The implications of foreshocks on mainshock triggering

Large earthquakes (mainshocks) are sometimes preceded by small-magnitude events called foreshocks. Foreshocks are the only detectable earthquake signals before the mainshock and thus, attract interest in using foreshocks’ properties to predict mainshock. It has been hypothesized a two end-member triggering mechanisms of foreshock, the cascade model and the aseismic slip model but results are often controversial and may be a combination of both models. A comprehensive analysis of the foreshock-mainshock sequence helps us deduce the contribution of each model. In this study, we are going to use the spatiotemporal evolution of foreshocks, seismic waveform analysis, and stress change to deduce which model is the best explanation of the triggering mechanism of the targeted sequence and aim at using the findings in this study to apply on future earthquakes.

Faculty Supervisor:

Semechah K.Y. Lui

Student:

Partner:

The University of Tokyo

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Toronto

Program: