scholarly journals The Alland earthquake sequence in Eastern Austria: Shedding light on tectonic stress geometry in a key area of seismic hazard

2019 ◽  
Vol 112 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-194
Author(s):  
Sven Schippkus ◽  
Helmut Hausmann ◽  
Zacharie Duputel ◽  
Götz Bokelmann ◽  
_ _
Keyword(s):  
Moment Tensor ◽  
Earthquake Sequence ◽  
Fault System ◽  
Double Difference ◽  
Reverse Fault ◽  
Vienna Basin ◽  
Regional Stress ◽  
3D Velocity Model ◽  
Waveform Cross Correlation ◽  
Eastern Austria

AbstractWe present our results on the fault geometry of the Alland earthquake sequence in eastern Austria (Eastern Alps) and discuss its implications for the regional stress regime and active tectonics. The series contains 71 known events with local magnitudes 0.1 ≤ ML ≤ 4.2 that occurred in between 2016 and 2017. We locate the earthquakes in a regional 3D velocity model to find absolute locations. These locations are then refined by relocating all events relative to each other using a double-difference approach, based on relative travel times measured from waveform cross-correlation and catalogue data. We also invert for the moment tensor of the ML = 4.2 mainshock by fitting synthetic waveforms to the recorded seismo-grams using a combination of the L1- and L2-norms of the waveform differences. Direct comparison of waveforms of the largest events in the sequence suggests that all of them ruptured with very similar mechanisms. We find that the sequence ruptured a reverse fault, that is dipping with ~30° towards ~north-northeast (NNE) at 6–7 km depth. This is supported by both the hypocentres and the mainshock source mechanism. The fault is most likely located in the buried basement of the Bohemian massif, the “Bohemian Spur”. This (reverse) fault has a nearly perpendicular orientation to the normal-fault structures of the Vienna Basin Transfer Fault System further east at a shallower depth, indicating a lateral stress decoupling that can also act as a vertical stress decoupling in some places. In the west, earthquakes (at a larger depth within the upper crust) show compressive stresses, whereas the Vienna Basin to the east shows extensional (normal-faulting) stress. This provides insight into the regional stress field and its spatial variation, and it helps to better understand earthquakes in the area, including the “1590 Ried am Riederberg” earthquake.

The 2003 Ms6.1 Minle Earthquake: An Earthquake in the Minle-Yongchang Reverse Fault-Related Fold Belt in the Hexi Corridor, NW China

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaobo Zou ◽  
Daoyang Yuan ◽  
Yanxiu Shao ◽  
Xingwang Liu ◽  
Weipeng Ge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hexi Corridor ◽  
Earthquake Sequence ◽  
Stereo Image ◽  
Double Difference ◽  
Deformation Pattern ◽  
Reverse Fault ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Seismogenic Fault ◽  
Waveform Cross Correlation ◽  
Dip Angle

The Minle-Yongchang fault is an active reverse fault-related fold structural belt developed in the Hexi Corridor Basin on the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. An earthquake of Ms6.1 occurred near the Minle-Yongchang fault zone in 2003. The deformation pattern of the Minle-Yongchang fault and its relationship with this strong earthquake, however, are still not well known. In this study, we used the methods of HYPOINVERSE absolute location and double-difference location with waveform cross-correlation technology to relocate the 2003 Minle earthquake sequence. In total, 383 earthquakes are precisely relocated. Based on the results of precise seismic relocation, using the method of determining fault planes by small earthquakes, the seismogenic fault is found to be a low-angle thrust with a strike of 311°, a dip of NE, and a dip angle of 14°. It does not rupture the surface, extends to 19–20 km depth, and is hidden beneath the Yonggu Anticline. We also employed the cut-and-paste (CAP) method with a broadband waveform to determine the focal mechanism of the mainshock in 2003: the strike is 311°; the dip is 34°; and the rake is 90°. The fault plane parameters obtained in these two ways are roughly consistent. We also used a digital elevation model (DEM) derived from the SPOT 6 stereo image pair and high-precision differential Global Positioning System (GPS) to measure the displacement of terraces. Topographic profiles along the terraces across the Minle-Yongchang fault show that high alluvial terrain exhibits fold deformation. The vertical offsets of the T2 and T3 terraces along the Tongziba River are approximately 2.3 and 22 m, respectively. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating indicates that the ages of T2 and T3 are 11.3 and 106 ka, respectively. We calculated an average uplift rate of 0.21 ± 0.05 mm/a by dividing the vertical offset by age. According to the spatial distribution of the relocated earthquake sequence and terrace deformation in the study area, the Ms6.1 Minle earthquake in 2003 was caused by the latest activity of a blind reverse fault-related fold in the Hexi Corridor Basin.

The Storfjorden, Svalbard, Earthquake Sequence 2008–2020: Transtensional Tectonics in an Arctic Intraplate Region

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Ottemöller ◽  
Won-Young Kim ◽  
Felix Waldhauser ◽  
Norunn Tjåland ◽  
Winfried Dallmann
Keyword(s):  
Moment Tensor ◽  
Normal Component ◽  
Strike Slip ◽  
Earthquake Sequence ◽  
Fault System ◽  
Double Difference ◽  
Offshore Area ◽  
Svalbard Archipelago ◽  
Complex Fault ◽  
East West

Abstract An earthquake sequence in the Storfjorden offshore area southwest of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago initiated with a 21 February 2008 magnitude Mw 6.1 event. This area had previously not produced any significant earthquakes, but between 2008 and 2020, a total of ∼2800 earthquakes were detected, with ∼16 of them being of moderate size (ML≥4.0). Applying double-difference relocation to improve relative locations reveals that the activity is linked to several subparallel faults striking southwest–northeast that extend across the entire crust. The southwest–northeast trend is also found as a possible fault plane from regional moment tensor inversion. The solutions range from oblique normal in the center of the cluster to pure strike slip farther away and are consistent with the compressional σ1 axis roughly in the east–west direction and plunging 57°, and the extensional σ3 axis subhorizontal trending north–south. The mainshock fault is steeply dipping to the southeast, but several other faults appear to be near vertical. The existence of oblique, right-lateral strike-slip motion on southwest–northeast-trending faults with a normal component and pure normal faulting events in between suggests transtensional tectonics that in and around Storfjorden result in activation of a complex fault system.

Analysis of the 15 December 2017 Mw 6.5 and the 23 January 2018 Mw 5.9 Java Earthquakes

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (6) ◽  
pp. 3050-3063
Author(s):  
Anne Meylani Magdalena Sirait ◽  
Anne S. Meltzer ◽  
Felix Waldhauser ◽  
Joshua C. Stachnik ◽  
Daryono Daryono ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Moment Tensor ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Fault System ◽  
Double Difference ◽  
Northern Coast ◽  
Eurasian Plate ◽  
Slab Geometry ◽  
Plate Interface ◽  
Upward Migration ◽  
Ground Shaking

ABSTRACT The west part of Java sits at the transition from oblique subduction of the Australian plate under the Sunda block of the Eurasian plate along Sumatra to orthogonal convergence along central and eastern Java. This region has experienced several destructive earthquakes, the 17 July 2006 Mw 7.7 earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Pangandaran and the 2 September 2009 Mw 7 earthquake, located off the coast of Tasikmalaya. More recently, on 15 December 2017, an Mw 6.5 earthquake occurred off the coast near Pangandaran, and, on 23 January 2018, an Mw 5.9 earthquake occurred offshore Lebak, between Pelabuhan Ratu and Ujung Kulon. Ground shaking and damage occurred locally and in Jakarta on the northern coast of Java. In this study, we use the double-difference technique to relocate both mainshocks and 10 months of seismicity (228 events) following the earthquakes. The relocation result improved the mainshock locations and depth distribution of earthquakes. Moment tensor of the December 2017 event located the hypocenter at ∼108  km depth within the subducting slab. The best-fit relocation places the depth at 61 km, close to the slab interface. Aftershocks occur between 68 and 86 km depth and align along a steeper plane than slab geometry models. The January 2018 event is located at ∼46  km depth. Aftershocks form a near-vertical, pipe-like structure from the plate interface to ∼10  km depth. A burst of aftershocks immediately following the mainshock shows a shallowing upward trend at a rate of ∼2  km/hr, suggesting that a fluid pressure wave released from the oceanic crust is causing brittle failure in the overriding plate, followed by upward migration of fluids. Five months later, shallow (<25  km) seismicity collocates with background seismicity, suggesting the January 2018 event activated the Pelabuhan Ratu fault system close to the coast.

Crustal Architecture of Puerto Rico Using Body-Wave Seismic Tomography and High-Resolution Earthquake Relocation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoqing Lin ◽  
Victor A. Huerfano ◽  
Wenyuan Fan
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Fault Zone ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Velocity Ratio ◽  
Fault System ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Complex Fault ◽  
3D Velocity Model ◽  
Waveform Cross Correlation ◽  
The Caribbean

Abstract Puerto Rico is a highly seismically active island, where several damaging historical earthquakes have occurred and frequent small events persist. It situates at the boundary between the Caribbean and North American plates, featuring a complex fault system. Here, we investigate the seismotectonic crustal structure of the island by interpreting the 3D compressional-wave velocity VP and compressional- to shear-wave velocity ratio VP/VS models and by analyzing the distribution of the relocated earthquakes. The 3D velocity models are obtained by applying the simul2000 tomographic inversion algorithm based on the phase arrivals recorded by the Puerto Rico seismic network. We find high-VP and low-VP/VS anomalies in the eastern and central province between the Great Northern Puerto Rico fault zone and the Great Southern Puerto Rico fault zone, correlating with the Utuado pluton. Further, there are low-VP anomalies beneath both the Great Southern Puerto Rico fault zone and the South Lajas fault, indicating northerly dipping structures from the southwest to the northwest of the island. We relocate 19,095 earthquakes from May 2017 to April 2021 using the new 3D velocity model and waveform cross-correlation data. The relocated seismicity shows trends along the Investigator fault, the Ponce faults, the Guayanilla rift, and the Punta Montalva fault. The majority of the 2019–2021 Southwestern Puerto Rico earthquakes are associated with the Punta Montalva fault. Earthquakes forming 17° northward-dipping structures at various depths possibly manifest continuation of the Muertos trough, along which the Caribbean plate is being subducted beneath the Puerto Rico microplate. Our results show complex fault geometries of a diffuse fault network, suggesting possible subduction process accommodated by faults within a low-velocity zone.

Analysis of the Magmatic – Hydrothermal Volcanic Field of Tacora Volcano, Northern Chile, using Travel Time Tomography

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Comte ◽  
Claudia Pavez ◽  
Francisco Gutierrez ◽  
Diego Gaytan
Keyword(s):  
Travel Time ◽  
Hydrothermal System ◽  
Middle Eocene ◽  
Magma Reservoir ◽  
Hydrothermal Fluids ◽  
Fault System ◽  
Reverse Fault ◽  
Travel Time Tomography ◽  
3D Velocity Model ◽  
Short Period

<p>Tacora Volcano (17º43’S – 69º46’W) is a composite stratovolcano that lies at the southernmost end of a 10 km-long volcanic lineament that extends between Chile and Perú. Around Tacora volcano, current thermal manifestations are two active fumarolic fields located at the western flank of the stratovolcano and at the volcano summit, indicating active magma degassing in a shallow hydrothermal system. Beneath Tacora volcano is located the NW Challaviento reverse fault that belongs to the Incapuquio - Challaviento fault system of Middle Eocene age. To complement previous exploration results and conceptual modeling developed by INFINERGEO SPA, seventeen short period seismic stations were installed around Tacora volcano, between August and December 2014. Using the P and S wave arrival times of locally recorded seismicity, a 3D velocity model was determined through a travel time tomography. According with the results, we interpreted high Vp /Vs values as water-saturated areas, corresponding to the recharge zone of Tacora hydrothermal system. In addition, low values of ΔVp/Vp (%) and Vp/Vs ratio represent the location of a gas-saturated magmatic reservoir between sea level and 2 km depth and circulation networks of magmatic-hydrothermal fluids. Low Vp/Vs volumes (magma reservoir / high temperature hydrothermal fluids), the presence of fumarolic fields and surface hydrothermal alteration have a spatial correlation. The above suggests a structural control of the Challaviento fault in the hydrothermal flow as well as a primary influence in the emplacement and location of the magmatic-hydrothermal reservoir. Finally, we present a cluster analysis using the ΔVp/Vp (%) parameter. Through this analysis, we found a method for the identification of a key structure in depth composed by the magma reservoir (low Vp/Vs ratios, low ΔVp/Vp (%)), clay level areas (intermediate values of ΔVp/Vp (%)), and degasification zones (low values of ΔVp/Vp (%)) directly related with the surface thermal manifestations.</p>

Supplemental Material: Geophysical analysis of the 30 July 1972 Sitka, Alaska, earthquake sequence

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan A. Ochoa Chavez ◽  
Diane Doser
Keyword(s):  
Earthquake Sequence ◽  
Double Difference ◽  
Alaska Earthquake

Supplemental Material 1 contains relocated aftershocks of 30 July 1972 sequence. Supplemental Material 2 contains relocation parameters used in double-difference algorithm (HYPODD).<br>

scholarly journals Insights into Mechanical Properties of the 1980 Irpinia Fault System from the Analysis of a Seismic Sequence

Geosciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
Gaetano Festa ◽  
Guido Maria Adinolfi ◽  
Alessandro Caruso ◽  
Simona Colombelli ◽  
Grazia De Landro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Fault System ◽  
Minimum Size ◽  
Double Difference ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
Initiation Mechanism ◽  
Earthquake Early Warning Systems ◽  
The One

Seismic sequences are a powerful tool to locally infer geometrical and mechanical properties of faults and fault systems. In this study, we provided detailed location and characterization of events of the 3–7 July 2020 Irpinia sequence (southern Italy) that occurred at the northern tip of the main segment that ruptured during the 1980 Irpinia earthquake. Using an autocorrelation technique, we detected more than 340 events within the sequence, with local magnitude ranging between −0.5 and 3.0. We thus provided double difference locations, source parameter estimation, and focal mechanisms determination for the largest quality events. We found that the sequence ruptured an asperity with a size of about 800 m, along a fault structure having a strike compatible with the one of the main segments of the 1980 Irpinia earthquake, and a dip of 50–55° at depth of 10.5–12 km and 60–65° at shallower depths (7.5–9 km). Low stress drop release (average of 0.64 MPa) indicates a fluid-driven initiation mechanism of the sequence. We also evaluated the performance of the earthquake early warning systems running in real-time during the sequence, retrieving a minimum size for the blind zone in the area of about 15 km.

Inversion of regional surface-wave spectra for source parameters of aftershocks from the 1992 Petrolia earthquake sequence

1995 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 705-715
Author(s):  
Mark Andrew Tinker ◽  
Susan L. Beck
Keyword(s):  
Surface Wave ◽  
Focal Mechanism ◽  
Source Parameters ◽  
Strike Slip ◽  
Earthquake Sequence ◽  
Fault System ◽  
Accretionary Wedge ◽  
Wave Spectra ◽  
The North ◽  
Gorda Plate

Abstract Regional distance surface waves are used to study the source parameters for moderate-size aftershocks of the 25 April 1992 Petrolia earthquake sequence. The Cascadia subduction zone had been relatively seismically inactive until the onset of the mainshock (Ms = 7.1). This underthrusting event establishes that the southern end of the North America-Gorda plate boundary is seismogenic. It was followed by two separate and distinct large aftershocks (Ms = 6.6 for both) occurring at 07:41 and 11:41 on 26 April, as well as thousands of other small aftershocks. Many of the aftershocks following the second large aftershock had magnitudes in the range of 4.0 to 5.5. Using intermediate-period surface-wave spectra, we estimate focal mechanisms and depths for one foreshock and six of the larger aftershocks (Md = 4.0 to 5.5). These seven events can be separated into two groups based on temporal, spatial, and principal stress orientation characteristics. Within two days of the mainshock, four aftershocks (Md = 4 to 5) occurred within 4 hr of each other that were located offshore and along the Mendocino fault. These four aftershocks comprise one group. They are shallow, thrust events with northeast-trending P axes. We interpret these aftershocks to represent internal compression within the North American accretionary prism as a result of Gorda plate subduction. The other three events compose the second group. The shallow, strike-slip mechanism determined for the 8 March foreshock (Md = 5.3) may reflect the right-lateral strike-slip motion associated with the interaction between the northern terminus of the San Andreas fault system and the eastern terminus of the Mendocino fault. The 10 May aftershock (Md = 4.1), located on the coast and north of the Mendocino triple junction, has a thrust fault focal mechanism. This event is shallow and probably occurred within the accretionary wedge on an imbricate thrust. A normal fault focal mechanism is obtained for the 5 June aftershock (Md = 4.8), located offshore and just north of the Mendocino fault. This event exhibits a large component of normal motion, representing internal failure within a rebounding accretionary wedge. These two aftershocks and the foreshock have dissimilar locations in space and time, but they do share a north-northwest oriented P axis.

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