Do Big and Little Earthquakes Start Differently?

1996/02/16 by J. E. Vidale · 4 citations
Computer Science · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Computer science #Earthquake Detection and Analysis #Earthquake swarm #Geology #History #Induced seismicity #Perspective (graphical) #Remotely triggered earthquakes #Seismology #Seismology and Earthquake Studies #earthquake and tectonic studies

paper · doi:10.1126/science.271.5251.953

openalex publication_date 1996/02/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23

Abstract

Can the occurrence of earthquakes be predicted? This question has profound social and scientific implications, but little is known about what triggers earthquakes or what precursor events might indicate one is about to happen. In his Perspective, Vidale reviews recent findings that attempt to resolve the question of whether large earthquakes are initiated by different mechanisms than smaller ones.

Citations

• Evaluation and interpretation of thirteen official van—telegrams for the period September 10, 1986 to April 28, 1988
• Seismic Evidence for an Earthquake Nucleation Phase

Cited by

• Earthquake prediction: a critical review
• Earthquake prediction: a political problem?
• Earthquakes and the Moon: Syzygy Predictions Fail the Test
• Earthquake prediction [wikipedia]