Wavelet-based multiscale resolution analysis of real and simulated time-series of earthquakes

SUMMARY This study introduces a new approach (based on the Continuous Wavelet Transform Modulus Maxima method) to describe qualitatively and quantitatively the complex temporal patterns of seismicity, their multifractal and clustering properties in particular. Firstly, we analyse the temporal characteristics of intermediate-depth seismic activity (M ≥ 2.6 events) in the Vrancea region, Romania, from 1974 to 2002. The second case studied is the shallow, crustal seismicity (M ≥ 1.5 events), which occurred from 1976 to 1995 in a relatively large region surrounding the epicentre of the 1995 Kobe earthquake (Mw = 6.9). In both cases we have declustered the earthquake catalogue and selected only the events with M ≥ Mc (where Mc is the magnitude of completeness) before analysis. The results obtained in the case of the Vrancea region show that for a relatively large range of scales, the process is nearly monofractal and random (does not display correlations). For the second case, two scaling regions can be readily noticed. At small scales (i.e. hours to days) the series display multifractal behaviour, while at larger scales (days