ESTIMATION OF MAGNITUDES OF OLD EARTHQUAKES IN THE GORNYI ALTAI REGION BASED ON ANALYSIS OF SEISMOGRAVITATIONAL DISLOCATIONS

Abstract

Estimation of the magnitudes of old earthquakes is a necessary condition for assessing seismic hazards and for seismotectonic zonation of active regions of the Earth. In this paper, we propose a new approach to the estimation of magnitudes of old earthquakes based on statistical analysis of landslide–slump (hereafter, seismogravitational) dislocations. This approach significantly extends the range of application of the paleoseismogeological method, which previously was based primarily on the study of fractures and the use of gravitational dislocations for establishing epicentral zones and the timing of old earthquakes.