Preprints
Search for earthquake (504 results)
Seismicity induced by hydraulic fracturing and wastewater disposal in the Appalachian Basin, USA - a review
Published: 2019-01-01
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Eastern Ohio is an area of North America where a significant increase in seismicity rate was noted in the early 2010s. This increase has been associated with intensification of unconventional gas extraction performed in the Appalachian Basin and has been directly linked to two processes: hydraulic fracturing and disposal of the associated wastewater. In this paper we review the recent seismicity [...]
Episodic fluid flow in an active fault
Published: 2018-12-01
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geology, Hydrology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Tectonics and Structure
We present a 250 ka record of episodic fluid flow along the Malpais fault which hosts the Beowawe hydrothermal system, Nevada, USA. The history of fluid flow was quantified using a novel combination of the apatite (U-Th)/He (AHe) thermochronometer and a model of the thermal effects of fluid flow. Samples show partial resetting of the AHe thermochronometer in a 40 m wide zone around the normal [...]
Joint inversion of co-seismic and early post-seismic slip: Application to the 2009 Mw6.3 LAquila earthquake, Central Italy
Published: 2018-11-21
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Geodetic data provide static information on the displacement of the surface of the Earth, and allow for a detailed analysis of earthquake characteristics. Yet, geodetic data are generally characterized by either a good temporal or a good spatial resolution, but rarely both. This lack of resolution affects our understanding of the evolution of seismic and aseismic processes. Here, we propose a [...]
Early and persistent supershear rupture of the 2018 Mw 7.5 Palu earthquake
Published: 2018-11-10
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Supershear earthquakes with rupture velocity exceeding shear-wave speeds, previously observed in laboratory experiments and large strike-slip events, often have an initial sub-shear stage before they transition to supershear. In this study, integrated geophysical observations of the 2018 Mw 7.5 Palu, Indonesia earthquake, provide robust evidence of an early and persistent supershear rupture [...]
Co-location of the downdip end of seismic coupling and the continental shelf break
Published: 2018-11-08
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geomorphology, Geophysics and Seismology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Along subduction margins, the morphology of the near shore domain records the combined action of erosion from ocean waves and permanent tectonic deformation from the convergence of plates. We observe that at subduction margins around the globe, the edge of continental shelves tends to be located above the downdip end of seismic coupling on the megathrust (locking depth). Coastlines lie farther [...]
An investigation of multi-fault rupture scenarios using a variety of Coulomb stress modelling criteria: methods paper and full results
Published: 2018-11-08
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
A series of Coulomb stress models are used to simulate the independently-derived (Holden et al., 2011) rupture process of Mw 7.1 Darfield earthquake. The 7-fault source model of Beavan et al. (2012) is used for all models. Model differences include (i) differences in the static stress thresholds (0,1,5,10 MPa) that must be reached or exceeded to initiate rupture on a receiver fault, (ii) [...]
Intermediate-magnitude postseismic slip follows intermediate-magnitude (M 4 to 5) earthquakes in California
Published: 2018-10-30
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The magnitude of postseismic slip is useful for constraining physical models of fault slip. Here we examine the postseismic slip following intermediate-magnitude (M 4 to 5) earthquakes by systematically analyzing data from borehole strainmeters in central and northern California. We assess the noise in the data and identify 36 records from 12 earthquakes that can be interpreted. We estimate [...]
Initiation and Arrest of Earthquake Ruptures due to Elongated Overstressed Regions
Published: 2018-10-23
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The initiation of natural and induced earthquakes is promoted in fault areas where the shear stress is close to fault strength. In many important situations, these overstressed fault areas (or “asperities”) are very elongated; for example, in the case of a fault intersecting a reservoir subject to fluid-injection, or the stress concentration along the bottom of a seismogenic zone induced by deep [...]
Disruption of Long-Term Effusive-Explosive Activity at Santiaguito, Guatemala
Published: 2018-10-19
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Volcanology
Rapid transitions in eruptive activity during lava dome eruptions pose significant challenges for monitoring and hazard assessment efforts. A comprehensive understanding of the dynamic evolution of active lava dome systems requires extensive multi-parametric datasets to fully constrain and understand rapid shifts in eruptive behavior, but few such datasets have been compiled. The Santiaguito lava [...]
Seismic observation of tsunami at island broadband stations
Published: 2018-10-15
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Previous studies have reported seismic observations of tsunami recorded at island broadband stations. Coastal loading by the tsunami can explain them. For further quantification, we model tsunami propagation assuming an axisymmetric structure: a conical island with a flat ocean floor. The total tsunami wavefield can be represented by superposition between an incident tsunami wave and the [...]
Earthquake early warning using future generation gravity strainmeters
Published: 2018-09-14
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Recent studies reported the observation of prompt elastogravity signals during the 2011 M9.1 Tohoku earthquake, recorded with broadband seismometers and gravimeter between the rupture onset and the arrival of the seismic waves. Here we show that to extend the range of magnitudes over which the gravity perturbations can be observed and reduce the time needed for their detection, high-precision [...]
Earthquake Swarms and Slow Slip on a Sliver Fault in the Mexican Subduction Zone
Published: 2018-08-25
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The Mexican Subduction Zone is an ideal location for studying subduction processes due to the short trench-to-coast distances that bring broad portions of the seismogenic and transition zones of the plate interface inland. Using a recently generated seismicity catalog from a local network in Oaxaca, we identified 20 swarms of earthquakes (M<5) from 2006-2012. Swarms outline what appears to be [...]
Landers 1992 "reloaded": Integrative dynamic earthquake rupture modeling
Published: 2018-08-16
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The 1992 $M_w$ 7.3 Landers earthquake is perhaps one of the best studied seismic events. However, many aspects of the dynamics of the rupture process are still puzzling, e.g. the rupture transfer between fault segments. We present 3D spontaneous dynamic rupture simulations, incorporating the interplay of fault geometry, topography, 3D rheology, off- fault plasticity and viscoelastic attenuation. [...]
Weak and slow, strong and fast: How shear zones evolve in a dry continental crust (Musgrave Ranges, Central Australia)
Published: 2018-08-15
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Tectonics and Structure
The strike-slip Davenport Shear Zone in Central Australia developed during the Petermann Orogeny (~ 550 Ma) in an intracontinental lower crustal setting under dry sub-eclogite facies conditions (~ 650 °C, 1.2 GPa). This ca. 5 km wide mylonite zone encloses several large low-strain domains, allowing a detailed study of the initiation of shear zones and their progressive development. [...]
Intraplate seismic events off Sumatra: 3-D source evolution
Published: 2018-08-15
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Four large, dominantly strike-slip, earthquakes have occurred in recent years in the Wharton Basin off the coast of Sumatra. The southernmost was the Mw 7.9 event on 2000 June 18, followed by the largest known intraplate earthquake – the Mw 8.6 event on 2012 April 11, with an Mw 8.2 ‘aftershock’ within a few hours. The most recent Mw 7.8 event on 2016 March 2 happened in an area with no [...]