The depth of the deepest historical earthquakes

Beth A. Rees; Emile A. Okal

doi:10.1007/BF00878029

The depth of the deepest historical earthquakes

Beth A. Rees^*, Emile A. Okal

^*Corresponding author for this work

Earth and Planetary Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

We use P and S times listed in the International Seismological Summary to relocate 23 historical earthquakes (1927-1963) reported as occurring at or below 670 km. In all cases, our relocated hypocenters are shallower than the starting depths; furthermore, all events converge to 691 km or less, with a precision estimated at ±10 km. This study upholds the results of Stark and Frohlich, who had used pP-P times of post-WWSSN earthquakes to constrain reliable hypocentral depths to no greater than 684 km. In particular, we reject Rothé's claim that a 1963 event in the vicinity of New Guinea occurred at a depth of more than 780 km.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	699-715
Number of pages	17
Journal	Pure and Applied Geophysics PAGEOPH
Volume	125
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00878029
State	Published - Sep 1 1987

Keywords

Benioff zones
Seismicity
historical earthquakes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geophysics
Geochemistry and Petrology

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10.1007/BF00878029

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AB - We use P and S times listed in the International Seismological Summary to relocate 23 historical earthquakes (1927-1963) reported as occurring at or below 670 km. In all cases, our relocated hypocenters are shallower than the starting depths; furthermore, all events converge to 691 km or less, with a precision estimated at ±10 km. This study upholds the results of Stark and Frohlich, who had used pP-P times of post-WWSSN earthquakes to constrain reliable hypocentral depths to no greater than 684 km. In particular, we reject Rothé's claim that a 1963 event in the vicinity of New Guinea occurred at a depth of more than 780 km.

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KW - Seismicity

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The depth of the deepest historical earthquakes

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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