A Nonextensive Statistical Physics Analysis of the 1995 Kobe, Japan Earthquake

Abstract

Abstract-This paper presents an analysis of the distribution of earthquake magnitudes for the period 1990-1998 in a broad area surrounding the epicenter of the 1995 Kobe earthquake. The frequency-magnitude distribution analysis is performed in a nonextensive statistical physics context. The nonextensive parameter q M , which is related to the frequency-magnitude distribution, reflects the existence of long-range correlations and is used as an index of the physical state of the studied area. Examination of the possible variations of q M values is performed during the period 1990-1998. A significant increase of q M occurs some months before the strong earthquake on April 9, 1994 indicating the start of a preparation phase prior to the Kobe earthquake. It should be noted that this increase coincides with the occurrence of six seismic events. Each of these events had a magnitude M = 4.1. The evolution of seismicity along with the increase of q M indicate the system's transition away from equilibrium and its preparation for energy release. It seems that the variations of q M values reflect rather well the physical evolution towards the 1995 Kobe earthquake.

A Description of Seismicity Based on Non-extensive Statistical Physics: A Review

“…Moreover, Papadakis et al (2014) used the non-extensive formalism to decode the evolution of seismicity towards the January 17, 1995 Kobe earthquake (M = 7.2), in the southwestern part of Japan.…”

A Non-Extensive Statistical Mechanics View on Easter Island Seamounts Volume Distribution

“…As q increases the physical state (in the sense of statistical physics) becomes much more complex. Note that our results are not based on an empirical guess for the seamount volume distribution but derived from the first principle of non-extensive Tsallis entropy formalism, which is completely universal and has a long range of application [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. The physical meaning underlying the non-extensive entropy formalism is that the final geophysical state can be considered as a collection of heating parts which, after division, have the sum of individual entropies larger than the entropy of the initial state.…”

“…, the extremization of S q with the above constraints yields to the probability distribution of p(V) as [18][19][20][21]:…”

“…Since they are key components of Earth physics processes, Tsallis statistical mechanics is suitable to explore the distribution of seamounts in ESC. Its applicability in Earth and planetary physics has been demonstrated in a series of recent publications on seismicity [16][17][18][19][20][21], natural hazards [22,23], plate tectonics [24], geomagnetic reversals [25], rock physics [26], applied geophysics [27], and Earth's and Mars' fault-length distributions [28][29][30].…”

Ambulance Service Resource Planning for Extreme Temperatures: Analysis of Ambulance 999 Calls during Episodes of Extreme Temperature in London, UK

“…The key parameter is q which measures deviations from classical entropy i.e., it characterizes extreme and behavior. The closer it is to unity the more normally distributed is x and the further it deviates upward from unity the more extreme x is [13][14][15]. In other words, the estimated value of q reflects the absence or existence of extreme values of ambulance 999 calls (low or high values).…”