Foreshocks, aftershocks, and earthquake probabilities: Accounting for the landers earthquake

Lucile M. Jones

doi:10.1785/bssa0840030892

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Foreshocks, aftershocks, and earthquake probabilities: Accounting for the landers earthquake

Lucile M. Jones

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Abstract

The equation to determine the probability that an earthquake occurring near a major fault will be a foreshock to a mainshock on that fault is modified to include the case of aftershocks to a previous earthquake occurring near the fault. The addition of aftershocks to the background seismicity makes its less probable that an earthquake will be a foreshock, because nonforeshocks have become more common. As the aftershocks decay with time, the probability that an earthquake will be a foreshock increases. However, fault interactions between the first mainshock and the major fault can increase the long-term probability of a characteristic earthquake on that fault, which will, in turn, increase the probability that an event is a foreshock, compensating for the decrease caused by the aftershocks.

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Lucile M. Jones. 1994-06-01. Foreshocks, aftershocks, and earthquake probabilities: Accounting for the landers earthquake. https://doi.org/10.1785/bssa0840030892

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