Scale-invariance properties in seismicity of Southern Apennine Chain (Italy)

Advanced statistical methodologies have been applied to detect temporal and spatial scaling-invariance laws in seismicity observed in a seismogenetic area of the Southern Apennine chain, which in past and recent years was devastated by destructive events. A deeper analysis of the seismicity observed in this area during the period 1983-1995 is presented. A counting statistical procedure has been applied to highlight scaling laws in the time domain and a fractal approach has been carried out to reveal spatial self-similarity. The main features of the dynamic system under study have been depicted using the key parameters of the more recurrent scaling laws observed in the spatial and temporal domains and we point out that the seismotectonic environment of the Southern Apennine chain can be considered as an extended dissipative system. The comparative analysis of different dynamical parameters of earthquake sequences provides a more comprehensive evaluation of seismotectonic processes in the investigated area.