T. H. Heaton S.H. Hartzell 1988 <p>Compares teleseismic P-wave records for earthquakes in the magnitude range from 6.0-9.5 with synthetics for a self-similar, omega 2 source model and conclude that the energy radiated by very large earthquakes (Mw &gt; 81/4) is not self-similar to that radiated from smaller earthquakes (Mw &lt; 81/4). Furthermore, in the period band from 2 sec to several tens of seconds, it is concluded that large subduction earthquakes have an average spectral decay rate of omega -1.5. This spectral decay rate is consistent with a previously noted tendency of the omega 2 model to overestimate Ms for large earthquakes.</p> application/pdf 10.1785/BSSA0780020478 en Seismological Society of America Failure of self-similarity for large (Mw > 81/4) earthquakes article