Primary component analysis method and reduction of seismicity parameters

Abstract

In the paper, the primary component analysis is made using 8 seismicity parameters of earthquake frequency N (Ml≥3.0), b-value, η-value, A(b)-value, Mf-value, Ac-value, C-value and D-value that reflect the characteristics of magnitude, time and space distribution of seismicity from different respects. By using the primary component analysis method, the synthesis parameter W reflecting the anomalous features of earthquake magnitude, time and space distribution can be gained. Generally, there is some relativity among the 8 parameters, but their variations are different in different periods. The earthquake prediction based on these parameters is not very well. However, the synthesis parameter W showed obvious anomalies before 13 earthquakes (MS≥5.8) occurred in North China, which indicates that the synthesis parameter W can reflect the anomalous characteristics of magnitude, time and space distribution of seismicity better. Other problems related to the conclusions drawn by the primary component analysis method are also discussed.