| 15 Dec 2025
Statistical characteristics of non-volcanic tremor distributions along the Mexican Subduction Zone
Abstract. We analyze statistical characteristics of non-volcanic tremor sequences determined in the Mexican subduction zone. To achieve this objective, we used different techniques such as the Gutenberg-Richter relationship, non-extensive statistics, and the multifractal detrended moving average analysis to extract information on the magnitude and interevent‐time distributions. The b-value results reveal that b fluctuates from 1.25 to 2.42, with the highest values corresponding to the plate interface down-dip regions. On the other hand, the q-value shows an inverse behavior, having the highest values in the inter-plate coupling region. Similar to tectonic earthquakes, the non-volcanic tremor sequences show a multifractal structure in magnitude and interevent data. The multifractality analysis suggests that multifractality may be associated with long-term correlations, the probability distribution of the data, and the presence of nonlinearities. Regarding the existence of apparent and intrinsic multifractality, our results indicate that both sources are present in the sequences, with the former being the most common. Our estimates of the Hurst exponent are in the interval of 0.65 to 1.06, with the majority indicating an exceptionally high persistent memory (H > 0.95). With respect to the estimation of the distribution that better describes the interevent sequences, we find that most sequences can be described by a Lognormal distribution and, to a lesser extent, by a Gamma distribution. Our investigation also showed that observations of the duration of tectonic tremors present a large scatter, resulting in scaling relationships with low values of the determination coefficient. The source of this variability may be related to the generation mechanism of NVT or to the process of detection and description of the signals.
The papers analyzes the statistical characteristics of Non-Volcanic Tremor sequences that took place in the Mexican Subduction Zone. Its originality lies in the subject selection for analysis, the inclusion of all possible cases and the relevant results presented for the first time for the study area. It is very contributable work and worth publishing.
The text is perfectly written and clear in all aspects. It is difficult to find any point that needs further clarification.
I could comment the linear fit of larger magnitude range when the b – value is estimated. By fitting 3 points for example in Sequence 3, it rather affects the estimations. In this case I would prefer a larger magnitude cutoff for fitting more points and in particular the larger magnitude earthquakes that play more significant role in the local seismicity. This would of course lead to large b – value (steeper slope), which in this case already large. If the authors tried to avoid that latter, it would be better to look again at their data sample.
Better representation quality for Figure 4 – is there any reason to start the magnitude axis from number where there is not any observation?
Before final acceptance, however, the paper could be improved regarding the presentation of the work and the outcomes, for the reader’s ease. What I mean is that the calculations of the different data samples (i.e., for each sequence) along with for each statistical parameter and tool are continuously and consequently given, and the reader needs to go back and forth to see the similarities, the differences or the possible peculiarities in each case (and subcase). I encourage the authors to examine any possibility to make their manuscript more easily following, perhaps by putting all number given, compared and discussed inside the text, in corresponding tables (more than the tables already shown).