The earthquake deformation cycle - Examples from South America and the western United States
Abstract
Observations of an interplate, thrust earthquake in Argentina are used to characterize a cyclic pattern of earthquake deformation. The cycle consists of steady strain accumulation, coseismic strain release, a period of continued strain release due to afterslip, and rapid postseismic strain accumulations which decrease exponentially and grade into steady strain accumulation. The cycle is used to interpret the deformation of three earthquakes in California, Alaska, and Montana, focusing on the mechanics of strain release. The results suggest that large postseismic movements can occur for strike-slip, thrust, and normal fault events. It is found that viscoelastic relaxation and postseismic afterslip should be incorporated in models of earthquake-related deformation. The use of these results for estimating earthquake repeat times from geodetic observations near active faults is considered.
- Publication:
-
IN: Proceedings of China-United States Symposium on Crustal Deformation and Earthquakes. Beijing
- Pub Date:
- 1988
- Bibcode:
- 1988seis.proc...76R
- Keywords:
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- Earthquakes;
- Geological Faults;
- Seismology;
- Argentina;
- Geodynamics;
- Plates (Tectonics);
- United States;
- Geophysics