A two-fractal overlap model of earthquakes

Abstract

We introduce here the two-fractal model of earthquake dynamics. As the fractured surfaces have self-affine properties, we consider the solid-solid interface of the earth's crust and the tectonic plate below as fractal surfaces. The overlap or contact area between the two surfaces give a measure of the stored elastic energy released during a slip. The overlap between two fractals change with time as one moves over the other and we show that the time average of the overlap distribution follows a Gutenberg-Richter like power-law, with similar exponent value.