Compilation and Earthquake Magnitude Homogenization to update the Libyan Catalogue

Abstract

The aim of this work is to compile and update a catalogue of the instrumentally recorded earthquakes in Libya, with uniform and homogeneous source parameters as required from the analysis of seismograms recorded by Libyan seismological network (LNSN) as well as earthquake recordings gathered from the international seismological center (ISC). This in turn requires a detailed analysis and comparison of the properties of different available sources, including the distribution of events with time and magnitude completeness and compilation of different magnitudes reported by ISC and LNSN. The observational data cover the time interval 1900 to 2018 and an area between 18° - 34° N and 8° - 26° E. Using the best linear relationship identified between the magnitudes and the seismic moment, and by analysis of relative seismograms recorded by LNSN we convert whenever possible the different magnitude types into moment magnitudes Mw. Analysis of the catalogue completeness based on the different types of magnitudes thus estimated, the interval of 1900 to 1972 appears to be complete for magnitudes ≥ 4.0 while the interval of 1973 to 2018 can be considered complete for magnitudes ≥ 3.0. An update of the Libyan seismicity map with the compiled catalogue data is thus can be constructed