Violation of the scaling relation and non-Markovian nature of earthquake aftershocks

TL;DR

This paper investigates the statistical properties of earthquake aftershocks, revealing that their behavior violates expected scaling relations and indicating a non-Markovian process, which challenges traditional models.

Contribution

It provides evidence that earthquake aftershocks are non-Markovian, demonstrating a significant violation of the scaling relation for Omori law exponents and calm time distributions.

Findings

Significant violation of the scaling relation for aftershock exponents

Evidence of non-Markovian dynamics in earthquake aftershocks

Challenges to traditional Markovian models of seismic activity

Abstract

The statistical properties of earthquake aftershocks are studied. The scaling relation for the exponents of the Omori law and the power-law calm time distribution (i.e., the interoccurrence time distribution), which is valid if a sequence of aftershocks is a singular Markovian process, is carefully examined. Data analysis shows significant violation of the scaling relation, implying the non-Markovian nature of aftershocks.