In the last decade of the 20th century, there has been great progress in the physics of earthquake generation; that is, the introduction of laboratory-based fault constitutive laws as a basic equation governing earthquake rupture, quantitative description of tectonic loading driven by plate motion, and a microscopic approach to study fault zone processes. The fault constitutive law plays the role of an interface between microscopic processes in fault zones and macroscopic processes of a fault system, and the plate motion connects diverse crustal activities with mantle dynamics. An ambitious...

In the last decade of the 20th century, there has been great progress in the physics of earthquake generation; that is, the introduction of laboratory-based fault constitutive laws as a basic equation governing earthquake rupture, quantitative description of tectonic loading driven by plate motion, and a microscopic approach to study fault zone processes. The fault constitutive law plays the role of an interface between microscopic processes in fault zones and macroscopic processes of a fault system, and the plate motion connects diverse crustal activities with mantle dynamics.An ambitious...

Vol. 157, 2000 spanning across disciplines and national boundaries gives cause for optimism. New participation in ACES to extend its existing synergies is welcomed. We wish to thank the scientific participants of The APEC Cooperation for Earthquake Simulation (ACES) and the contributors to this book. We express appreciation to the Australian, Chinese, Japanese and USA governments for supporting the establishment of ACES. We gratefully acknowledge funding support by the Australian government's Department of Industry, Science and Resources, The University of Queensland, Japan's Science and...