Self-organized criticality in a continuous, nonconservative cellular automaton modeling earthquakes

A new nonconservative self-organized critical model is introduced that is equivalent to a quasistatic two-dimensional version of the Burridge-Knopoff spring-block model of earthquakes and displays a robust power-law behavior.

Abstract

We introduce a new nonconservative self-organized critical model. This model is equivalent to a quasistatic two-dimensional version of the Burridge-Knopoff spring-block model of earthquakes. Our model displays a robust power-law behavior. The exponent is not universal; rather it depends on the level of conservation. A dynamical phase transition from localized to nonlocalized behavior is seen as the level of conservation is increased. The model gives a good prediction of the Gutenberg-Richter law and an explanation to the variances in the observed b values.