The mechanisms of spatial and temporal earthquake clustering

摘要: The number of earthquakes as a function magnitude decays power law. This trend is usually justified using spring-block models, where slips with the appropriate global statistics have been numerically observed. However, prominent spatial and temporal clustering features are not reproduced by this kind modeling. We show that when model complemented mechanism allowing for structural relaxation, realistic earthquake patterns obtained. proposed does need to include phenomenological velocity weakening friction law, traditional models do, since behavior effectively induced relaxational well. In way, provides also simple microscopic basis widely used rate-and-state equations rock friction.