ENERGY STUDY OF THE EARTHQUAKES FROM
THE VRANCEA REGION. DATA ABOUT UPPER MANTLE

by IOSIF TRAIAN and IOSIF SIEGLINDE

An energy classification of the Vrancea earthquakes is performed. For the interval of magnitude, 2.5 < M < 5.5 the relation:

lg E = 10.5 + 2.0 M

is obtained. On the basis of the graph K = f(M), extrapolated in the range of small magnitudes, and of the nomogram drawn up by Fedotov, the magnitudes for 200 microearthquakes having occurred in the region and recorded at the seismic station Vrancioaia (– 0.3 < M < 2.5) were determined.
The graph lg (A/T) = f(M) presents a jump for S – P = 9s which corresponds to a discontinuity limit situated in the upper mantle at a depth of about 80 km. It is assumed that this is the upper limit of the low velocity layer.