On Incorrectness in Elastic Rebound Theory for Cause of Earthquakes

Abstract The elastic rebound theory was developed 100 years ago from the observations of co-seismic surface ruptures induced by the 1906 California Earthquake. It is only partially correct because it associates earthquakes with geological faults. However, it is inconsistent and even violates many other phenomena that were present before, during and after earthquakes. Numerous failures have been encountered and experienced in the tremendous efforts using the elastic rebound theory in the prediction of earthquakes over the past 100 years. Many current seismo-geologist and seismologists have lost their original goals to predict earthquakes and turned to believe that earthquakes are unpredictable with present techniques. All these problems are due to the fact that the incorrect elastic rebound theory for cause of earthquakes was used in the investigation and prediction of earthquakes. The paper also shows that the energy released during earthquake is not the elastic stress and strain energy accumulated in brittle crustal rock solids during relative movements of tectonic plates. The released energy is the volumetric expansion energy of highly compressed and dense natural gas rapidly escaped from its deep crustal traps via fault channels. This gas hypothesis for the cause of earthquakes would make earthquake predicable in the near future.