Modeling Crustal Deformation Due to the Landers, Hector Mine Earthquakes Using the SCEC Community Fault Model
Abstract
More realistic models of crustal deformation are possible due to advances in measurements and modeling capabilities. This study integrates various data to constrain a finite element model of stress and strain in the vicinity of the 1992 Landers earthquake and the 1999 Hector Mine earthquake. The geometry of the model is designed to incorporate the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC), Community Fault Model (CFM) to define fault geometry. The Hector Mine fault is represented by a single surface that follows the trace of the Hector Mine fault, is vertical and has variable depth. The fault associated with the Landers earthquake is a set of seven surfaces that capture the geometry of the splays and echelon offsets of the fault. A three dimensional finite element mesh of tetrahedral elements is built that closely maintains the geometry of these fault surfaces. The spatially variable coseismic slip on faults is prescribed based on an inversion of geodetic (Synthetic Aperture Radar and Global Positioning System) data. Time integration of stress and strain is modeled with the finite element code Pylith. As a first step the methodology of incorporating all these data is described. Results of the time history of the stress and strain transfer between 1992 and 1999 are analyzed as well as the time history of deformation from 1999 to the present.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2006
- Bibcode:
- 2006AGUFM.G31A..07G
- Keywords:
-
- 0545 Modeling (4255);
- 1242 Seismic cycle related deformations (6924;
- 7209;
- 7223;
- 7230);
- 8011 Kinematics of crustal and mantle deformation;
- 8020 Mechanics;
- theory;
- and modeling;
- 8159 Rheology: crust and lithosphere (8031)