Classification of Distinct Seismic Regions and Regional Temporal Modelling of Seismicity in the Vicinity of the Hellenic Seismic Arc

Abstract

This paper investigates the presence and potential discrimination of distinct seismic regions in the vicinity of the Hellenic seismic arc focusing on its southern front. Seismological maps indicate the presence of several seismic swarms forming within the region of the Hellenic arc, which appear to be either distinct or interacting together in groups of two or more. The identification of the number of possibly individual seismic clusters in a seismological area is a very challenging task by itself, which becomes even more complicated when investigating their outer boundaries especially in the case of multiple interacting clusters. Complementary to that, the paper also investigates the possible temporal correlation of mid-intervals of consecutive large earthquakes and patterns in seismic activity during their preparation process in the vicinity of the southern Hellenic arc which is shown to be a possible distinct seismic region.