Synchronization and desynchronization in the Olami-Feder-Christensen earthquake model and potential implications for real seismicity

The Olami-Feder-Christensen model is probably the most studied model in the context of self-organized criticality and reproduces several statistical properties of real earthquakes. We investigate and explain synchronization and desynchronization of earthquakes in this model in the nonconservative re...

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Main Authors: S. Hergarten, R. Krenn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2011-09-01
Series:Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics
Online Access:http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/18/635/2011/npg-18-635-2011.pdf
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author S. Hergarten
R. Krenn
author_facet S. Hergarten
R. Krenn
author_sort S. Hergarten
collection DOAJ
description The Olami-Feder-Christensen model is probably the most studied model in the context of self-organized criticality and reproduces several statistical properties of real earthquakes. We investigate and explain synchronization and desynchronization of earthquakes in this model in the nonconservative regime and its relevance for the power-law distribution of the event sizes (Gutenberg-Richter law) and for temporal clustering of earthquakes. The power-law distribution emerges from synchronization, and its scaling exponent can be derived as <i>τ</i> = 1.775 from the scaling properties of the rupture areas' perimeter. In contrast, the occurrence of foreshocks and aftershocks according to Omori's law is closely related to desynchronization. This mechanism of foreshock and aftershock generation differs strongly from the widespread idea of spontaneous triggering and gives an idea why some even large earthquakes are not preceded by any foreshocks in nature.
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spelling doaj.art-6b6bed9f0b9a4a818644a79bbc3b0b522022-12-21T20:33:03ZengCopernicus PublicationsNonlinear Processes in Geophysics1023-58091607-79462011-09-0118563564210.5194/npg-18-635-2011Synchronization and desynchronization in the Olami-Feder-Christensen earthquake model and potential implications for real seismicityS. HergartenR. KrennThe Olami-Feder-Christensen model is probably the most studied model in the context of self-organized criticality and reproduces several statistical properties of real earthquakes. We investigate and explain synchronization and desynchronization of earthquakes in this model in the nonconservative regime and its relevance for the power-law distribution of the event sizes (Gutenberg-Richter law) and for temporal clustering of earthquakes. The power-law distribution emerges from synchronization, and its scaling exponent can be derived as <i>τ</i> = 1.775 from the scaling properties of the rupture areas' perimeter. In contrast, the occurrence of foreshocks and aftershocks according to Omori's law is closely related to desynchronization. This mechanism of foreshock and aftershock generation differs strongly from the widespread idea of spontaneous triggering and gives an idea why some even large earthquakes are not preceded by any foreshocks in nature.http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/18/635/2011/npg-18-635-2011.pdf
spellingShingle S. Hergarten
R. Krenn
Synchronization and desynchronization in the Olami-Feder-Christensen earthquake model and potential implications for real seismicity
Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics
title Synchronization and desynchronization in the Olami-Feder-Christensen earthquake model and potential implications for real seismicity
title_full Synchronization and desynchronization in the Olami-Feder-Christensen earthquake model and potential implications for real seismicity
title_fullStr Synchronization and desynchronization in the Olami-Feder-Christensen earthquake model and potential implications for real seismicity
title_full_unstemmed Synchronization and desynchronization in the Olami-Feder-Christensen earthquake model and potential implications for real seismicity
title_short Synchronization and desynchronization in the Olami-Feder-Christensen earthquake model and potential implications for real seismicity
title_sort synchronization and desynchronization in the olami feder christensen earthquake model and potential implications for real seismicity
url http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/18/635/2011/npg-18-635-2011.pdf
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