Evidence of non-extensivity in the seismicity observed during the 2011–2012 unrest at the Santorini volcanic complex, Greece

Abstract

During the period of October 2011–January 2012, an increase of earthquake activity has been observed in the volcanic complex of Santorini Island, Greece. Herein, the magnitude distribution of earthquakes as well as the temporal distribution of seismicity are studied. The statistics of both parameters exhibit complexity that is evident in the frequency-magnitude distribution and the inter-event time distribution, respectively. Because of this, we have used the analysis framework of non-extensive statistical physics (NESP), which seems suitable for studying complex systems. The observed inter-event time distribution for the swarm-like earthquake events, as well as the energy and the inter-event earthquake energy distributions for the observed seismicity can be successfully described with NESP, indicating the inherent complexity of the Santorini volcanic seismicity along with the applicability of the NESP concept to volcanic earthquake activity, where complex correlations exist.