Source Mechanisms of Earthquakes
Theory and Practice

An innovative new approach to studying earthquake source mechanisms, combining theory and observation, for graduate students, researchers and seismology professionals.

Agustín Udías (Author), Raúl Madariaga (Author), Elisa Buforn (Author)

9781107040274, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 24 April 2014

311 pages, 154 b/w illus. 10 tables
25.3 x 19.3 x 1.8 cm, 0.83 kg

'This is an up-to-date, comprehensive, quantitative treatment of an important topic in seismology. It is unique in that theory and data analysis are both discussed in-depth, and it covers fundamental ideas from the 1960s to the very latest developments, making it the essential text for graduate students and researchers. Along with its very complete bibliography, it will become the Bible of the subject.' Professor Shamita Das, University of Oxford

This book presents an innovative new approach to studying source mechanisms of earthquakes, combining theory and observation in a unified methodology, with a key focus on the mechanics governing fault failures. It explains source mechanisms by building from fundamental concepts such as the equations of elasticity theory to more advanced problems including dislocation theory, kinematic models and fracture dynamics. The theory is presented first in student-friendly form using consistent notation throughout, and with full, detailed mathematical derivations that enable students to follow each step. Later chapters explain the widely-used practical modelling methods for source mechanism determination, linking clearly to the theoretical foundations, and highlighting the processing of digital seismological data. Providing a unique balance between application techniques and theory, this is an ideal guide for graduate students and researchers in seismology, tectonophysics, geodynamics and geomechanics, and a valuable practical resource for professionals working in seismic hazard assessment and seismic engineering.

Preface
1. Earthquakes and fault motion
2. Processing and analysis of recorded seismic signals
3. Mathematical representation of the source
4. Point source models
5. The seismic moment tensor
6. Determination of point sources
7. Kinematic extended sources
8. Determination of source dimensions
9. Simple dynamic models
10. Dynamics of fractures. Homogeneous models
11. Dynamics of fractures. Heterogeneous models
12. Determination of dynamic parameters
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Geology & the lithosphere [RBG], Earth sciences [RB], Earth sciences, geography, environment, planning [R], Mathematics & science [P]