Correlating variations of b values and crustal deformations during the 1990s may have pinpointed the rupture initiation of the Mw = 7.4 Izmit earthquake of 1999 August 17
GeoForschungsZentrum, Telegrafenberg A31, 14473;Potsdam, Germany Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, 99775,;USA Earthquake Research Institute, Ministry of Public Works and Settlement, Ankara, Turkey