Search

ABSTRACT: Numerical modeling of earthquake dynamics and derived insight for seismic hazard relies on credible, reproducible model results. The sequences of earthquakes and aseismic slip (SEAS) initiative has set out to facilitate community code comparisons, and verify and advance the next generation of physics-based earthquake models that reproduce all phases of the seismic cycle. With the goal of advancing SEAS models to robustly incorporate physical and geometrical complexities, here we present code comparison results from two new benchmark problems: BP1-FD considers full elastodynamic effects, and BP3-QD considers dipping fault geometries. Seven and eight modeling groups participated in BP1-FD and BP3-QD, respectively, allowing us to explore these physical ingredients across multiple codes and better understand associated numerical considerations. With new comparison metrics, we find that numerical resolution and computational domain size are critical parameters to obtain matching results. Codes for BP1-FD implement different criteria for switching between quasi-static and dynamic solvers, which require tuning to obtain matching results. In BP3-QD, proper remote boundary conditions consistent with specified rigid body translation are required to obtain matching surface displacements. With these numerical and mathematical issues resolved, we obtain excellent quantitative agreements among codes in earthquake interevent times, event moments, and coseismic slip, with reasonable agreements made in peak slip rates and rupture arrival time. We find that including full inertial effects generates events with larger slip rates and rupture speeds compared to the quasi-dynamic counterpart. For BP3-QD, both dip angle and sense of motion (thrust versus normal faulting) alter ground motion on the hanging and foot walls, and influence event patterns, with some sequences exhibiting similar-size characteristic earthquakes, and others exhibiting different-size events. These findings underscore the importance of considering full elastodynamics and nonvertical dip angles in SEAS models, as both influence short- and long-term earthquake behavior and are relevant to seismic hazard.

The feasibility of physics-based forecasting of earthquakes depends on how well models can be calibrated to represent earthquake scenarios given uncertainties in both models and data. We investigate whether data assimilation can estimate current and future fault states, i.e., slip rate and shear stress, in the presence of a bias in the friction parameter. We perform state estimation as well as combined state-parameter estimation using a sequential-importance resampling particle filter in a zero-dimensional (0D) generalization of the Burridge–Knopoff spring–block model with rate-and-state friction. Minor changes in the friction parameter ϵ can lead to different state trajectories and earthquake characteristics. The performance of data assimilation with respect to estimating the fault state in the presence of a parameter bias in ϵ depends on the magnitude of the bias. A small parameter bias in ϵ (+3 %) can be compensated for very well using state estimation (R2 = 0.99), whereas an intermediate bias (- 14 %) can only be partly compensated for using state estimation (R2 = 0.47). When increasing particle spread by accounting for model error and an additional resampling step, R2 increases to 0.61. However, when there is a large bias (- 43 %) in ϵ , only state-parameter estimation can fully account for the parameter bias (R2 = 0.97). Thus, simultaneous state and parameter estimation effectively separates the error contributions from friction and shear stress to correctly estimate the current and future shear stress and slip rate. This illustrates the potential of data assimilation for the estimation of earthquake sequences and provides insight into its application in other nonlinear processes with uncertain parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feasibility of physics-based forecasting of earthquakes depends on how well models can be calibrated to represent earthquake scenarios given uncertainties in both models and data. We investigate whether data assimilation can estimate current and future fault states, i.e., slip rate and shear stress, in the presence of a bias in the friction parameter. We perform state estimation as well as combined state-parameter estimation using a sequential importance resampling particle filter in a 0D generalization of the Burridge-Knopoff spring-block model with rate-and-state friction. Minor changes in the friction parameter ϵ can lead to different state trajectories and earthquake characteristics. The performance of data assimilation in estimating the fault state in the presence of a parameter bias in ϵ depends on the magnitude of the bias. A small parameter bias in ϵ (+3 %) can be compensated very well using state estimation (R² = 0.99), whereas an intermediate bias (-14 %) can only be compensated partly (R² = 0.47). When increasing particle spread by accounting for model error and an additional resampling step R² increases to 0.61. However, when there is a large bias (-43 %) in ϵ, only state-parameter estimation can fully account for the parameter bias (R² = 0.97). Simultaneous state- and parameter estimation thus effectively separates error contributions from friction and shear stress to correctly estimate current and future shear stress and slip rate. This illustrates the potential of data assimilation for estimation of earthquake sequences and provides insight into its application in other non-linear processes with uncertain parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]