On a simple method for determining the potential strain energy stored in the earth before a large earthquake

Abstract

This paper describes a technique for determining the potential energy of deformed material around a future earthquake rupture, with this energy being stored during the precursory period. The basic parameters are the following: rupture length on the Earth’s surface after the earthquake has occurred L, rupture depth h, and the relative block movement along the rupture strike line \(\bar u\). We compared the results for 44 large earthquakes with those derived by determining seismic wave energy from earthquake magnitude.