Bias in estimates of mb at small magnitudes
abstract A possibly significant factor in application of an identification criterion such as MS:mb is systematic bias in mb magnitude estimates at small magnitudes due to a variety of factors. Magnitude bias is the difference in magnitude value, positive or negative, between an observed network-based magnitude value and the expected magnitude value if all stations of the network had detected the event at high signal-to-noise ratio. This paper constitutes a partial study of the general problem; it evaluates the bias effects expected from both conceptual and operational networks when using parameters for noise and signal levels and standard deviations derived from observations, and when correcting observed station mb values solely via a simple parameter station correction factor. The analysis shows that any bias effects on mb inherent in any operational or potential worldwide network are so small as to have negligible effect on use of an MS:mb discriminant.