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Application of the region–time–length algorithm to study of earthquake precursors in the Thailand–Laos–Myanmar borders

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Abstract

In order to examine the precursory seismic quiescence of upcoming hazardous earthquakes, the seismicity data available in the vicinity of the Thailand–Laos–Myanmar borders was analyzed using the Region–Time–Length (RTL) algorithm based statistical technique. The utilized earthquake data were obtained from the International Seismological Centre. Thereafter, the homogeneity and completeness of the catalogue were improved. After performing iterative tests with different values of the \(r_{0}\) and \(t_{0}\) parameters, those of \(r_{0}\) = 120 km and \(t_{0}\) = 2 yr yielded reasonable estimates of the anomalous RTL scores, in both temporal variation and spatial distribution, of a few years prior to five out of eight strong-to-major recognized earthquakes. Statistical evaluation of both the correlation coefficient and stochastic process for the RTL were checked and revealed that the RTL score obtained here excluded artificial or random phenomena. Therefore, the prospective earthquake sources mentioned here should be recognized and effective mitigation plans should be provided.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the Ratchadapisek Sompoch Endowment Fund (2017), Chulalongkorn University (760003-CC). Thanks are also extended to T Pailoplee for the preparation of the draft manuscript. The authors thank the Office of Research Affairs, Chulalongkorn University, for a critical review and improved English. The authors acknowledge thoughtful comments and suggestions by the editors and anonymous reviewers that enhanced the quality of this manuscript significantly.

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  1. Morphology of Earth Surface and Advanced Geohazards in Southeast Asia Research Unit (MESA RU), Department of Geology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    P Puangjaktha & S Pailoplee

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  1. P Puangjaktha
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  2. S Pailoplee
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Correspondence to S Pailoplee.

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Corresponding editor: N V Chalapathi Rao.

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Puangjaktha, P., Pailoplee, S. Application of the region–time–length algorithm to study of earthquake precursors in the Thailand–Laos–Myanmar borders. J Earth Syst Sci 127, 36 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-018-0939-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-018-0939-y

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