Geophysical processes and biosphere: article

Аnnotation: The article discusses the change in time of local seismicity under the influence of large earthquakes for the period 1971-2011. To divide by time intervals, within which the summation of the released energy of local earthquakes was carried out, averaged mechanisms were used, obtained from the first P-wave arrivals recorded in the Seismological Bulletins of the Caucasus. The averaged mechanisms were built according to the method of K. Aki, allowing the use of weak local earthquakes. The article shows the change in averaged mechanisms over time, which is associated with a change in tectonic stresses of the Racha-Dzhava zone. Also, comparisons of changes in the directions of stress forces with the influence of an energy of strong earthquakes and the work shows that one of the factors of sharp and short-term changes in the stress state and level of local seismicity is distant strong and catastrophic earthquakes. The results of the presented studies are interesting for understanding some aspects of local seismic activity, causes of changes in the stress field and activity of the seismic process of the Racha-Dzhava seismic zone, which is part of the Caucasus system.