We estimate the rate of aftershocks triggered by a heterogeneous stress change, using the rate-and-state model of Dieterich [1994]. We show than an exponential stress distribution P (τ) ∼ exp(−τ/τ0) gives an Omori law decay of aftershocks with time ∼ 1/t, with an exponent p = 1−Aσn/τ0, where A is a parameter of the rate-and-state friction law, and σn the normal stress. Omori exponent p thus dec...

[1] The November 2000 New Ireland earthquake sequence started with a Mw = 8.0 left-lateral main shock on 16 November and was followed by a series of aftershocks with primarily thrust mechanisms. The earthquake sequence was associated with a locally damaging tsunami on the islands of New Ireland and nearby New Britain, Bougainville, and Buka. Results from numerical tsunami-propagation models of ...