “The Deformation Parameters of the Earth’s Crust of the Baikal Rift Zone According to Seismological Data,” Dissertation Abstract of Dr. Geol.-Min. Sciences (The Institute of the Earth’s Crust, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 2008) pp. 1–37.

  29. V. I. Mel’nikova and N. A. Radziminovich, “The Focal Mechanism of the Earthquakes of Baikal Region during 1991–1996,” Geologiya i Geofizika 39(11), 1598–1607 (1998).

    Google Scholar 

  30. V. I. Mel’nikova and N. A. Radziminovich, “The Parameters of Seismotectonic Deformations of the Earth’s Crust of the Baikal Rift Zone According to Seismological Data,” Dokl. Akad. Nauk 416(4), 543–545 (2007).

    Google Scholar 

  31. L. A. Misharina and N. V. Solonenko, “The Focal Mechanisms and the Field of Tectonic Stresses,” in Seismic Risk Regionalization of East Siberia and its Geological-Geophysical Bases Ed. by V. P. Solonenko (Nauka, Siberian Branch, Novosibirsk, 1977) pp. 71–78.

    Google Scholar 

  32. A. G. Moskvina, “The Mechanism and the Source Parameters of the Mogodskoe Earthquake of January 5, 1967 and Its Aftershocks,” Fizika Zemli, No. 1, 3–17 (1978).

  33. New Catalog of Strong Earthquakes in the Territory of the USSR from the Earliest Times until 1975 Ed. by N. V. Kondorskaya and N. V. Shebalin(Nauka, Moscow, 1977) pp. 1–536.

    Google Scholar 

  34. S. Parolai, D. Bindi, and L. Trojani, “Site Response for the RSM Seismic Network and Source Parameters in the Central Apennines (Italy),” Pure and App. Geophys., 158, 695–715 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. N. A. Radziminovich, C. O. Balyshev, and V. A. Golubev, “The Depth of Earthquake Hypocenters and the Strength of the Earth’s Crust of the Baikal Rift Zone,” Geologiya i Geofizika 44(11), 1216–1225 (2003).

    Google Scholar 

  36. N. A. Radziminovich and V. I. Mel’nikov, “The Baikal Region and Transbaikalia. (VII. Catalogs of Focal Mechanisms over the Regions and the Territories),” in Earthquakes of Eurasia in 1999 Ed. by O. E. Starovoit (FOP, Obninsk, 2005) pp. 1–368. (CD: Appendix T13_Baykal_99.xls).

    Google Scholar 

  37. T. G. Rautian, “Attenuation of Seismic Waves and Energy of Earthquakes,” Trudy TISS Academy of Sciences of TadzhikSSR, No. 7, 41–96 (1960).

  38. Yu. V. Riznichenko, Problems of Seismology (Nauka, Moscow, 1985) pp. 1–408.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Yu. V. Riznichenko, E. A. Dzhibladze, and I. N. Bolkvadze, “Vibration Spectra and the Earthquake Source Parameters of the Caucasus,” in Studies in the Earthquake Physics Ed. by Yu. V. Riznichenko (Nauka, Moscow, 1976) pp. 74–87.

    Google Scholar 

  40. V. V. Ruzhich and S. I. Sherman, “Estimation of the Relation between the Length and the Amplitude of Fracture Dislocations,” in Dynamics of the Earth’s Crust of East Siberia Ed. by S. A. Kashika (Nauka, Siberian Branch, Novosibirsk, 1978) pp. 52–57.

    Google Scholar 

  41. V. A. San’kov, K. G. Levi, E. Calais, et al., “Contemporary and Holocene Horizontal Motions on the Baikal Geodynamic Research Area,” Geologiya i Geofizika 40(3), 422–430 (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  42. V. A. San’kov, A. I. Miroshnitchenko, K. G. Levi, A. V. Lukhnev, A. I. Melnikov, and D. Delvaux “Cenozoic Stress Field Evolution in the Baikal Rift Zone,” Bull. Centre Rech. Elf Explor. Prod. Elf Aquitaine., 21(2), 435–455 (1997).

    Google Scholar 

  43. K. Sato and T. Masuda, “Precursory Change of Spectral Characteristics before the 1978 Miyagiken-Oki Earthquake,” Sci. Rep. Tohoku Univ., 27(5), 95–109 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  44. Set of the Maps of the General Seismic Risk Regionalization of the Territory of the Russian Federation OSR-97. Scale 1: 8000000. Complete Set of Three Maps and Explanatory Note (Institute of Physics of the Earth, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 1999) pp. 1–57.

  45. A. Shapira and A. Hofstetter, “Source Parameters and Scaling Relationships of Earthquakes in Israel,” Tectonophysics, 217, 217–226 (1993).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. S. I. Sherman and Yu. I. Dneprovskii, The Field Stresses of the Earth’s Crust and the Geological-Structural Methods of Their Study (Nauka, Siberian Branch, Novosibirsk, 1989) pp. 1–158.

    Google Scholar 

  47. A. V. Solonenko, N. V. Solonenko, V. I. Mel’nikova, et al., “Stresses and Slips in the Earthquake Sources of Siberia and Mongolia,” in Seismicity and Seismic Risk Regionalization of North Eurasia. Vyp. 1 Ed. by V. I. Ulomov (Institute of Physics of the Earth, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 1993) pp. 113–122.

    Google Scholar 

  48. W. Thatcher and T. Hanks, “Source Parameters of Southern California Earthquakes,” J. Geophys. Res., 78, 8547–8576 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. M. D. Trifunac, “Tectonic Stress and the Source Mechanics of the Imperial Valley, California, Earthquake of 1940,” Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 62, 1283–1302 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  50. J. E. Vidale, “Influence of Focal Mechanism on Peak Ground Accelerations of Strong Motions of the Whittier Narrows, California, Earthquake and an Aftershock,” J. Geophys. Res., 94, 9607–9613 (1989).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. A. I. Zakharova, A. G. Moskvina, and L. S. Chepkunas, “The Source Parameters of the Dagestan Earthquake of May 14, 1970,” Fizika Zemli, No. 2, 30–41 (1990).

  52. V. M. Zobin and J. Havskov, “Source Spectral Properties of Small Earthquakes in the Nortern North Sea,” Tectonophysics, 248, 207–218 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of the Earth’s Crust, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Lermontova 128, Irkutsk, 664033, Russia

    A. A. Dobrynina

Authors
  1. A. A. Dobrynina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Original Russian Text © A.A. Dobrynina, 2009, published in Fizika Zemli, 2009, No. 12, pp. 60–75.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dobrynina, A.A. Source parameters of the earthquakes of the Baikal rift system. Izv., Phys. Solid Earth 45, 1093–1109 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1069351309120064

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1069351309120064

Keywords

Search

Navigation