Spatial and Temporal Variations of b-Value and Fractal Analysis for the Makran Region

Abstract

During the last three decades, the eastern segment of the Makran subduction zone has been more active than the western segment. We analyze Makran seismicity using the NEIC catalog from 1973 to 2008. A temporal decrease of b-value in eastern Makran indicates that stress is increasing, which may signal a future sizable earthquake. Also, the spatial variation of b suggests that the western segment is less stressed compared to the eastern segment. It has been observed that the fractal dimension is approximately twice the b value. The seismicity pattern analyzed does hold a key to understanding the seismotectonics of the region.

Keywords:

• b-value
• fractal dimension
• Makran subduction zone