Accelerated moment release (AMR) is the name given to the theory that there is an acceleration of the release of seismic energy preceding large earthquakes (>=M6.5). It is postulated that this acceleration can be used to predict the occurrence of large earthquakes. The goal of this project is to determine if the theory of accelerated moment release is supported by the data and analysis by sound, objective statistical methods.

The primary approach is to test the model of King and Bowman using observed seismicity in northern, central, and southern California. The model of King and Bowman is evaluated using catalogs of observed data. The validity of the model is determined by comparing a regression of a power-law time-to-failure regression curve representing AMR to that of a linear regression of the same data representing a steady release of seismic energy.