Earthquake stress drop and laboratory-inferred interseismic strength recovery

We determine the scaling relationships between earthquake stress drop and recurrence interval tr that are implied by laboratory‐measured fault strength. We assume that repeating earthquakes can be simulated by stick‐slip sliding using a spring and slider block model. Simulations with static/kinetic strength, time‐dependent strength, and rate‐ and state‐variable‐dependent strength indicate that the relationship between loading velocity and recurrence interval can be adequately described by the power law VL∝trn where n≈−1. Deviations from n=−1 arise from second order effects on strength, with n>−1 corresponding to apparent time‐dependent strengthening and n