| Abstract: | Empirically the rate of earthquakes = magnitude M is well fit by the Gutenberg-Richter relationship, logN=a-bM (1) where N is the number of earthquakes = M over a given time period, a is the number of M = 0 earthquakes over the same period, and b is a parameter that determines the ratio of larger to smaller earthquakes (Ishimoto and Iida 1939; Gutenberg and Richter 1944). Thus to characterize the seismicity rate, N, and risk in a given region we need to solve for the values of a and b. Here we are concerned with solving for the long term average values of these parameters for the state of California. My primary data source is a catalog of 1850-2006 M = 4.0 seismicity compiled with Tianqing Cao (Appendix H). Because earthquakes outside of the state can influence California I consider both earthquakes within the state and within 100 km of the state border (Figure 1). |
| Genre: | USGS Numbered Series |
| ProdID: | 81121 |
| Citation Author: | Felzer, Karen R. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
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| Citation Edition: | Version 1.0 |
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| Citation Language: | ENGLISH |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Appendix I in The Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast, Version 2 (UCERF 2) |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | iii, 41 p. |
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| Citation Public Comments: | Prepared in cooperation with the California Geological Survey and the Southern California Earthquake Center |
| Citation Publisher: | Geological Survey (U.S.) |
| Citation Series: | Open-File Report |
| Citation Series Code: | OFR |
| Citation Series Number: | 2007-1437-I |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Calculating California Seismicity Rates; 2008; OFR; 2007-1437-I; Appendix I in The Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast, Version 2 (UCERF 2); Felzer, Karen R. |
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| Citation Year: | 2008 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Calculating California Seismicity Rates; 2008; OFR; 2007-1437-I; Appendix I in The Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast, Version 2 (UCERF 2); Felzer, Karen R. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/usgs_thumb.jpg |
| URL (INDEX PAGE): | http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1437/i/ |
| Date Other: | Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:00 -0500 |
| Publisher: | Geological Survey (U.S.) |
