Stress drop and aftershocks
10.1785/bssa0630041433
Crossref journal-article
Seismological Society of America (SSA)
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (790)
Abstract

abstract Eighteen aftershock sequences, nine from California and nine from New Zealand, are studied. It is found that a general relationship exists between the local magnitude ML and the stress drop in the main shock. The stress drop in the main earthquake determines the principal characteristics of the aftershock sequences. A low stress drop leads to a low value of the coefficient b, high magnitude of the largest aftershock, and short duration, and conversely. A sequence is arbitrarily considered to be over when the rate of aftershock occurrence falls to a value of one shock per day. The duration depends on the area of fault surface and the stress drop in the main shock. For an average stress drop, the coefficient b has a value of 0.8 to 0.9, and the difference in magnitude between the main shock and the largest aftershock is 1.2, a relation often called Båth's law.

Bibliography

Gibowicz, S. J. (1973). Stress drop and aftershocks. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 63(4), 1433–1446.

Authors 1
  1. S. J. Gibowicz (first)
References 51 Referenced 47
  1. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB1', 'first-page': '5', 'article-title': 'Seismological studies of the Seddon earthquake, 1966', 'volume': '199', 'author': 'Adams', 'year': '(1970)', 'journal-title': 'Seddon Earthquake, New Zealand, April 1966, New Zealand Dept. Sci. Ind. Res. Bull.'} / Seddon Earthquake, New Zealand, April 1966, New Zealand Dept. Sci. Ind. Res. Bull. / Seismological studies of the Seddon earthquake, 1966 by Adams ((1970))
  2. 10.1080/00288306.1963.10420062 / New Zealand J. Geol. Geophys. / The Westport earthquake, May 1962 by Adams ((1963))
  3. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB3', 'first-page': '129', 'article-title': 'The Inangahua earthquake sequence, 1968', 'volume': '9', 'author': 'Adams', 'year': '(1971)', 'journal-title': 'Recent Crustal Movements, New Zealand Royal Soc. Bull.'} / Recent Crustal Movements, New Zealand Royal Soc. Bull. / The Inangahua earthquake sequence, 1968 by Adams ((1971))
  4. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB4', 'article-title': 'New Zealand Seismological Report, Inangahua Earthquakes, 1968', 'author': 'Adams', 'year': '(1971)'} / New Zealand Seismological Report, Inangahua Earthquakes, 1968 by Adams ((1971))
  5. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB5', 'first-page': '237', 'article-title': 'Maximum likelihood estimate of b in the formula log N = a − bM and its confidence limits', 'volume': '43', 'author': 'Aki', 'year': '(1965)', 'journal-title': 'Bull. Earthquake Res. Inst., Tokyo Univ.'} / Bull. Earthquake Res. Inst., Tokyo Univ. / Maximum likelihood estimate of b in the formula log N = a − bM and its confidence limits by Aki ((1965))
  6. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB6', 'first-page': '73', 'article-title': 'Generation and propagation of G waves from the Niigate earthquake of June 16, 1964, 2, Estimation of earthquake moment, released energy, and stress-strain drop from G wave spectrum', 'volume': '44', 'author': 'Aki', 'year': '(1966)', 'journal-title': 'Bull. Earthquake Res: Inst., Tokyo Univ.'} / Bull. Earthquake Res: Inst., Tokyo Univ. / Generation and propagation of G waves from the Niigate earthquake of June 16, 1964, 2, Estimation of earthquake moment, released energy, and stress-strain drop from G wave spectrum by Aki ((1966))
  7. 10.1029/JZ072i004p01217 / J. Geophys. Res. / Scaling law of seismic spectrum by Aki ((1967))
  8. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB8', 'first-page': '17', 'article-title': 'Main shock and larger aftershocks of the San Fernando earthquake, February 9 through March 1, 1971', 'volume': '733', 'author': 'Allen', 'year': '(1971)', 'journal-title': 'U. S. Geol. Surv. Profess. Papers'} / U. S. Geol. Surv. Profess. Papers / Main shock and larger aftershocks of the San Fernando earthquake, February 9 through March 1, 1971 by Allen ((1971))
  9. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB9', 'first-page': '199', 'article-title': 'Mechanism and strain characteristics of the White Wolf fault as indicated by the aftershock sequence', 'volume': '171', 'author': 'Benioff', 'year': '(1955)', 'journal-title': 'Earthquakes in Kern County, California, during 1952, Calif. Dept. Nat. Resources, Div. Mines Bull.'} / Earthquakes in Kern County, California, during 1952, Calif. Dept. Nat. Resources, Div. Mines Bull. / Mechanism and strain characteristics of the White Wolf fault as indicated by the aftershock sequence by Benioff ((1955))
  10. 10.1029/JB075i026p04997 / J. Geophys. Res. / Tectonic stress and spectra of seismic shear waves from earthquakes by Brune ((1970))
  11. 10.1785/BSSA0570030501 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / A low-stress-drop, low-magnitude earthquake with surface faulting: The Imperial, California, earthquake of March 4, 1966 by Brune ((1967))
  12. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB12', 'first-page': '83', 'article-title': 'Magnitude determination in New Zealand', 'author': 'Eiby', 'year': '(1967)', 'journal-title': 'Handbook on Earthquake Magnitude Determinations'} / Handbook on Earthquake Magnitude Determinations / Magnitude determination in New Zealand by Eiby ((1967))
  13. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB13', 'first-page': '1151', 'article-title': 'Aftershocks of the 1966 Parkfield-Cholame, California, earthquake: a detailed study', 'volume': '60', 'author': 'Eaton', 'year': '(1970)', 'journal-title': 'Bull. Seism. Soc. Am.'} / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / Aftershocks of the 1966 Parkfield-Cholame, California, earthquake: a detailed study by Eaton ((1970))
  14. 10.1785/BSSA0570061245 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / Love-wave spectra and mechanism of the 1966 Parkfield sequence by Filson ((1967))
  15. 10.1785/BSSA0620010001 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / The relationship between teleseismic body wave magnitude m and local magnitude ML from New Zealand earthquakes by Gibowicz ((1972))
  16. 10.1080/00288306.1973.10555239 / New Zealand J. Geol. Geophys. / Variation of the frequency-magnitude relation during the 1931 Hawke's Bay, 1934 Pahiatua, and 1942 Wairarapa aftershock sequences by Gibowicz ((1973))
  17. 10.1785/BSSA0630020517 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / Variation of the frequency-magnitude relation during earthquake sequences in New Zealand by Gibowicz ((1973))
  18. 10.1785/BSSA0580051607 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / Aftershocks of the Truckee, California, earthquake of September 12, 1966 by Greensfelder ((1968))
  19. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB19', 'first-page': '165', 'article-title': 'The first motion in longitudinal and transverse waves of the main shock and the direction of slip', 'volume': '171', 'author': 'Gutenberg', 'year': '(1955)', 'journal-title': 'Earthquakes in Kern County, California, during 1952, Calif. Dept. Nat. Resources, Div. Mines Bull.'} / Earthquakes in Kern County, California, during 1952, Calif. Dept. Nat. Resources, Div. Mines Bull. / The first motion in longitudinal and transverse waves of the main shock and the direction of slip by Gutenberg ((1955))
  20. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB20', 'first-page': '273', 'volume-title': 'Seismicity of the Earth and Associated Phenomena', 'author': 'Gutenberg', 'year': '(1954)'} / Seismicity of the Earth and Associated Phenomena by Gutenberg ((1954))
  21. 10.1080/00288306.1966.10422811 / New Zealand J. Geol. Geophys. / The Fiordland earthquake sequence of 1960 and seismic velocities beneath New Zealand by Hamilton ((1966))
  22. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB22', 'first-page': '7', 'article-title': 'Seismological studies of the Gisborne earthquake sequence, 1966', 'volume': '194', 'author': 'Hamilton', 'year': '(1969)', 'journal-title': 'Gisborne Earthquake, New Zealand, March 1966, New Zealand Dept. Sci. Ind. Res. Bull.'} / Gisborne Earthquake, New Zealand, March 1966, New Zealand Dept. Sci. Ind. Res. Bull. / Seismological studies of the Gisborne earthquake sequence, 1966 by Hamilton ((1969))
  23. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB23', 'first-page': '205', 'article-title': 'An estimation of the displacement in an earthquake source and of source dimensions', 'volume': '12', 'author': 'Keylis-Borok', 'year': '(1959)', 'journal-title': 'Ann. Geofis. (Rome)'} / Ann. Geofis. (Rome) / An estimation of the displacement in an earthquake source and of source dimensions by Keylis-Borok ((1959))
  24. 10.1785/BSSA0580010249 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / Stress-drop in earthquakes by King ((1968))
  25. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB25', 'first-page': '879', 'article-title': 'Source dimensions of small earthquakes as determined from the size of the aftershock zone', 'volume': '60', 'author': 'Liebermann', 'year': '(1970)', 'journal-title': 'Bull. Seism. Soc. Am.'} / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / Source dimensions of small earthquakes as determined from the size of the aftershock zone by Liebermann ((1970))
  26. 10.1785/BSSA0560010247 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / Magnitude stability in earthquake sequences by Lomnitz ((1966))
  27. 10.1785/BSSA0560030755 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / The earthquake sequence of November 1964 near Corralitos, California by McEvilly ((1966))
  28. 10.1785/BSSA0570010113 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / The earthquake sequence of September, 1965 near Antioch, California by McEvilly ((1967))
  29. 10.1785/BSSA0570061221 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / The Parkfield, California, earthquakes of 1966 by McEvilly ((1967))
  30. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB30', 'first-page': '1131', 'article-title': 'Aftershocks and micro-aftershocks of the great Alaska earthquake of 1964', 'volume': '58', 'author': 'Page', 'year': '(1968)', 'journal-title': 'Bull. Seism. Soc. Am.'} / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / Aftershocks and micro-aftershocks of the great Alaska earthquake of 1964 by Page ((1968))
  31. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB31', 'first-page': '1', 'article-title': 'Aftershock sequences of some large earthquakes in the region of Greece', 'volume': '20', 'author': 'Papazachos', 'year': '(1967)', 'journal-title': 'Ann. Geofis. (Rome)'} / Ann. Geofis. (Rome) / Aftershock sequences of some large earthquakes in the region of Greece by Papazachos ((1967))
  32. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB32', 'first-page': '359', 'article-title': 'A statistical study of aftershock sequences', 'volume': '22', 'author': 'Ranalli', 'year': '(1969)', 'journal-title': 'Ann. Geofis. (Rome)'} / Ann. Geofis. (Rome) / A statistical study of aftershock sequences by Ranalli ((1969))
  33. 10.1785/BSSA0630031133 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / The spectral theory of seismic sources by Randall ((1973))
  34. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB34', 'first-page': '177', 'article-title': 'Foreshocks and aftershocks', 'volume': '171', 'author': 'Richter', 'year': '(1955)', 'journal-title': 'Earthquakes in Kern County, California, during 1952'} / Earthquakes in Kern County, California, during 1952 / Foreshocks and aftershocks by Richter ((1955))
  35. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB35', 'first-page': '315', 'article-title': 'The Desert Hot Springs earthquakes and their tectonic environment', 'volume': '48', 'author': 'Richter', 'year': '(1958)', 'journal-title': 'Bull. Seism. Soc. Am.'} / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / The Desert Hot Springs earthquakes and their tectonic environment by Richter ((1958))
  36. 10.1785/BSSA0580010215 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / Triggering of micro-earthquakes by Earth tides, and other features of the Truckee, California, earthquake sequence of September, 1966 by Ryall ((1968))
  37. 10.1785/BSSA0580010399 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / The frequency-magnitude relation of micro-fracturing in rock and its relation to earthquakes by Scholz ((1968))
  38. 10.1029/JB077i008p01549 / J. Geophys. Res. / Regional variations of seismic source parameters in the northern Baja California area by Thatcher ((1972))
  39. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB39', 'first-page': '61', 'article-title': 'Seismographic results from the 1957 San Francisco earthquakes', 'volume': '57', 'author': 'Tocher', 'year': '(1959)', 'journal-title': 'San Francisco earthquakes of March 1957, Calif. Dept. Nat. Resources, Div. Mines, Spec. Rep.'} / San Francisco earthquakes of March 1957, Calif. Dept. Nat. Resources, Div. Mines, Spec. Rep. / Seismographic results from the 1957 San Francisco earthquakes by Tocher ((1959))
  40. 10.1785/BSSA0620030721 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / Stress estimates for the San Fernando, California, earthquake of February 9, 1971: main event and thirteen aftershocks by Trifunac ((1972))
  41. 10.1785/BSSA0600041199 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / Source mechanism of the Truckee, California, earthquake of September 12, 1966 by Tsai ((1970))
  42. 10.1785/BSSA0550010085 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / A study of the aftershocks and focal mechanism of the Salinas-Watsonville earthquakes of August 31 and September 14, 1963 by Udias ((1965))
  43. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB43', 'first-page': '521', 'article-title': 'A statistical study on the occurrence of aftershocks', 'volume': '30', 'author': 'Utsu', 'year': '(1961)', 'journal-title': 'Geophys. Mag. (Tokyo)'} / Geophys. Mag. (Tokyo) / A statistical study on the occurrence of aftershocks by Utsu ((1961))
  44. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB44', 'first-page': '99', 'article-title': 'A method for determining the value of b in a formula log n = a - bM showing the magnitude-frequency relation for earthquakes', 'volume': '13', 'author': 'Utsu', 'year': '(1965)', 'journal-title': 'Geophys. Bull. Hokkaido Univ.'} / Geophys. Bull. Hokkaido Univ. / A method for determining the value of b in a formula log n = a - bM showing the magnitude-frequency relation for earthquakes by Utsu ((1965))
  45. 10.4294/jpe1952.14.37 / J. Phys. Earth / A statistical significance test of the difference in b-value between two earthquake groups by Utsu ((1966))
  46. 10.1785/BSSA0590041535 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / A note on the statistical interpretation of Båthe's law by Vere-Jones ((1969))
  47. Wesson R. L. Lee W. H. K. Gibbs J. F. (1971). Aftershocks of the earthquake, inThe San Fernando, California, earthquake of February 9, 1971, U. S. Geol. Surv.Profess. Papers 733, 24- 29.
  48. Whitcomb J. H. (1971). Fault-plane solutions of the February 9, 1971, San Fernando earthquake and some aftershocks, U. S. Geol. Surv.Profess. Papers 733, 30- 32.
  49. 10.1785/BSSA0580020689 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / Parkfield earthquake of June 28, 1966: magnitude and source mechanism by Wu ((1968))
  50. 10.1785/BSSA0610051153 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / Regional variations of source properties in southern California estimated from the ratio of short-to long-period amplitudes by Wyss ((1971))
  51. {'key': '2021092016021512600_BIB51', 'first-page': '591', 'article-title': 'The source parameters of the San Fernando earthquake inferred from teleseismic body waves', 'volume': '62', 'author': 'Wyss', 'year': '(1972)', 'journal-title': 'Bull. Seism. Soc. Am.'} / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / The source parameters of the San Fernando earthquake inferred from teleseismic body waves by Wyss ((1972))
Dates
Type When
Created 3 years, 11 months ago (Sept. 20, 2021, 12:24 p.m.)
Deposited 3 years, 11 months ago (Sept. 20, 2021, 12:24 p.m.)
Indexed 1 week ago (Aug. 29, 2025, 6:27 a.m.)
Issued 52 years, 1 month ago (Aug. 1, 1973)
Published 52 years, 1 month ago (Aug. 1, 1973)
Published Online 52 years, 1 month ago (Aug. 1, 1973)
Published Print 52 years, 1 month ago (Aug. 1, 1973)
Funders 0

None

@article{Gibowicz_1973, title={Stress drop and aftershocks}, volume={63}, ISSN={0037-1106}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1785/bssa0630041433}, DOI={10.1785/bssa0630041433}, number={4}, journal={Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America}, publisher={Seismological Society of America (SSA)}, author={Gibowicz, S. J.}, year={1973}, month=aug, pages={1433–1446} }