Earthquakes in the Los Angeles metropolitan region: A possible fractal distribution of rupture size

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Abstract

Although there is debate on the maximum size of earthquake that is possible on any of several known fault systems in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan region, it is reasonable to assume that the distribution of earthquakes will follow a fractal distribution of rupture areas. For this assumption and an overall slip-rate for the region of approximately 1 centimeter per year, roughly one magnitude 7.4 to 7.5 event is expected to occur every 245 to 325 years. A model in which the earthquake distribution is fractal predicts that, additionally, there should be approximately six events in the range of magnitude 6.6 in this same span of time, a higher rate than has occurred in the historic record.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Earthquakes in the Los Angeles metropolitan region: A possible fractal distribution of rupture size
Series title Science
DOI 10.1126/science.267.5195.211
Volume 267
Issue 5195
Year Published 1995
Language English
Publisher American Association for the Advancement of Science
Description 3 p.
First page 211
Last page 213
Country United States
State California
City Los Angeles
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