研究表明，基于一个范围很宽的周期，慢地震的线性标度仍然是有效的，但作为一个明确定义的约1013Nm/s的矩速度上限，慢地震和快地震标度之间的矩速率的巨大差异仍未被填补。慢地震发生在可探测阈值附近，因此研究人员无法探测到具有较低矩速率的形变事件。在慢地震类别中观察到的趋势支持了这一观点，即这个不可观察的场是由较低矩率的事件构成的。
这项研究提议的标度应该被认为是慢地震的界限或速度极限。研究人员认为慢地震代表扩散传播，矩速率的界限反映了扩散过程速度的上限。相比之下，普通地震是作为地震波传播和断裂之间的耦合过程发生的。因此，即使这两种现象都以剪切滑移的形式出现，缩放比例的差异反映了控制传播的物理过程的差异。
据介绍，慢地震的标度律是地震矩和持续时间之间的线性关系，这一观点在15年前提出，并引发了一场关于控制慢地震和快地震(普通地震)的物理过程差异的辩论。
附：英文原文
Title: Slow earthquake scaling reconsidered as a boundary between distinct modes of rupture propagation
Author: Ide, Satoshi, Beroza, Gregory C.
Issue&Volume: 2023-7-31
Abstract: The scaling law for slow earthquakes, which is a linear relationship between seismic moment and duration, was proposed 15 y ago and initiated a debate on the difference in physical processes governing slow vs. fast (ordinary) earthquakes. Based on new observations across a wide period range, we show that linear scaling of slow earthquakes remains valid, but as a well-defined upper bound on moment rate of ~1013 Nm/s. The large gap in moment-rate between the scaling of slow and fast earthquakes remains unfilled. Slow earthquakes occur near the detectability threshold, such that we are unable to detect deformation events with lower moment rates. Observed trends within slow earthquake categories support the idea that this unobservable field is populated with events of lower moment rate. This suggests a change in perspective – that the proposed scaling should be considered as a bound, or speed limit, on slow earthquakes. We propose that slow earthquakes represent diffusional propagation, and that the bound on moment rate reflects an upper limit on the speed of those diffusional processes. Ordinary earthquakes, in contrast, occur as a coupled process between seismic wave propagation and fracture. Thus, even though both phenomena occur as shear slip, the difference of scaling reflects a difference in the physical process governing propagation.
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2222102120
Source: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2222102120