Publication Date
1985
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
First Advisor
Ervin, C. Patrick
Degree Name
M.S. (Master of Science)
Legacy Department
Department of Geology
LCSH
Earthquakes--Missouri--New Madrid region; Seismology--Missouri--New Madrid region
Abstract
The northern Mississippi Embayment has been characterized as a seismological enigma due to the occurrence and historical severity of seismic activity. This study tries to provide insight as to periodicity of seismic activity and possible factors responsible for this activity by correlation of gravity, seismic and hydrologic patterns. The Maximum Likelihood method of spectral analysis was used to detect dominant periodicities in energy release for long-term (1914-1983) and short-term (July 1976-June 1984) earthquake data sets from a 1.5° x 1.6° earthquake window centered over New Madrid, Mo. Periodicities of long-term data, consisting of 3 mb and greater earthquakes, revealed dominant cycles of 35 and 3.7 years in energy release. Short-term data using events of all magnitudes, revealed cycles of 4.6 and 6.5 months. Short-term release rates are 3.5 times below the long-term, suggesting a possible increase in energy release in the near future. The energy equivalent of a 5.3 mb event would return the rate to the average value. Patterns of gravity change in the area were both cyclic and abrupt. Stations along the Mississippi River exhibited correlations with change in river stage, although patterns that might be used as precursors to seismic activity were not observed. Correlations between short-term, monthly, seismic activity and stage suggested a six month lag between stage and both events and energy release. Although river loading may be the primary factor inducing the variations, it is probably not the only mechanism. Unrelated variations in gravity and seismic data still remain unexplained.
Recommended Citation
Mento, Dean J., "Spectral analysis of earthquake data and correlations with gravity and hydrologic changes in the New Madrid Seismic Zone" (1985). Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations. 5007.
https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/allgraduate-thesesdissertations/5007
Extent
viii, 137 pages
Language
eng
Publisher
Northern Illinois University
Rights Statement
In Copyright
Rights Statement 2
NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.
Media Type
Text
Comments
Bibliography: pages 98-106.