SEISMICITY of the CRIMEAN-BLACK SEA REGION in 2015

Abstract

In 2015, 58 earthquakes were registered in Crimea in the range of energy classes КП=5.2–10.8. The bulk of the epicenters refers to the Black Sea. The maximum density of epicenters can be traced in Alushta (№ 3) area and in the Kerch-Anapa area (№ 5). Spectral and dynamic parameters of their foci were obtained for 16 events in the region; and for 1 of them a focal mechanism solution was obtained. Seismic processes in the Crimean-Black Sea region were monitored by seven stationary digital seismic stations. In February, the «Tarkhankut» observation point was closed. Representative registration of earthquakes with Кп=9.0 is still provided for main part of the Crimean-Black Sea region. A peculiarity of spatial distribution of earthquakes is the occurrence of two strongest earthquakes in the year under consideration with КП=10.8 in the Kerch-Anapa (№ 5) and Azovo-Kuban (№ 7) areas. The maximum (Кп=10.8, MLWSG=3.8, Mw=3.8) earthquake occurred on August 16 at 22h38m in the Kerch-Anapa region at the depth of h=7 km. This shock caused tremors in Anapa with the intensity of I=2 according the MSK-64 scale. 2015 is characterized by weak seismic activity. The total number of registered earthquakes, ΣN=58, decreased against ΣN=119 in 2014 and is below than the average Nav=69 for the ten-year observation period (2004–2013). The annual seismic energy is ΣE=1.491011J, that is 5.6 times less than the average value ΣEav=8.41011J for the ten-year period. This suggests that we can expect increased seismicity in the region in subsequent years.