Prediction of Earthquakes

We start by introducing the reader to the mechanisms behind earthquake production, including the Elastic Rebound Theory and the theory of Plate Tectonics. We also discuss the quantification of earthquakes in terms of magnitude, intensity and energy released. A short review of the history of earthquake prediction is also given, along with a discussion of some of the latest attempts at discovering seismic precursors. The VAN method, and the controversy surrounding it are discussed in some depth in chapter 5, while the theory of Seismic Gaps is introduced in chapter 6. Experiments using cellular automata to model earthquake production are performed in chapter 7, and the resulting analysis presented. The use of mechanical models is explored in chapter 8, where the slider block model is analysed. The Hurst analysis of a time series is introduced, and real earthquake data analysed in detail. A short discussion of fractal dimensions is given in chapter 10, where we present some classic fractals such as the Sierpinski gasket and the Koch curve. The Hausdorff dimension is introduced, and the idea of Box counting dimension discussed. The calculation of the correlation dimension is then presented. This is then used in chapter 11, where we present a new prediction method, based upon fluctuations in the correlation dimension. The results obtained using this method are outlined, as are some hopes for the future of earthquake prediction