Kinematics of Fault Slip Associated with the 4–6 July 2019 Ridgecrest, California, Earthquake Sequence

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (4) ◽  
pp. 1688-1700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred F. Pollitz ◽  
Jessica R. Murray ◽  
Jerry L. Svarc ◽  
Charles Wicks ◽  
Evelyn Roeloffs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crustal Deformation ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Strike Slip ◽  
Fault Slip ◽  
Earthquake Sequence ◽  
Dynamic Strain ◽  
Rupture Velocity ◽  
Coseismic Slip ◽  
Lateral Strike Slip ◽  
Seismic Waveforms

ABSTRACT The 2019 Ridgecrest, California, earthquake sequence produced observable crustal deformation over much of central and southern California, as well as surface rupture over several tens of kilometers. To obtain a detailed picture of the fault slip involved in the 4 July M 6.4 foreshock and 6 July M 7.1 mainshock, we combine strong-motion seismic waveforms with crustal deformation observations to obtain kinematic and static slip models of both events. We sample the regional seismic wavefield for both the foreshock and mainshock with three-component records from 31 stations of the California Integrated Seismic Network. The deformation observations include Global Positioning System (GPS), Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), and borehole strainmeter recordings of the dynamic strain field. These data collectively constrain the kinematic coseismic slip distributions of the events, with measurements variously observing coseismic slip from one event (e.g., seismic waveforms, kinematic solutions from continuous GPS, and strainmeter time series) or coseismic slip from both events combined (InSAR). We find that the foreshock ruptured two separate faults, one with left-lateral strike slip on a northeast–southwest-trending fault and the other with right-lateral strike slip on an orthogonal fault, with unilateral rupture propagation along both. The mainshock ruptured a series of northwest–southeast-trending faults with right-lateral strike slip concentrated in the uppermost 6 km with exceptionally low-rupture velocity averaging 1.0–1.5  km/s. A possible explanation for the low-rupture velocity is that the mainshock rupture expended relatively high energy, generating secondary fractures in off-fault deformation, which is consistent with field and seismic evidence of plastic deformation on small fault strands adjacent to the main rupture trace.

scholarly journals Surface Rupture Kinematics and Coseismic Slip Distribution during the 2019 Mw7.1 Ridgecrest, California Earthquake Sequence Revealed by SAR and Optical Images

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 3883
Author(s):  
Chenglong Li ◽  
Guohong Zhang ◽  
Xinjian Shan ◽  
Dezheng Zhao ◽  
Yanchuan Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Strike Slip ◽  
Earthquake Sequence ◽  
Slip Distribution ◽  
Fault System ◽  
Seismogenic Fault ◽  
Coseismic Slip ◽  
Surface Rupture ◽  
Lateral Strike Slip ◽  
Optical Images ◽  
Rupture Kinematics

The 2019 Ridgecrest, California earthquake sequence ruptured along a complex fault system and triggered seismic and aseismic slips on intersecting faults. To characterize the surface rupture kinematics and fault slip distribution, we used optical images and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) observations to reconstruct the displacement caused by the earthquake sequence. We further calculated curl and divergence from the north-south and east-west components, to effectively identify the surface rupture traces. The results show that the major seismogenic fault had a length of ~55 km and strike of 320° and consisted of five secondary faults. On the basis of the determined multiple-fault geometries, we inverted the coseismic slip distributions by InSAR measurements, which indicates that the Mw7.1 mainshock was dominated by the right-lateral strike-slip (maximum strike-slip of ~5.8 m at the depth of ~7.5 km), with a small dip-slip component (peaking at ~1.8 m) on an east-dipping fault. The Mw6.4 foreshock was dominated by the left-lateral strike-slip on a north-dipping fault. These earthquakes triggered obvious aseismic creep along the Garlock fault (117.3° W–117.5° W). These results are consistent with the rupture process of the earthquake sequence, which featured a complicated cascading rupture rather than a single continuous rupture front propagating along multiple faults.

Seismic and geodetic response to crustal deformation in Krísuvík volcanic system, southwest Iceland

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Revathy M. Parameswaran ◽  
Ingi Th. Bjarnason ◽  
Freysteinn Sigmundsson
Keyword(s):  
Stress Field ◽  
Crustal Deformation ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Strike Slip ◽  
Normal Faults ◽  
Seismic Zone ◽  
The South ◽  
The West ◽  
Volcanic System ◽  
Geothermal Activity

<p>The Reykjanes Peninsula (RP) is a transtensional plate boundary in southwest Iceland that marks the transition of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) from the offshore divergent Reykjanes Ridge (RR) in the west to the South Iceland Seismic Zone (SISZ) in the east. The seismicity here trends ~N80°E in central RP and bends to ~N45°E at its western tip as it joins RR. Seismic surveys, geodetic studies, and recent GPS-based kinematic models indicate that the seismic zone is a collection of strike-slip and normal faults (e.g., Keiding et al., 2008). Meanwhile, the tectonic processes in the region also manifest as NE-SW trending volcanic fissures and normal faults, and N-S oriented dextral faults (e.g., Clifton and Kattenhorn, 2006). The largest of these fissure and normal-fault systems in RP is the Krísuvík-Trölladyngja volcanic system, which is a high-energy geothermal zone. The seismicity here predominantly manifests RP’s transtentional tectonics; however, also hosts triggered events such as those following the 17 June 2000 Mw6.5 earthquake in the SISZ (Árnadottir et al., 2004) ~80 km east of Krísuvík. Stress inversions of microearthquakes from 1997-2006 in the RP indicate that the current stress state is mostly strike-slip with increased normal component to the west, indicating that the seismicity is driven by plate diverging motion (Keiding et al., 2009). However, the geothermal system in Krísuvík is a potential secondary source for triggered seismicity and deformation. This study uses seismic and geodetic data to evaluate the activity in the Krísuvík-Trölladyngja volcanic system. The seismic data is used to identify specific areas of focused activity and evaluate variations in the stress field associated with plate motion and/or geothermal activity over space and time. The data used, within the time period 2007-2016, was collected by the the South Icelandic Lowland (SIL) seismic network operated and managed by the Iceland Meterological Office (IMO). Furthermore, variations in seismicity are compared to crustal deformation observed with TerraSAR-X images from 2009-2019. Crustal changes in the Krísuvík area are quantified to develop a model for corresponding deformation sources. These changes are then correlated with the stress-field variations determined with seismic analysis.</p>

Postseismic Relaxation Following the 2019 Ridgecrest, California, Earthquake Sequence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred F. Pollitz ◽  
Charles W. Wicks ◽  
Jerry L. Svarc ◽  
Eleyne Phillips ◽  
Benjamin A. Brooks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Crust ◽  
Central Valley ◽  
Strike Slip ◽  
Earthquake Sequence ◽  
Postseismic Deformation ◽  
Viscoelastic Relaxation ◽  
Lateral Strike Slip ◽  
Mechanical Models ◽  
Postseismic Relaxation ◽  
Continuous Gps

ABSTRACT The 2019 Ridgecrest, California, earthquake sequence involved predominantly right-lateral strike slip on a northwest–southeast-trending subvertical fault in the 6 July M 7.1 mainshock, preceded by left-lateral strike slip on a northeast–southwest-trending subvertical fault in the 4 July M 6.4 foreshock. To characterize the postseismic deformation, we assemble displacements measured by Global Positioning System (GPS) and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar. The geodetic measurements illuminate vigorous postseismic deformation for at least 21 months following the earthquake sequence. The postseismic transient deformation is particularly well constrained from survey-mode GPS (sGPS) in the epicentral region carried out during the weeks after the mainshock. We interpret these observations with mechanical models including afterslip and viscoelastic relaxation of the lower crust and mantle asthenosphere. During the first 21 months, up to several centimeters of horizontal motions are measured at continuous GPS and sGPS sites, with amplitude that diminishes slowly with distance from the mainshock rupture, suggestive of deeper afterslip or viscoelastic relaxation. We find that although afterslip involving right-lateral strike slip along the mainshock fault traces and their deeper extensions reach a few decimeters, most postseismic deformation is attributable to viscoelastic relaxation of the lower crust and mantle. Within the Basin and Range crust and mantle, we infer a transient lower crust viscosity several times that of the mantle asthenosphere. The transient mantle asthenosphere viscosity is ∼1.3×1017  Pa s, and the adjacent Central Valley transient mantle asthenosphere viscosity is ∼7×1017  Pa s, about five times higher and consistent with an asymmetry in postseismic horizontal motions across the mainshock surface rupture.

Rupture Process of the M 6.5 Stanley, Idaho, Earthquake Inferred from Seismic Waveform and Geodetic Data

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred F. Pollitz ◽  
William C. Hammond ◽  
Charles W. Wicks
Keyword(s):  
Near Field ◽  
Strike Slip ◽  
Fault System ◽  
Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar ◽  
Aftershock Activity ◽  
Lateral Strike Slip ◽  
Seismic Waveforms ◽  
The North ◽  
Seismic Waveform ◽  
Data Yield

Abstract The 2020 M 6.5 Stanley, Idaho, earthquake produced rupture in the north of the active Sawtooth fault in the northern basin and range at depth, without any observable surface rupture. Global Positioning System (GPS) and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data yield several millimeters of static offsets out to ∼100  km from the rupture and up to ∼0.1  m of near-field crustal deformation. We combine the GPS and InSAR data with long-period regional seismic waveforms to derive models of kinematic slip and afterslip. We find that the coseismic rupture is complex, likely involving up to 2 m combined left-lateral strike slip and normal slip on a previously unidentified ∼south-southeast-striking fault. This slip is predominantly left-lateral strike slip, different from the dominant east-northeast–west-northwest normal faulting of the region. At least one ∼northeast-trending fault, likely associated with the Trans-Challis fault system, is inferred to have accommodated a few decimeters of right-lateral afterslip, consistent with vigorous aftershock activity at depth along northeast-trending lineations.

Finite Slip Models of the 2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence Constrained by Space Geodetic Data and Aftershock Locations

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (4) ◽  
pp. 1660-1679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeyu Jin ◽  
Yuri Fialko
Keyword(s):  
Stress Transfer ◽  
Nucleation Site ◽  
Strike Slip ◽  
Earthquake Sequence ◽  
Slip Distribution ◽  
Depth Interval ◽  
Coseismic Slip ◽  
Moderate Amount ◽  
Coulomb Stress Changes ◽  
Stress Changes

ABSTRACT The July 2019 Ridgecrest, California, earthquake sequence involved two large events—the M 6.4 foreshock and the M 7.1 mainshock that ruptured a system of intersecting strike-slip faults. We present analysis of space geodetic observations including Synthetic Aperture Radar and Global Navigation Satellite System data, geological field mapping, and seismicity to constrain the subsurface rupture geometry and slip distribution. The data render a complex pattern of faulting with a number of subparallel as well as cross-cutting fault strands that exhibit variations in both strike and dip angles, including a “flower structure” formed by shallow splay faults. Slip inversions are performed using both homogeneous and layered elastic half-space models informed by the local seismic tomography data. The inferred slip distribution suggests a moderate amount of the shallow coseismic slip deficit. The peak moment release occurred in the depth interval of 3–4 km, consistent with results from previous studies of major strike-slip earthquakes, and the depth distribution of seismicity in California. We use the derived slip models to investigate stress transfer and possible triggering relationships between the M 7.1 mainshock and the M 6.4 foreshock, as well as other moderate events that occurred in the vicinity of the M 7.1 hypocenter. Triggering is discouraged for the average strike of the M 7.1 rupture (320°) but encouraged for the initial orientation of the mainshock rupture suggested by the first-motion data (340°). This lends support to a scenario according to which the earthquake rupture nucleated on a small fault that was more optimally oriented with respect to the regional stress and subsequently propagated along the less-favorably oriented pre-existing faults, possibly facilitated by dynamic weakening. The nucleation site of the mainshock experienced positive dynamic Coulomb stress changes that are much larger than the static stress changes, yet the former failed to initiate rupture.

Earthquake cycles and shear zones: interplay between earthquakes, aseismic fault slip, and bulk viscous deformation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kali Allison ◽  
Laurent Montesi ◽  
Eric Dunham
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Viscous Flow ◽  
Shear Zone ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Strike Slip ◽  
Fault Slip ◽  
Coseismic Slip ◽  
Bulk Viscous ◽  
Shear Heating ◽  
Seismic Cycles

<p>The interaction between the seismogenic portion of faults and their ductile roots is central to understanding the mechanics of seismic cycles. It is well established that faults are highly localized within the cold and brittle upper crust, but less is known about fault and shear zone structure in the warmer, more ductile, lower crust and in the upper mantle. Increasing temperature with depth causes two transitions in behavior: a frictional transition from seismic to aseismic fault behavior and a transition from brittle to ductile off-fault deformation (BDT). To explore the effects of these two transitions on seismic cycle characteristics (e.g., recurrence interval, nucleation depth, and down-dip limit of coseismic rupture), we simulate seismic cycles on a 2D strike-slip fault. All phases of the earthquake cycle are simulated, allowing the model to spontaneously generate earthquakes and to capture aseismic fault slip and off-fault viscous flow in the interseismic period. The fault is represented with rate-and-state friction. In the off-fault material, distributed viscous flow occurs through dislocation creep. We also consider two possible weakening mechanisms that may be active in lower crustal shear zones: shear heating and grain size reduction, which changes the ductile rheology from dislocation to diffusion creep. This model makes it possible to self-consistently simulate the variations of stress, strain rate, and grain size in the vicinity of a strike-slip fault.</p><p>We find that the viscous shear zone beneath the fault (defined as the region of elevated viscous strain rate) is roughly elliptically shaped, extending up to 10 km below the fault and with a width of 1 to 3 km. When weakening mechanisms are neglected, the BDT occurs below the depth of the transition from seismic to aseismic fault slip. In these cases, seismic cycle characteristics are similar to those of a traditional elastic cycle simulation that neglects viscoelastic deformation. However, the inclusion of shear heating, which produces a thermal anomaly relative to the background geotherm, shallows the BDT enough to limit the down-dip propagation of coseismic slip in some cases. In these cases, earthquakes penetrate 1-2 km into the shear zone, consistent with observations of zones in which both viscous flow and coseismic slip occur. Also, in these simulations, very little aseismic fault slip occurs. Instead, tectonic plate motion is accommodated primarily through coseismic slip and bulk viscous flow. Preliminary simulations that include the effects of grain size reduction within the shear zone show similar effects. Both weakening mechanisms narrow the shear zone by up to 20%, suggesting that the fault also plays a large role in controlling shear zone localization.</p>

Tectonic Context and Possible Triggering of the 2019–2020 Puerto Rico Earthquake Sequence

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjolein Blasweiler ◽  
Matthew W. Herman ◽  
Fenna Houtsma ◽  
Rob Govers
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Fault Zone ◽  
Plate Boundary ◽  
Strike Slip ◽  
Global Navigation Satellite Systems ◽  
Earthquake Sequence ◽  
Motion Direction ◽  
Lateral Strike Slip ◽  
Coulomb Stress Changes ◽  
Stress Changes

Abstract An historically unprecedented seismic moment was released by crustal events of the 2019–2020 earthquake sequence near southwest Puerto Rico. The sequence involved at least two, and perhaps three interacting fault systems. The largest Mw 6.4 event was likely triggered by left lateral strike-slip events along the eastern extension of the North Boquerón Bay-Punta Montalva fault zone. The mainshock occurred in a normal fault zone that extends into a region where previous studies documented extensional deformation, beyond the Ponce fault and the Bajo Tasmanian fault. Coulomb stress changes by the mainshock may have triggered further normal-faulting aftershocks, left lateral strike-slip events in the region where these two fault zones interacted, and possibly right lateral strike-slip aftershocks along a third structure extending southward, the Guayanilla fault zone. Extension directions of the seismic sequence are consistently north-northwest–south-southeast-oriented, in agreement with the Global Navigation Satellite Systems-inferred motion direction of eastern Hispaniola relative to western Puerto Rico, and with crustal stress estimates for the overriding plate boundary zone.

Coseismic Fault Slip and Afterslip Associated with the 18 March 2020 M 5.7 Magna, Utah, Earthquake

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred F. Pollitz ◽  
Charles W. Wicks ◽  
Jerry L. Svarc
Keyword(s):  
Salt Lake ◽  
Strong Motion ◽  
Fault Slip ◽  
Coseismic Slip ◽  
Aftershock Activity ◽  
University Of Utah ◽  
Seismic Waveforms ◽  
The University ◽  
Wasatch Fault ◽  
Seismic Wavefield

Abstract The 2020 Magna, Utah, earthquake produced observable crustal deformation over an ∼100  km2 area around the southeast margin of Great Salt Lake, but it did not produce any surface rupture. To obtain a detailed picture of the fault slip, we combine strong-motion seismic waveforms with Global Positioning System static offsets and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar observations to obtain kinematic and static slip models of the event. We sample the regional seismic wavefield with three-component records from 68 stations of the University of Utah Seismograph Stations network. We find that coseismic slip and afterslip, with predominantly normal slip, distributed on a shallowly west-dipping plane, possibly augmented by afterslip on a steeply northeast-dipping plane, best fits the joint dataset. The west-dipping plane locates near previously inferred sources of interseismic creep at depth. Hence, the earthquake may have occurred on the down-dip extension of the Wasatch fault and activated further slip (afterslip) at shallow depth east of the hypocenter. This inferred afterslip may have driven the vigorous aftershock activity that was concentrated east of the hypocenter.

Seismotectonics of the 2017–2018 Songyuan Earthquake Sequence, Northeastern China: Passive Bookshelf Faulting and Block Rotation in the Songliao Basin

2020 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 1593-1605
Author(s):  
Zhe Su ◽  
Xi-Wei Xu ◽  
Shan-Shan Liang ◽  
Erchie Wang
Keyword(s):  
Simple Shear ◽  
Linear Trend ◽  
Forward Modeling ◽  
Strike Slip ◽  
Northeastern China ◽  
Songliao Basin ◽  
Earthquake Sequence ◽  
Block Rotation ◽  
Lateral Strike Slip ◽  
Bookshelf Faulting

Abstract The high frequency of earthquake clusters generated by pure strike-slip faulting over the past 3 yr (beginning in 2017 in the Songliao basin, northeastern China) has motivated us to consider why lateral strike slip and not extension determines the seismic activity within the Songliao basin. Precise location and characterization of relocated aftershocks, forward modeling of the coseismic displacement field, and Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring data are combined to detect the possible seismogenic structures of the Songyuan earthquake sequence. The 2017 ML 5.3 aftershock cluster coincided with the northeast-striking Fuyu–Zhaodong fault (FZF), and the 2018 aftershock swarm followed the linear trend (N42°W) of the Songhuajiang fault (SHF). In addition, the forward modeling results indicate that during the earthquakes, right-lateral and left-lateral strike-slip displacements occurred simultaneously along the FZF and SHF, respectively. These two strike-slip faults joined to accommodate the intervening crustal blocks’ asymmetrical east–west convergence and a single northward extrusion. We also utilize 5 yr of GPS data to construct the regional strain-rate map for the basin. The measurements show that right-lateral transform motion along the immense northeast-striking right-lateral strike-slip faults, for example, the Tanlu fault zone and the FZF, impose a northeast-striking simple shear across the Songliao basin. This simple shear not only caused left-lateral movement on the minor northwest-striking left-lateral strike-slip faults such as the SHF but also rotated them ∼14° clockwise into their present orientations. The results of the proposed bookshelf faulting model in which the predominant northeast-striking parallel faults are initiated are consistent with the observed lineament orientations, focal mechanisms, and earthquake distributions. The sharp shift in the subduction direction of the Pacific plate seems to have had a considerable influence on the intracontinental deformation in China, at least throughout northeastern China.

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