Are Aftershocks of Large Californian Earthquakes Diffusing?

A. Helmstetter (1) , Guy Ouillon (2) , D. Sornette (2)

1 IGPP - Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics [Los Angeles]
2 LPMC - Laboratoire de physique de la matière condensée

We analyze 21 aftershock sequences of California to test for evidence of space-time diffusion. Aftershock diffusion may result from stress diffusion and is also predicted by any mechanism of stress weakening. Here, we test an alternative mechanism to explain aftershock diffusion, based on multiple cascades of triggering. In order to characterize aftershock diffusion, we develop two methods, one based on a suitable time and space windowing, the other using a wavelet transform adapted to the removal of background seismicity. Both methods confirm that diffusion of seismic activity is very weak, much weaker than reported in previous studies. A possible mechanism explaining the weakness of observed diffusion is the effect of geometry, including the localization of aftershocks on a fractal fault network and the impact of extended rupture lengths which control the typical distances of interaction between earthquakes.

Mots clés: aftershocks; diffusion; ETAS; triggered seismicity; Hurst exponent

Domaines: Géophysique [physics.geo-ph]; Tectonique

A. Helmstetter, Guy Ouillon, D. Sornette. Are Aftershocks of Large Californian Earthquakes Diffusing?. Journal of Geophysical Research, 2003, 108 (B10), pp.2483. ⟨10.1029/2003JB002503⟩. ⟨hal-00194825⟩