Is a Shock Wave a Source of Seismic Events? Physics, Mechanics, and Kinematics of Mega-Earthquakes

Abstract

The theory of Mr. Reid’s Elastic recoil, which interprets the origin of earthquakes as the emission of elastic deformation of rocks of the earth's crust, is a sketchy description and is not able to explain in detail the mechanism of earthquakes. This applies not only to the description of exotic types of tremors, such as frost quakes, but also to the classics of Elastic recoil associated with the movement of tectonic plates: seismic events at great depths, an earthquake swarm of a tectonic and volcanic nature. The most important part of seismological research, mega earthquakes with their colossal energy release, does not fit into the framework of the theory of Elastic recoil. For example, the power of the Great Chilean earthquake of 1960 was equivalent to an explosion of 32 billion tons of TNT or 1.33 × 1020 J, which is comparable to the world electricity consumption in 2005 (5⋅1020 J). The energy of a nuclear bomb explosion over Hiroshima was ≈ 15 Kt TNT, which corresponds to the complete conversion into energy less than 1 gram of matter: {15 Kt TNT = 63⋅1012 J, E = mc2, m = E / c2 = 63⋅1012 J. / (3⋅108 m / s) 2 = 0.7 g.} Accordingly, during the Great Chilean earthquake, 1477770 grams of the matter was converted into energy! The calculated figures clearly demonstrate the incomparability of the mechanical strength of terrestrial rocks with such an energy level. Therefore, the question arises: if the source of the earthquake does not have the physical ability to achieve such an energy level, then what is the source of gig earthquakes? We propose to go beyond the theory of Elastic recoil and imagine that an earthquake is generated by a force that suddenly appears in the bowels of the earth and is not related to the forces of elasticity. In this case, the physics and mechanism of earthquakes become easily explainable and simulated. This paper discusses the hypothesis where a shock wave acts as the source of earthquakes and in some case can generate plasma and a thermonuclear reaction. As an example, the physics and mechanics of the occurrence of the mega earthquakes, swarm earthquakes of tectonic, volcanic and deep-focus earthquakes are shown.