Seismic moments of major earthquakes and the average rate of slip in central Asia

Abstract

Seismic moments for 12 major earthquakes (M ≥ 7.6) in central Asia from 1911 to 1967 were calculated from long-period Rayleigh and Love wave spectral densities. With fault lengths estimated from geological field observations of surface faulting, intensity distributions, or master event relocations of aftershocks, the calculated moments place bounds on the average slip and fault widths. The following table summarizes the calculated moments, estimated fault lengths, and inferred possible average displacements.