Reviving m B

Abstract

We determine m B , the original body wave magnitude developed by Gutenberg and Richter over the period 1942-1956, for about 3300 M w ≥ 6 earthquakes for the period 1988-present using modern broad-band seismograms. The main objective is to extend the database of energy-related parameters by combining m B databases for recent and old events. The radiated energy E R-B (in erg) computed from m B using the Gutenberg & Richter relation log E R-B = 2.4 m B + 5.8 agrees very well with E R estimated with modern techniques, especially for large deep earthquakes. Thus, E R-B is useful as a proxy for E R to investigate the global diversity of earthquake characteristics and physics over an extended period of time.