Self-Optimized Computational Method Calculating Robust b Values for Earthquake Catalogs Containing Small Number of Events.

Abstract

In the Gutenberg-Richter relation that describes the frequency-magnitude distribution of earthquakes, the b value represents the distribution's slope. Since b values can be used for mapping the dynamic response of earthquake source, methodologies for calculating robust b values are of great importance. Although nowadays software which is meant for statistical analysis of earthquake data can determine b values with high accuracy, in occasions where catalogs that contain small number of earthquake events, the produced results are not satisfactory. In this paper we present a new self-optimized algorithm for a more efficient calculation of the b value. The algorithm's results are compared with two widely known software for statistical analysis of earthquake data, showing a better performance in evaluating b values for earthquake catalogs containing small number of events.