19.17. Earthquake Recurrence and Return Period

Try these first

1. 1.

   What is a recurrence interval?

   Hint

   Think about what helps us predict future earthquakes.

2. 2.

   What does the letter N represent in the Gutenberg-Richter relationship?

   Hint

   N is not a random letter; it signifies quantity.

3. 3.

   What is the recurrence interval of earthquakes?

   • The time between two large earthquakes
   • The magnitude of an earthquake
   • The distance between earthquakes

   Hint

   Think about prediction.

4. 4.

   True or False: The Gutenberg-Richter relationship can be used to predict individual earthquakes.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Remember what statistical models can do.

5. 5.

   You have data showing large earthquakes on a fault line occurred in 1906, 1950, and 1988. What is the recurrence interval for this fault segment if the next earthquake is anticipated using this data?

   Hint

   Calculate the time between each event for a clearer picture.

6. 6.

   Evaluate the effectiveness of using the Gutenberg-Richter relationship for a region with very infrequent large earthquakes. What limitations might there be?

   Hint

   Consider the role of sample size in statistical models.