A computational study of two possible intraplate earthquake triggering mechanisms

The efficacy of two potential mechanisms for either triggering or causing seismicity is examined. The conclusions are specifically applied to the seismology of the New Madrid seismic zone, where they are found to have no demonstrable effect. The effect of water loading in the Mississippi River is examined first. The modeling of a river load by a finite length of rectangular load approximations results in a nonunique determination of the stress distribution which is dependent on the load geometry far outside of the region of interest. A statistical study of the relation between seismicity, river stage, and their tendency functions for 1976 in the northern Mississippi Embayment is also presented. As a prelude to the investigation of thermal stresses related to cylindrical plutonic intrusions, a detailed computational study of the thermal effects of such intrusions is also presented. The computational study of the thermal stresses associated with cylindrical plutonic intrusions is done. The results are discussed in relation to the seismicity and tectonic environment of the northern Mississippi Embayment.