Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/R45918/01
Title:	An Investigation of the Origin and Nature of the Gutenberg-Richter Relation
Principal Investigator:	Steacy, Professor S
Other Investigators:	Morrow, Professor PJ McCloskey, Professor J
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Sch of Environmental Sciences
Organisation:	University of Ulster
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	19 March 2002	Ends:	18 February 2004	Value (£):	61,959
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Ground Engineering
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Construction
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Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
One of the most fundamental observations in earthquake physics is the Gutenberg-Richter relation, the realization that the size-frequency distribution of regional earthquake populations are almost invariably power-law. There are two end member explanations for this relation, which have fundament different implications for our understanding of the earthquake process and for seismic hazard research. In one view, the Gutenberg-Richter is simply due to the superposition of power-law distributions on individual faults. In such a model, there is no such thing as a special earthquake as all events statistically equivalent. An opposing model is that the Gutenberg-Richter relation is due to the superposition of characteristic earthquakes on a fracta set of faults; each fault fails in only one size event that is related to the fault length. In this model, relaxation is dominant and large earthquakes form distinct population within the distribution and may theoretically be predictable. Understanding the origin of the GRR and the discrimination between these end members or the identification of factors controlling, for example, the roles of relaxation and stress concentration remain some of the cents problems facing earthquake physicists today. In this project we aim to address these questions by using fault network models which have been previously developed by the principle investigator. These sophisticated models require considerable computing power which will be developed, prim using existing resources, as part of the project.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.ulst.ac.uk