Seismicity of the Central Kuril Islands before and after the catastrophic M = 8.3 (November 15, 2006) and M = 8.1 (January 13, 2007) earthquakes

Abstract

The data on foreshocks and aftershocks of the strongest earthquakes occurred in the area of Kuril island arc on November 15, 2006 (M _w = 8.3) and January 13, 2007 (M _w = 8.1) are compared. In 2006, two months before the catastrophic earthquake in November, the detailed seismological investigations were carried out with the use of bottom stations in the area of seismic gap in the Central Kuril arc. The maps of epicenters and vertical cross sections for the equal time intervals are compared. The clear difference between distributions of hypocenters in the periods of foreshocks and aftershocks is revealed. Earthquakes were not distributed within the limits of the seismoactive block in the Kuril arc during the foreshocks period; instead, boundaries of seismoactive zone abruptly narrowed and hypocenters concentrated largely within the Benioff zone.