Spatial-temporal analysis of a seismic series using the principal components method: the Antequera Series, Spain, 1989

Abstract

A method for the characterization of a seismically active zone from a distribution of hypocenters is presented. This method is based on principal components analysis, a powerful multivariant statistical technique that is used to find the rupture local ellipsoid (RLE). The ellipsoid is a planar structure with which two variations of the method are developed: the spatial principal components analysis and the spatial-temporal principal components analysis. The methodology developed has been applied to a series of earthquakes that occurred near Antequera, Spain, with the result that the main fracture series trends N70°-80°E. Moreover, the temporal evolution of the system from the most relevant RLE has been characterized. -from Authors