Visualising Earthquakes: Plate Boundaries and Seismic Decay

By visualising seismic data in three dimensions, it becomes evident that epicentres cluster along boundaries formed by colliding plates. These boundaries appear to be solid structures, established years before the mainshock, and remain largely stationary even after the event concludes. Major earthquakes tend to occur along such surfaces, and because seismic activity increases in these regions prior to a mainshock, their observation may provide a basis for earthquake prediction. With plate positions near Japan now more clearly defined, existing models require revision. Furthermore, analysis reveals that both the number of aftershocks and the seismic energy released during a mainshock decay with distinct half-lives. This represents a fundamentally different decay pattern from the formula long regarded as correct. Employing modern statistical methods therefore yields more accurate insights, essential both for advancing our understanding of earthquake mechanisms and for improving predictive capability.