Analysis of the theory of extremes as applied to earthquake problems

Procedures of the theory of extremes give unacceptably large probable errors in determinations of return times, b values, and maximum magnitudes of large- and intermediate-magnitude earthquakes using limited runs of data. On all accounts, methods which utilize all available data give superior estimates of the parameters of seismicity than do extreme value methods and provide for a procedure for handling inhomogeneous catalogs as well.