Scaling in a cellular automaton model of earthquake faults

TL;DR

This paper investigates the scaling behavior of earthquake events in a cellular automaton fault model, identifying three distinct regimes and discussing large breakout events as fluctuations near a critical point.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework and simulation data revealing multiple scaling regions and characterizing large events as critical fluctuations.

Findings

Identification of three scaling regions in earthquake models

Large breakout events are outside the scaling regimes

Interpretation of events as fluctuations near a spinodal critical point

Abstract

We present theoretical arguments and simulation data indicating that the scaling of earthquake events in models of faults with long-range stress transfer is composed of at least three distinct regions. These regions correspond to three classes of earthquakes with different underlying physical mechanisms. In addition to the events that exhibit scaling, there are larger ``breakout'' events that are not on the scaling plot. We discuss the interpretation of these events as fluctuations in the vicinity of a spinodal critical point.