TheArithmetic of Earthquakes, Dr.

Larry Barrows
Clear Lake Gem and Mineral Society, Jan 2017
Survey data from the San
Francisco Earthquake of 1906
showed a change in stored
elastic strain energy equal to
vibrations of earthquake
energy.

Nothing was known about the

sign of the change in stored
elastic strain energy.
This was assumed to be a
decrease in stored elastic
strain energy, leading to the
elastic rebound model.

The Arithmetic of Earthquakes

The decrease in stored

elastic strain energy led to

the elastic rebound model.
Stored elastic rebound
energy was assumed to be
released in earthquakes.
In subsequent years, the
theory of plate tectonics and
tectonophysics showed
gravity to be the source of
the tectonic stress.
The gravitational energy was
equally split between an
increase in stored elastic
strain energy and the
seismic wave energy.

The Arithmetic of Earthquakes

One of the authors, (Dr.
Larry Barrows), joined the
investigation into computer
models of gravity driven
tectonics and related
earthquakes in the 1970s.
This showed the earthquake
energy came from change in
gravitational potential of the
stress causing density
structures.
The gravitational energy was
equally split between an
increase in stored elastic
strain energy and the
seismic wave energy.

The Arithmetic of Earthquakes

In presenting this gravity
collapse mechanism to
earthquake seismologists, a
variety of opinions were
expressed, that essentially
rejected the role of gravity
in earthquake processes.
The rejection was at first
confusing, until I was
introduced to the problem of
Paradigms in Natural
Sciences (Thomas Kuhn,
Structure of Scientific
Revolutions).
From the perspective of a
paradigm shift, the opinions
were perfectly
understandable.

The understanding of
gravity and earthquakes
can be had by a study of
the mathematics.

See papers hyperlinked below.

Barrows- Barrows; Mechanics of
Gravity Driven Faulting
Barrows- Paul; A Finite Element
Modeling Approach to Gravitational
Tectonic Stress and Earthquakes
Barrows, Larry; The Effects of Locked
In Pressure on the Mechanics of
Faulting

Larry Barrows, C J Langer

Gravitational Potential As A Source of
Earthquake Energy
Barrows; Micro Gravity Surveying
New-Developments New Capabilities
Magnetic Surveying for Buried
Metallic Objects
WIPP Geohydrology The Implications
of KARST