Reply to "Comment on 'estimation of earthquake hazard parameters from incomplete data files. Part III. Incorporation of uncertainty of earthquake-occurrence model' by Andrzej Kijko, Ansie Smit, and Markvard A. Sellevoll" by Gert Zoller

Abstract

This reply focuses on comments made by Zöller (2017). We sincerely appreciate the comment by Zöller. This comment and our response creates a perfect opportunity to clarify the controversial issue of whether area-characteristic maximum possible earthquake magnitude mmax can be estimated using only the seismic-event catalog. In his comment, Zöller is attempting to convince the reader that based on the seismic-event catalog, the area-characteristic mmax cannot be estimated using equation (25) of Kijko et al. (2016). In this reply, we will argue the opposite: that with the help of statistical theory, it is possible to assess the mmax.