Stress Drops from Trench to Depth in the Northern Chilean Subduction Zone

Author(s):  
Jonas Folesky ◽  
Rens Hofman ◽  
Jörn Kummerow

<div> <div> <div> <p>At the northern Chilean subduction zone the IPOC network monitors seismicity since 2007. During the observation time period two very large earthquakes occurred, the 2007 MW 7.7 Tocopilla earthquake and the 2014 MW 8.1 Iquique earthquake and until today the subduction zone shows a vast amount of seismic activity. A large catalog was compiled and published including over 100000 events by Sippl et al. 2018. Therein, seismicity ranges from close to the trench till deep into the mantle to about 300km depth. Consequently, events occur under a broad variability of physical conditions.</p> <p>We extend the aforementioned catalog by applying a template matching technique to identify additional events, that are colocated with catalog events. Based on these events we apply an empirical Green’s function method called spectral ratio approach to estimate stress drops. The results cover different nucleation provinces i.e. the data set includes stress drops obtained at the interface, within the subducting plate, from crustal events, intermediate depth events, and from deep to very deep seismicity. The study therefore bears a great potential to better understand the stress drop distribution within an entire subduction zone.</p> </div> </div> </div><p>First results show no depth dependency in the shallowest 100 km but spatial variability with high stress drops focused to particular regions on the interface. We also find increased stress drop values in the crust when compared to events close or at the interface.</p>

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Folesky ◽  
Joern Kummerow ◽  
Serge A. Shapiro

<p>The Northern Chilean subduction zone has been monitored by the IPOC network for more than ten years. During this time period two very large earthquakes occurred, the 2007 M<sub>W</sub>7.7  Tocopilla earthquake and the 2014 M<sub>W</sub>8.1 Iquique earthquake. Over the entire subduction zone a vast amount of seismic activity has been recorded and a huge catalog was compiled including over 100000 events (Sippl et al. 2018). With this exceptional data base we attempt a systematic analysis of the stress drops of as many events from the catalog as possible. We apply different estimation techniques, namely the spectral ratio type, the spectral stacking approach, and the lower bound method. A goal of our research is a comparison and possibly a combination of the techniques to obtain reliable and well constrained results.</p><p>The data set covers events at the interface, within the subducting plate, crustal events, and intermediate depth events. It therefore bears a great potential to better understand the stress drop distribution within a subduction zone. Also, the long observation interval allows to analyze temporal variations according to pre-, inter-, and post-seismic phases of megathrust earthquakes.   </p><p>We present preliminary results where a subset of 730 events with a magnitude range of M<sub>L</sub>2.7 - M<sub>L</sub>4.8  was used for analysis with the spectral ratio technique. For these events we show maps of spatial stress drop variation, and we analyze the time dependent stress drop variance. </p>


1983 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 219-236
Author(s):  
M. Wyss ◽  
R. E. Habermann ◽  
Ch. Heiniger

abstract The rate of occurrence of earthquakes shallower than 100 km during the years 1963 to 1980 was studied as a function of time and space along the New Hebrides island arc. Systematic examination of the seismicity rates for different magnitude bands showed that events with mb < 4.8 were not reported consistently over time. The seismicity rate as defined by mb ≧ 4.8 events was examined quantitatively and systematically in the source volumes of three recent main shocks and within two seismic gaps. A clear case of seismic quiescence could be shown to have existed before one of the large main shocks if a major asperity was excluded from the volume studied. The 1980 Ms = 8 rupture in the northern New Hebrides was preceded by a pattern of 9 to 12 yr of quiescence followed by 5 yr of normal rate. This pattern does not conform to the hypothesis that quiescence lasts up to the mainshock which it precedes. The 1980 rupture also did not fully conform to the gap hypothesis: half of its aftershock area covered part of a great rupture which occurred in 1966. A major asperity seemed to play a critical role in the 1966 and 1980 great ruptures: it stopped the 1966 rupture, and both parts of the 1980 double rupture initiated from it. In addition, this major asperity made itself known by a seismicity rate and stress drops higher than in the surrounding areas. Stress drops of 272 earthquakes were estimated by the MS/mb method. Time dependence of stress drops could not be studied because of changes in the world data set of Ms and mb values. Areas of high stress drops did not correlate in general with areas of high seismicity rate. Instead, outstandingly high average stress drops were observed in two plate boundary segments with average seismicity rate where ocean floor ridges are being subducted. The seismic gaps of the central and northern New Hebrides each contain seismically quiet regions. In the central New Hebrides, the 50 to 100 km of the plate boundary near 18.5°S showed an extremely low seismicity rate during the entire observation period. Low seismicity could be a permanent property of this location. In the northern New Hebrides gap, seismic quiescence started in mid-1972, except in a central volume where high stress drops are observed. This volume is interpreted as an asperity, and the quiescence may be interpreted as part of the preparation process to a future large main shock near 13.5°S.


1984 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 1101-1123
Author(s):  
Jon Fletcher ◽  
John Boatwright ◽  
Linda Haar ◽  
Thomas Hanks ◽  
Art McGarr

Abstract A suite of 111 strong-motion accelerograms for 14 aftershocks of the Oroville, California, earthquake (ML = 5.7, 1 August 1975) that range in local magnitude (ML) from 2.8 to 5.2 has been analyzed to obtain estimates of seismic moment (Mo), source radius (ro), and stress drop (Δσ) in addition to the focal parameters of location, depth, and fault-plane solution. This data set, which is unusually complete for near-source (Δ ≲ 20 km) on-scale readings, allows for greater precision in the calculation of various measures of stress difference as represented by the Brune stress drop, the apparent stress, the arms stress drop, and the dynamic stress drop. In addition, the seismicity following each aftershock and state-of-stress seem to correlate with particular estimates of stress drop. Seismic moments were calculated from the asymptotic long-period spectral levels which were corrected for the radiation pattern of a double-couple point source. They range from 1.4 × 1021 dyne-cm for a ML = 2.8 shock to 3.3 × 1023 dyne-cm for a ML = 5.1 event. A least-squares fit between ML and the logarithm Mo yields log M 0 = ( 1.36 ± 0.22 ) M L + ( 16.8 ± 1.1 ) for M L ≧ 4.3 and log ⁡ M 0 = ( 1.1 ± 0.14 ) M L + ( 18 ± 0.51 ) for M L ≦ 4.1. These relationships are qualitatively in agreement with the response of the Wood-Anderson instrument to a Brune pulse. Stress drops from the Brune formulation range about 14 to 170 bars. Stress drop is correlated with depth in that the deepest events have the largest stress drops and no large stress drops occur at the shallow depths. Apparent stresses are smaller than the Brune stress drops and show a weaker depth dependence over the depth interval for which they are available. The stress drop calculated from the rms of acceleration (arms) was approximately constant at about 90 bars for 5 of the 7 larger events analyzed; the two high values of 160 and 190 bars were obtained only for the two events which had marked aftershock sequences of their own. These results may be interpreted in terms of the state-of-stress, simple fracture criteria, and mechanisms for the generation of aftershocks. The increase with depth of the envelope of the Brune stress drops may be caused by an increase in shear stress from overburden pressure. Smaller stress drop events can occur at any depth interval. The causal mechanism of aftershocks is not known, but probably includes a change in the frictional properties of the fault, suggesting that the arms stress drop is a measure of the frictional or dynamic stress release.


Author(s):  
Serge A. Shapiro ◽  
Carsten Dinske

AbstractSometimes, a rather high stress drop characterizes earthquakes induced by underground fluid injections or productions. In addition, long-term fluid operations in the underground can influence a seismogenic reaction of the rock per unit volume of the fluid involved. The seismogenic index is a quantitative characteristic of such a reaction. We derive a relationship between the seismogenic index and stress drop. This relationship shows that the seismogenic index increases with the average stress drop of induced seismicity. Further, we formulate a simple and rather general phenomenological model of stress drop of induced earthquakes. This model shows that both a decrease of fault cohesion during the earthquake rupture process and an enhanced level of effective stresses could lead to high stress drop. Using these two formulations, we propose the following mechanism of increasing induced seismicity rates observed, e.g., by long-term gas production at Groningen. Pore pressure depletion can lead to a systematic increase of the average stress drop (and thus, of magnitudes) due to gradually destabilizing cohesive faults and due to a general increase of effective stresses. Consequently, elevated average stress drop increases seismogenic index. This can lead to seismic risk increasing with the operation time of an underground reservoir.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1351010X2098690
Author(s):  
Romana Rust ◽  
Achilleas Xydis ◽  
Kurt Heutschi ◽  
Nathanael Perraudin ◽  
Gonzalo Casas ◽  
...  

In this paper, we present a novel interdisciplinary approach to study the relationship between diffusive surface structures and their acoustic performance. Using computational design, surface structures are iteratively generated and 3D printed at 1:10 model scale. They originate from different fabrication typologies and are designed to have acoustic diffusion and absorption effects. An automated robotic process measures the impulse responses of these surfaces by positioning a microphone and a speaker at multiple locations. The collected data serves two purposes: first, as an exploratory catalogue of different spatio-temporal-acoustic scenarios and second, as data set for predicting the acoustic response of digitally designed surface geometries using machine learning. In this paper, we present the automated data acquisition setup, the data processing and the computational generation of diffusive surface structures. We describe first results of comparative studies of measured surface panels and conclude with steps of future research.


1984 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-40
Author(s):  
M. E. O'Neill

Abstract Source dimensions and stress drops of 30 small Parkfield, California, earthquakes with coda duration magnitudes between 1.2 and 3.9 have been estimated from measurements on short-period velocity-transducer seismograms. Times from the initial onset to the first zero crossing, corrected for attenuation and instrument response, have been interpreted in terms of a circular source model in which rupture expands radially outward from a point until it stops abruptly at radius a. For each earthquake, duration magnitude MD gave an estimate of seismic moment MO and MO and a together gave an estimate of static stress drop. All 30 earthquakes are located on a 6-km-long segment of the San Andreas fault at a depth range of about 8 to 13 km. Source radius systemically increases with magnitude from about 70 m for events near MD 1.4 to about 600 m for an event of MD 3.9. Static stress drop ranges from about 2 to 30 bars and is not strongly correlated with magnitude. Static stress drop does appear to be spatially dependent; the earthquakes with stress drops greater than 20 bars are concentrated in a small region close to the hypocenter of the magnitude 512 1966 Parkfield earthquake.


1981 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 423-436
Author(s):  
Willian H. Bakun ◽  
Thomas V. McEvilly

abstract Wood-Anderson seismograms recorded at Mount Hamilton (MHC, 185 km, 327°), Santa Barbara (SBC, 180 km, 158°), and Tinemaha (TIN, 240 km, 56°) provide data for comparing P-wave spectra for two immediate (17-min) foreshocks, one early (55-hr) foreshock, two aftershocks, and two “isolated” Parkfield earthquakes. All are ML 5.0 shocks with epicenters within 7 km of the common epicenter of the 1934 and 1966 Parkfield main shocks. The set of events is well suited for testing the hypothesis that foreshocks are high-stress-drop sources. Calculated stress drops are controlled by source directivity at azimuths aligned with the fault break (at MHC and SBC). P-wave radiation from the three foreshocks is focused along one fault trace azimuth, suggesting that foreshock sources are characterized by pronounced unilateral rupture expansion. At TIN, broadside to the fault where directivity has minimum effect on calculated relative stress drop, the two immediate foreshocks are higher stress-drop sources. The early foreshock is a low-to-average stress-drop source, indicating the possibility that stress concentration is a rapidly occurring phenomenon in rupture nucleation. Alternatively, the stress field is highly variable on the scale of 2 to 3 km in the focal region of an impending earthquake with a rupture length of 20 to 30 km.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 152
Author(s):  
Rahmat Setyo Yuliatmoko ◽  
Telly Kurniawan

The amount of stress released by an earthquake can be calculated with a stress drop, the stress ratio before and after an earthquake where the stress accumulated in a fault or a subduction zone is immediately released during an earthquake. The purpose of this research is to calculate the amount of stress drop in faults and subduction in Maluku and Halmahera and their variations and relate them to the geological conditions in the area so that the tectonic characteristics in the area can be identified. This research employed mathematical analysis and the Nelder Mead Simplex nonlinear inversion methods. The results show that Maluku and Halmahera are the area with complex tectonic conditions and large earthquake impacts. The Maluku sea earthquake generated a stress drop of 0.81 MPa with a reverse fault mechanism in the zone of subduction, while for the Halmahera earthquake the stress drop value was 52.72 MPa, a typical strike-slip mechanism in the fault zone. It can be concluded that there is a difference in the stress drop between the subduction and fault zones; the stress drop in the fault was greater than that in the subduction zone due to different rock structure and faulting mechanisms as well as differences in the move slip rate that plays a role in the process of holding out the stress on a rock. This information is very important to know the amount of pressure released from the earthquake which has a very large impact as part of disaster mitigation measures.


1993 ◽  
Vol 303 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.P.S. Thakur ◽  
A. Martin ◽  
W.T. Fackrell ◽  
R. Barbour ◽  
J. L. Kawski ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTSingle wafer rapid thermal processing (RTP) is emerging as a key player in the processing of advanced sub-half micron memory devices. The high temperature processing of large diameter silicon wafers can create sufficient thermal stress for generation of dislocation, slip, and gross mechanical instability of the wafer. The aforementioned factors may lead to loss of device yield, dielectric defects, and reduced photolithographic yield due to degradation of virtual wafer flatness. Moreover, the loss of geometrical planarity of wafer due to warpage can make it impossible to process a wafer or can lead to self-fracture of the wafer.In this paper we present the warpage and stress results of our study on plain and patterned structures that were subjected to RTP at different stages of the CMOS process flow. Experimental results have been gathered with full wafer scanning technology using non-contact capacitive probes to measure more accurate global stress values. The stress and warpage values on the patterned wafers could be measured accurately without any light scattering effects and destructive interference. It is reported that the thermal processing creates significant variations in shape change around the wafer which could be identified using the full wafer data set acquired using this evaluation technique. We have successfully tracked variations in film stress for both plain and patterned structures as a cumulative effect and correlated it with the overall wafer warpage. The effects of incoming wafer warpage, ramp rate in RTP, and high stress nitride films on the overall wafer warpage are also reported.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Bilek ◽  
Emily Morton

<p>Observations from recent great subduction zone earthquakes highlight the influence of spatial geologic heterogeneity on overall rupture characteristics, such as areas of high co-seismic slip, and resulting tsunami generation.  Defining the relevant spatial heterogeneity is thus important to understanding potential hazards associated with the megathrust. The more frequent, smaller magnitude earthquakes that commonly occur in subduction zones are often used to help delineate the spatial heterogeneity.  Here we provide an overview of several subduction zones, including Costa Rica, Mexico, and Cascadia, highlighting connections between the small earthquake source characteristics and rupture behavior of larger earthquakes.  Estimates of small earthquake locations and stress drop are presented in each location, utilizing data from coastal and/or ocean bottom seismic stations.  These seismicity characteristics are then compared with other geologic and geophysical parameters, such as upper and lower plate characteristics, geodetic locking, and asperity locations from past large earthquakes.  For example, in the Cascadia subduction zone, we find clusters of small earthquakes located in regions of previous seamount subduction, with variations in earthquake stress drop reflecting potentially disrupted upper plate material deformed as a seamount passed.  Other variations in earthquake location and stress drop can be correlated with observed geodetic locking variations. </p>


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