Earthquake

Abstract

In this chapter we take up again the issue of catastrophe and self-organized criticality. Here we develop a model of an earthquake, following the example given by Bak and Chen.1 The model consists of three major modules: the quake region, a monitor, and a selector. The quake region is where all the excitement happens in this model; it is where the earthquakes are actually simulated and can be watched. The monitor keeps track of the strength of the earthquake, and the selector enables you to easilty adjust for subsequent runs the key model conditions, such as the location of the epicenter and quake size.

All its banded anarchs fled, Like vultures frighted. Before an earthquake’s tread. P. B.Shelley, Hellas, 1821 in: Percy Bysshe Shelley, Selected Poetry and Pose, Alasdair D.F. Macrae (ed.), Routledge, London (1991)

We wish to thank Mattox Beckman for his contributions to this chapter.