A spatio-temporal analogue of the Omori-Utsu law of aftershock sequences

Abstract

A spatio-temporal version of the well-known Omori-Utsu law of aftershock sequences is proposed. This 'diffusive Omori-Utsu law' satisfies a nonlinear partial differential equation (PDE). A similarity reduction is obtained that reduces the PDE to an ordinary differential equation (ODE). A nonzero constant solution of this ODE leads to the usual Omori-Utsu law. An exact and explicit similarity solution is found that corresponds to the original Omori law. An initial value problem for the 'diffusive Omori-Utsu law' is also considered, and whose spatio-temporal dynamics are described by bounding functions that satisfy nonlinear, but linearisable, PDEs. Numerical results are also provided.