SEISMIC SOURCES AND MAIN SEISMIC FAULTS IN THE AEGEAN AND SURROUNDING AREA


Published: Jan 25, 2010
Keywords:
seismic sources seismic faults
G.F. Karakaisis
C.B. Papazachos
E.M. Scordilis
Abstract

A seismic source is defined, in the present work, as the part of the seismogenic layer of the
earth’s crust with a circular horizontal dimension (E, R), where E is the epicenter of the largest
earthquake (mainshock) ever occurred in this seismic source and radius equal to the half fault
length of this largest earthquake (R=L/2). In addition to foreshocks and aftershocks other
smaller mainshocks occur in other smaller faults of this source or in parts of the main fault.
All available historical and instrumental data concerning strong (M³6.0) shallow (h≤60 km) and
intermediate depth (60km<h≤100km) shocks which occurred in the Aegean area between 464
B.C. and 2008 are used in the present work in an attempt to identify the seismic sources in this
area, as well as to determine the basic parameters of the largest fault in each source. A particular
procedure is followed to identify 155 seismic sources in this area and determine the
basic parameters of the largest fault in each source. Declustering has been also performed to
define mainshocks in the Aegean area and the completeness of this mainshock catalogue has
been determined. Results are summarized in table (1).

Article Details
  • Section
  • Seismology
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