Seismic Potential for the World's Major Plate Boundaries: 1981

Abstract

Specific temporal and tectonic criteria are useful for estimating the potential for large interplate earthquakes to occur along segments of the world's major plate boundaries. Thirteen shocks of Ms≥7.5 have occurred in previously identified seismic gaps (i.e. regions of relatively high seismic potential) since 1968. This report updates the map of seismic potential for the Pacific, Caribbean, Indonesian and South Sandwich regions for January 1, 1981. It also introduces our estimates of the seismic potential for the New Zealand region.