A Complexity View into the Physics of the Accelerating Seismic Release Hypothesis: Theoretical Principles

Observational indications support the hypothesis that many large earthquakes are preceded by accelerating-decelerating seismic release rates which are described by a power law time to failure relation. In the present work, a unified theoretical framework is discussed based on the ideas of non-extens...

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Main Authors: Filippos Vallianatos, Georgios Chatzopoulos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-10-01
Series:Entropy
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/20/10/754
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author Filippos Vallianatos
Georgios Chatzopoulos
author_facet Filippos Vallianatos
Georgios Chatzopoulos
author_sort Filippos Vallianatos
collection DOAJ
description Observational indications support the hypothesis that many large earthquakes are preceded by accelerating-decelerating seismic release rates which are described by a power law time to failure relation. In the present work, a unified theoretical framework is discussed based on the ideas of non-extensive statistical physics along with fundamental principles of physics such as the energy conservation in a faulted crustal volume undergoing stress loading. We define a generalized Benioff strain function Ω ξ ( t ) = ∑ i = 1 n ( t ) E i ξ ( t ) , where Ei is the earthquake energy, 0 ≤ ξ ≤ 1 . and a time-to-failure power-law of Ω ξ ( t ) derived for a fault system that obeys a hierarchical distribution law extracted from Tsallis entropy. In the time-to-failure power-law followed by Ω ξ ( t ) the existence of a common exponent mξ which is a function of the non-extensive entropic parameter q is demonstrated. An analytic expression that connects mξ with the Tsallis entropic parameter q and the b value of Gutenberg—Richter law is derived. In addition the range of q and b values that could drive the system into an accelerating stage and to failure is discussed, along with precursory variations of mξ resulting from the precursory b-value anomaly. Finally our calculations based on Tsallis entropy and the energy conservation give a new view on the empirical laws derived in the literature, the associated average generalized Benioff strain rate during accelerating period with the background rate and connecting model parameters with the expected magnitude of the main shock.
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spelling doaj.art-00b2d607b0e947e8bfcf3f8ff53f5a972022-12-22T04:25:07ZengMDPI AGEntropy1099-43002018-10-01201075410.3390/e20100754e20100754A Complexity View into the Physics of the Accelerating Seismic Release Hypothesis: Theoretical PrinciplesFilippos Vallianatos0Georgios Chatzopoulos1UNESCO Chair on Solid Earth Physics and Geohazards Risk Reduction, Technological Educational Institute of Crete, Crete 73100, GreeceUNESCO Chair on Solid Earth Physics and Geohazards Risk Reduction, Technological Educational Institute of Crete, Crete 73100, GreeceObservational indications support the hypothesis that many large earthquakes are preceded by accelerating-decelerating seismic release rates which are described by a power law time to failure relation. In the present work, a unified theoretical framework is discussed based on the ideas of non-extensive statistical physics along with fundamental principles of physics such as the energy conservation in a faulted crustal volume undergoing stress loading. We define a generalized Benioff strain function Ω ξ ( t ) = ∑ i = 1 n ( t ) E i ξ ( t ) , where Ei is the earthquake energy, 0 ≤ ξ ≤ 1 . and a time-to-failure power-law of Ω ξ ( t ) derived for a fault system that obeys a hierarchical distribution law extracted from Tsallis entropy. In the time-to-failure power-law followed by Ω ξ ( t ) the existence of a common exponent mξ which is a function of the non-extensive entropic parameter q is demonstrated. An analytic expression that connects mξ with the Tsallis entropic parameter q and the b value of Gutenberg—Richter law is derived. In addition the range of q and b values that could drive the system into an accelerating stage and to failure is discussed, along with precursory variations of mξ resulting from the precursory b-value anomaly. Finally our calculations based on Tsallis entropy and the energy conservation give a new view on the empirical laws derived in the literature, the associated average generalized Benioff strain rate during accelerating period with the background rate and connecting model parameters with the expected magnitude of the main shock.http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/20/10/754seismicity patternaccelerating seismicityTsallis entropynon extensive statistical physics
spellingShingle Filippos Vallianatos
Georgios Chatzopoulos
A Complexity View into the Physics of the Accelerating Seismic Release Hypothesis: Theoretical Principles
Entropy
seismicity pattern
accelerating seismicity
Tsallis entropy
non extensive statistical physics
title A Complexity View into the Physics of the Accelerating Seismic Release Hypothesis: Theoretical Principles
title_full A Complexity View into the Physics of the Accelerating Seismic Release Hypothesis: Theoretical Principles
title_fullStr A Complexity View into the Physics of the Accelerating Seismic Release Hypothesis: Theoretical Principles
title_full_unstemmed A Complexity View into the Physics of the Accelerating Seismic Release Hypothesis: Theoretical Principles
title_short A Complexity View into the Physics of the Accelerating Seismic Release Hypothesis: Theoretical Principles
title_sort complexity view into the physics of the accelerating seismic release hypothesis theoretical principles
topic seismicity pattern
accelerating seismicity
Tsallis entropy
non extensive statistical physics
url http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/20/10/754
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