Tectonics of source zones of strong earthquakes in the southeastern part of the Greater Caucasus

Abstract

The features of the distribution of earthquake sources in the territory of Azerbaijan have been studied. It has been identified that the sources of strong earthquakes are confined to zones of concentration of weak seismic shocks, which are inherent in active faults, characterized by a contrast of tectonic movements. This shows that by identifying the zones of concentration of sources of weak seismic shocks, it is possible to determine the source zones of strong earthquakes. The relationship between the length (L) of source zones and observed magnitudes (M) of earthquakes has been studied. The result obtained makes it possible to determine the maximum magnitude in potential source zones of strong earthquakes. One of the main tasks of modern seismology is to determine the source zones of strong earthquakes and their maximum magnitudes in these zones. This is necessary to assess the seismic hazard of the territories.

Keywords

• earthquakes
• seismotectonics
• tectonics of source zones
• active faults
• longitudinal and transverse structures
• concentration of seismic shocks