Characteristic Depth Distribution of Crustal Earthquakes in Southern Siberia

Abstract—The key parameters of an earthquake are magnitude, epicenter coordinates, and depth. Depth has often a crucial influence on the macroseismic effect from certain earthquakes. This makes the statistics of earthquake occurrences at certain depths important information, e.g., for the assessment of seismic risk. In this work, catalogs of continental crustal earthquakes in the Southern Siberia are analyzed. The distributions of earthquake depths are approximated by various functions. The Weibull distribution, with a maximum at 8 km, is shown to be the most accurate to describe the depth distribution of these crustal earthquakes. The Weibull distribution is also preferred when considering the western (Altai‒Sayan) and eastern (Baikal Rift Zone) parts of the region separately. The maximum of the distribution is found to be at 9 km depth for the Baikal rift zone and at 7 km for the Altai‒Sayan zone.