A possible triggering mechanism for large Hawaiian earthquakes derived from analysis of the 26 June 1989 Kilauea south flank sequence

1992 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 2368-2390
Author(s):  
Carol J. Bryan

Abstract Examination of short-period seismic data from the ML = 6.1 Kilauea south flank earthquake and aftershock sequence indicates that the rupture process in large Hawaiian earthquakes is more complex than previously modeled. In contrast to the low-angle thrust solution determined for the mainshock from long-period teleseismic body waves by other workers, I find an intermediate- to high-angle reverse solution; I find, however, that focal mechanisms for coastal aftershocks of ML > 3.0 are similar to the teleseismic mechanism for the mainshock. A difference in focal mechanisms determined from short-period local-network seismic data and from long-period teleseismic data has been noted for other recent large Hawaiian earthquakes. Both the mapping of surface cracks and the focal mechanism derived from short-period seismic data for the ML = 6.6 1983 Kaoiki earthquake show strike-slip motion, whereas the centroid moment tensor solution shows low-angle thrusting. The focal mechanism calculated from short-period seismic data for the ML = 7.2 1975 Kalapana mainshock shows low-angle thrusting according to some workers, but intermediate- to high-angle reverse faulting according to others, whereas focal mechanisms calculated from long-period seismic data show low-angle thrusting. This result suggests that rupture initiation in large Hawaiian earthquakes, as represented by the short-period focal mechanisms, differs significantly from the overall rupture process, as represented by the teleseismic mechanisms. I propose that small earthquakes trigger the large-scale energy release at the bases of the volcanic edifices, the type of energy release often observed in large Hawaiian earthquakes. These triggering events may occur along rupture surfaces that differ from those along which the long-period moment release occurs and thus may represent release of a local stress concentration superposed upon the regional stress field.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pimpawee Sittipan ◽  
Pisanu Wongpornchai

Some of the important petroleum reservoirs accumulate beneath the seas and oceans. Marine seismic reflection method is the most efficient method and is widely used in the petroleum industry to map and interpret the potential of petroleum reservoirs. Multiple reflections are a particular problem in marine seismic reflection investigation, as they often obscure the target reflectors in seismic profiles. Multiple reflections can be categorized by considering the shallowest interface on which the bounces take place into two types: internal multiples and surface-related multiples. Besides, the multiples can be categorized on the interfaces where the bounces take place, a difference between long-period and short-period multiples can be considered. The long-period surface-related multiples on 2D marine seismic data of the East Coast of the United States-Southern Atlantic Margin were focused on this research. The seismic profile demonstrates the effectiveness of the results from predictive deconvolution and the combination of surface-related multiple eliminations (SRME) and parabolic Radon filtering. First, predictive deconvolution applied on conventional processing is the method of multiple suppression. The other, SRME is a model-based and data-driven surface-related multiple elimination method which does not need any assumptions. And the last, parabolic Radon filtering is a moveout-based method for residual multiple reflections based on velocity discrimination between primary and multiple reflections, thus velocity model and normal-moveout correction are required for this method. The predictive deconvolution is ineffective for long-period surface-related multiple removals. However, the combination of SRME and parabolic Radon filtering can attenuate almost long-period surface-related multiple reflections and provide a high-quality seismic images of marine seismic data.


1995 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 716-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
John F. Cassidy ◽  
Garry C. Rogers

Abstract On 6 April 1992, a magnitude 6.8 (MS) earthquake occurred in the triple-junction region at the northern end of the Cascadia subduction zone. This was the largest earthquake in at least 75 yr to occur along the 110-km-long Revere-Dellwood-Wilson (RDW) transform fault and the first large earthquake in this region recorded by modern broadband digital seismic networks. It thus provides an opportunity to examine the rupture process along a young (<2 Ma) oceanic transform fault and to gain better insight into the tectonics of this triple-junction region. We have investigated the source parameters and the rupture process of this earthquake by modeling broadband body waves and long-period surface waves and by accurately locating the mainshock and the first 10 days of aftershocks using a well-located “calibration” event recorded during an ocean-bottom seismometer survey. Analysis of P and SH waveforms reveals that this was a complex rupture sequence consisting of three strike-slip subevents in 12 sec. The initial rupture occurred 5 to 6 km to the SW of the seafloor trace of the RDW fault at 50.55° N, 130.46° W. The dominant subevent occurred 2 to 3 sec later and 4.3 km beneath the seafloor trace of the RDW fault, and a third subevent occurred 5 sec later, 18 km to the NNW, suggesting a northwestward propagating rupture. The aftershock sequence extended along a 60- to 70-km-long segment of the RDW fault, with the bulk of the activity concentrated ∼30 to 40 km to the NNW of the epicenter, consistent with this interpretation. The well-constrained mechanism of the initial rupture (strike/dip/slip 339°/90°/−168°) and of the largest aftershock (165°/80°/170°) are rotated 15° to 20° clockwise relative to the seafloor trace of the RDW fault but are parallel to the Pacific/North America relative plate motion vector. In contrast, the mechanisms of the dominant subevent (326°/87°/−172°), and the long-period solution derived from surface waves aligns with the RDW fault. This suggests that small earthquakes (M < 6) in this area occur along faults that are optimally aligned with respect to the regional stress field, whereas large earthquakes, involving tens of kilometers of rupture, activate the RDW fault. For the mainshock, we estimate a seismic moment (from surface waves) of 1.0 × 1026 dyne-cm, a stress drop of 60 bars, and an average slip of 1.2 m. This represents only 21 yr of strain accumulation, implying that there is either a significant amount of aseismic slip along the RDW fault or that much of the strain accumulation manifests itself as deformation within the Dellwood and Winona blocks or along the continental margin.


1978 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles A. Langston

abstract Teleseismic P, SV, and SH waves recorded by the WWSS and Canadian networks from the 1971 San Fernando, California earthquake (ML = 6.6) are modeled in the time domain to determine detailed features of the source as a prelude to studying the near and local field strong-motion observations. Synthetic seismograms are computed from the model of a propagating finite dislocation line source embedded in layered elastic media. The effects of source geometry and directivity are shown to be important features of the long-period observations. The most dramatic feature of the model is the requirement that the fault, which initially ruptured at a depth of 13 km as determined from pP-P times, continuously propagated toward the free surface, first on a plane dipping 53°NE, then broke over to a 29°NE dipping fault segment. This effect is clearly shown in the azimuthal variation of both long period P- and SH-wave forms. Although attenuation and interference with radiation from the remainder of the fault are possible complications, comparison of long- and short-period P and short-period pP and P waves suggest that rupture was initially bilateral, or, possibly, strongly unilateral downward, propagating to about 15 km depth. The average rupture velocity of 1.8 km/sec is well constrained from the shape of the long-period wave forms. Total seismic moment is 0.86 × 1026 dyne-cm. Implications for near-field modeling are drawn from these results.


1976 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 1485-1499 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Burdick ◽  
George R. Mellman

abstract The generalized linear inverse technique has been adapted to the problem of determining an earthquake source model from body-wave data. The technique has been successfully applied to the Borrego Mountain earthquake of April 9, 1968. Synthetic seismograms computed from the resulting model match in close detail the first 25 sec of long-period seismograms from a wide range of azimuths. The main shock source-time function has been determined by a new simultaneous short period-long period deconvolution technique as well as by the inversion technique. The duration and shape of this time function indicate that most of the body-wave energy was radiated from a surface with effective radius of only 8 km. This is much smaller than the total surface rupture length or the length of the aftershock zone. Along with the moment determination of Mo = 11.2 ×1025 dyne-cm, this radius implies a high stress drop of about 96 bars. Evidence in the amplitude data indicates that the polarization angle of shear waves is very sensitive to lateral structure.


1979 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 1851-1859
Author(s):  
M. Berberian ◽  
I. Asudeh ◽  
R. G. Bilham ◽  
C. H. Scholz ◽  
C. Soufleris

abstract Aftershocks of the Tabas-e-Golshan earthquake (Ms = 7.7) of September 16, 1978 were recorded with a local network of portable seismometers. The main shock produced a discontinuous series of surface ruptures extending 85 km NNW and dipping ENE beneath the Shotori Range. The largest aftershocks located thus far are not concentrated in the hypocentral region of the main shock nor near the ends of the rupture zone but appear to be concentrated down-dip from gaps in the surface ruptures. This suggests that these features may extend to depth and act as barrier zones in the rupture process. The 65 km long zone of aftershock activity dips 40°ENE from the surface break, which agrees with the focal mechanism for the main shock in indicating thrusting on a NNW-striking, ENE-dipping fault. The aftershocks range in depth from 2 to 24 km with greatest concentration in the depth range 5 to 10 km.


1978 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 1095-1102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert B. Herrmann ◽  
Jose-Antonio Canas

abstract A recent study of seismicity in the New Madrid seismic zone by Stauder et al. (1976) has shown the existence of linear micro-earthquake patterns of up to 120 km in length. This study presents the results of composite microearthquake focal mechanism studies along these trends together with focal mechanisms obtained using long-period surface-wave data from larger events. Due to the present microearthquake array geometry, the composite focal mechanism studies do not indicate a complete picture of the nature of the earthquake processes for all the trends. However, the motion on the major 120-km long trend into northeastern Arkansas has significant components of right lateral fault motion. The consistency of surface-wave focal mechanisms and the composite focal mechanism along this trend indicates that it should be considered as a single tectonic unit.


1975 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 693-709 ◽  
Author(s):  
Otto W. Nuttli ◽  
So Gu Kim

abstract Body-wave magnitudes, mb, and surface-wave magnitudes, MS, were determined for approximately 100 Eurasian events which occurred during the interval August through December 1971. Body-wave magnitudes were determined from 1-sec P waves recorded by WWSSN short-period, vertical-component seismographs at epicentral distances greater than 25°. Surface-wave magnitudes were determined from 20-sec Rayleigh waves recorded by long-period, vertical-component WWSSN and VLPE seismographs. The earthquakes had mb values ranging from 3.6 to 5.7. Of 96 presumed earthquakes studied, 6 lie in or near the explosion portion of an mb:MS plot. The explosion mb:MS curve was obtained from seven Eurasian events which had mb values ranging from 5.0 to 6.2 and MS values from 3.2 to 5.1. All six anomalous earthquakes were located in the interior of Asia, in Tibet, and in Szechwan and Sinkiang provinces of China. In general, oceanmargin earthquakes were found to have more earthquake-like mb:MS values than those occurring in the continental interior. Neither focal depth nor focal mechanism can explain the anomalous events.


2021 ◽  
Vol 944 (1) ◽  
pp. 012005
Author(s):  
G L Situmeang ◽  
H M Manik ◽  
T B Nainggolan ◽  
Susilohadi

Abstract Wide range frequency bandwidth on seismic data is a necessity due to its close relation to resolution and depth of target. High-frequency seismic waves provide high-resolution imaging that defines thin bed layers in shallow sediment, while low-frequency seismic waves can penetrate into deeper target depth. As a result of broadband seismic technology, its wide range of frequency bandwidth is a suitable geophysical exploration method in the oil and gas industry. A major obstacle that is frequently found in marine seismic data acquisition is the existence of multiples. Short period multiple and reverberation are commonly attenuated by the predictive deconvolution method on prestack data. Advanced methods are needed to suppress long period multiple in marine seismic data. The 2D broadband marine seismic data from deep Morowali Waters, Sulawesi, contains both short and long period multiples. The predictive deconvolution, which is applied to the processing sequences, successfully eliminates short period multiple on prestack data. The combination of F-k filter and Surface Related Multiple Elimination (SRME) methods are successful in attenuating long period multiple of the 2D broadband marine seismic data. The Prestack Time Migration section shows fine resolution of seismic images.


1991 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 1726-1736
Author(s):  
Susan L. Beck ◽  
Howard J. Patton

Abstract Surface waves recorded at regional distances are used to study the source parameters for three of the larger aftershocks of the 18 October 1989, Loma Prieta, California, earthquake. The short-period P-wave first-motion focal mechanisms indicate a complex aftershock sequence with a wide variety of mechanisms. Many of these events are too small for teleseismic body-wave analysis; therefore, the regional surface-waves provide important long-period information on the source parameters. Intermediate-period Rayleigh- and Love-wave spectra are inverted for the seismic moment tensor elements at a fixed depth and repeated for different depths to find the source depth that gives the best fit to the observed spectra. For the aftershock on 19 October at 10:14:35 (md = 4.2), we find a strike-slip focal mechanism with right lateral motion on a NW-trending vertical fault consistent with the mapped trace of the local faults. For the aftershock on 18 October at 10:22:04 (md = 4.4), the surface waves indicate a pure reverse fault with the nodal planes striking WNW. For the aftershock on 19 October at 09:53:50 (md = 4.4), the surface waves indicate a strike-slip focal mechanism with a NW-trending vertical nodal plane consistent with the local strike of the San Andreas fault. Differences between the surface-wave focal mechanisms and the short-period P-wave first-motion mechanisms are observed for the aftershocks analyzed. This discrepancy may reflect the real variations due to differences in the band width of the two observations. However, the differences may also be due to (1) errors in the first-motion mechanism due to incorrect near-source velocity structure and (2) errors in the surface-wave mechanisms due to inadequate propagation path corrections.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. eaaz1377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingling Ye ◽  
Hiroo Kanamori ◽  
Luis Rivera ◽  
Thorne Lay ◽  
Yu Zhou ◽  
...  

On 22 December 2018, a devastating tsunami struck Sunda Strait, Indonesia without warning, leaving 437 dead and thousands injured along the western Java and southern Sumatra coastlines. Synthetic aperture radar and broadband seismic observations demonstrate that a small, <~0.2 km3 landslide on the southwestern flank of the actively erupting volcano Anak Krakatau generated the tsunami. The landslide did not produce strong short-period seismic waves; thus, precursory ground shaking did not provide a tsunami warning. The source of long-period ground motions during the landslide can be represented as a 12° upward-dipping single-force directed northeastward, with peak magnitude of ~6.1 × 1011 N and quasi-sinusoidal time duration of ~70 s. Rapid quantification of a landslide source process by long-period seismic wave inversions for moment-tensor and single-force parameterizations using regional seismic data available within ~8 min can provide a basis for future fast tsunami warnings, as is also the case for tsunami earthquakes.


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