Mahalanobis distance-based recognition of changes in the dynamics of a seismic process

<p>In the present work, we aim to analyse the regularity of a seismic process based on its spatial, temporal, and energetic characteristics. Increments of cumulative times, increments of cumulative distances, and increments of cumulative seismic energies are calculated from an earthquake catal...

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Main Authors: T. Matcharashvili, Z. Czechowski, N. Zhukova
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2019-08-01
Series:Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics
Online Access:https://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/26/291/2019/npg-26-291-2019.pdf
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author T. Matcharashvili
Z. Czechowski
N. Zhukova
author_facet T. Matcharashvili
Z. Czechowski
N. Zhukova
author_sort T. Matcharashvili
collection DOAJ
description <p>In the present work, we aim to analyse the regularity of a seismic process based on its spatial, temporal, and energetic characteristics. Increments of cumulative times, increments of cumulative distances, and increments of cumulative seismic energies are calculated from an earthquake catalogue for southern California from 1975 to 2017.</p> <p>As the method of analysis, we use the multivariate Mahalanobis distance calculation, combined with a surrogate data testing procedure that is often used for the testing of non-linear structures in complex data sets. Before analysing the dynamical features of the seismic process, we tested the used approach for two different 3-D models in which the dynamical features were changed from more regular to more randomised conditions by adding a certain degree of noise.</p> <p>An analysis of the variability in the extent of regularity of the seismic process was carried out for different completeness magnitude thresholds.</p> <p>The results of our analysis show that in about a third of all the 50-data windows the original seismic process was indistinguishable from a random process based on its features of temporal, spatial, and energetic variability. It was shown that prior to the occurrence of strong earthquakes, mostly in periods of generation of relatively small earthquakes, the percentage of windows in which the seismic process is indistinguishable from a random process increases (to 60&thinsp;%–80&thinsp;%). During periods of aftershock activity, the process of small earthquake generation became regular in all of the windows considered, and thus was markedly different from the randomised catalogues.</p> <p>In some periods within the catalogue, the seismic process appeared to be closer to randomness, while in other cases it became closer to a regular behaviour. More specifically, in periods of relatively decreased earthquake generation activity (with low energy release), the seismic process appears to be random, while during periods of occurrence of strong events, followed by series of aftershocks, significant deviation from randomness is shown, i.e. the extent of regularity markedly increases. The period for which such deviation from random behaviour lasts depends on the amount of seismic energy released by the strong earthquake.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-175d397b49ed4c4d9768eb58da3e3b162022-12-21T17:32:10ZengCopernicus PublicationsNonlinear Processes in Geophysics1023-58091607-79462019-08-012629130510.5194/npg-26-291-2019Mahalanobis distance-based recognition of changes in the dynamics of a seismic processT. Matcharashvili0Z. Czechowski1N. Zhukova2M. Nodia Institute of Geophysics, Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, GeorgiaInstitute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, PolandM. Nodia Institute of Geophysics, Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia<p>In the present work, we aim to analyse the regularity of a seismic process based on its spatial, temporal, and energetic characteristics. Increments of cumulative times, increments of cumulative distances, and increments of cumulative seismic energies are calculated from an earthquake catalogue for southern California from 1975 to 2017.</p> <p>As the method of analysis, we use the multivariate Mahalanobis distance calculation, combined with a surrogate data testing procedure that is often used for the testing of non-linear structures in complex data sets. Before analysing the dynamical features of the seismic process, we tested the used approach for two different 3-D models in which the dynamical features were changed from more regular to more randomised conditions by adding a certain degree of noise.</p> <p>An analysis of the variability in the extent of regularity of the seismic process was carried out for different completeness magnitude thresholds.</p> <p>The results of our analysis show that in about a third of all the 50-data windows the original seismic process was indistinguishable from a random process based on its features of temporal, spatial, and energetic variability. It was shown that prior to the occurrence of strong earthquakes, mostly in periods of generation of relatively small earthquakes, the percentage of windows in which the seismic process is indistinguishable from a random process increases (to 60&thinsp;%–80&thinsp;%). During periods of aftershock activity, the process of small earthquake generation became regular in all of the windows considered, and thus was markedly different from the randomised catalogues.</p> <p>In some periods within the catalogue, the seismic process appeared to be closer to randomness, while in other cases it became closer to a regular behaviour. More specifically, in periods of relatively decreased earthquake generation activity (with low energy release), the seismic process appears to be random, while during periods of occurrence of strong events, followed by series of aftershocks, significant deviation from randomness is shown, i.e. the extent of regularity markedly increases. The period for which such deviation from random behaviour lasts depends on the amount of seismic energy released by the strong earthquake.</p>https://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/26/291/2019/npg-26-291-2019.pdf
spellingShingle T. Matcharashvili
Z. Czechowski
N. Zhukova
Mahalanobis distance-based recognition of changes in the dynamics of a seismic process
Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics
title Mahalanobis distance-based recognition of changes in the dynamics of a seismic process
title_full Mahalanobis distance-based recognition of changes in the dynamics of a seismic process
title_fullStr Mahalanobis distance-based recognition of changes in the dynamics of a seismic process
title_full_unstemmed Mahalanobis distance-based recognition of changes in the dynamics of a seismic process
title_short Mahalanobis distance-based recognition of changes in the dynamics of a seismic process
title_sort mahalanobis distance based recognition of changes in the dynamics of a seismic process
url https://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/26/291/2019/npg-26-291-2019.pdf
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