scholarly journals Postglacial strain rate – stress paradox, example of the Western Alps active faults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliette Grosset ◽  
Stéphane Mazzotti ◽  
Philippe Vernant
Keyword(s):  
Strain Rate ◽  
Active Faults ◽  
Western Alps ◽  
Fault Reactivation ◽  
Deformation Pattern ◽  
Isostatic Adjustment ◽  
Flexural Response ◽  
Coulomb Failure ◽  
Direct Corollary ◽  
Gnss Data

Abstract. The understanding of the origins of seismicity in intraplate regions is crucial to better characterize seismic hazards. In formerly glaciated regions such as Fennoscandia North America or the Western Alps, stress perturbations from Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) have been proposed as a major cause of large earthquakes. In this study, we focus on the Western Alps case using numerical modeling of lithosphere response to the Last Glacial Maximum icecap. We show that the flexural response to GIA induces present-day stress perturbations of ca. 1–2 MPa, associated with horizontal extension rates up to ca. 2.5 × 10−9 yr−1. The latter is in good agreement with extension rates of ca. 2 × 10−9 yr−1 derived from high-resolution geodetic (GNSS) data and with the overall seismicity deformation pattern. In the majority of simulations, stress perturbations induced by GIA promote fault reactivation in the internal massifs and in the foreland regions (i.e., positive Coulomb Failure Stress perturbation), but with predicted rakes systematically incompatible with those from earthquake focal mechanisms. Thus, although GIA explains a major part of the GNSS strain rates, it tends to inhibit the observed seismicity in the Western Alps. A direct corollary of this result is that, in cases of significant GIA effect, GNSS strain rate measurements cannot be directly integrated in seismic hazard computations, but instead require detailed modeling of the GIA transient impact.

scholarly journals Modelling of glacially-induced stress changes in Latvia, Lithuania and the Kaliningrad District of Russia

Baltica ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-90
Author(s):  
Holger Steffen ◽  
Rebekka Steffen ◽  
Lev Tarasov
Keyword(s):  
Fault Reactivation ◽  
Glacial Isostatic Adjustment ◽  
Deformation Structures ◽  
Isostatic Adjustment ◽  
Stress Changes ◽  
Coulomb Failure ◽  
Sediment Deformation ◽  
Eastern Edge ◽  
Weichselian Glaciation ◽  
Unstable States

We model the change of Coulomb Failure Stress (δCFS) during the Weichselian glaciation up until today at 12 locations in Latvia, Lithuania and Russia that are characterised by soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS). If interpreted as seismites, these SSDS may point to glacially-induced fault reactivation. The δCFS suggests a high potential of such reactivation when it reaches the instability zone. We show that δCFS at all 12 locations reached this zone several times in the last 120,000 years. Most notably, all locations exhibit the possibility of reactivation after ca. 15 ka BP until today. Another time of possible activity likely happened after the Saalian glaciation until ca. 96 ka BP. In addition, some models suggest unstable states after 96 ka BP until ca. 28 ka BP at selected locations but with much lower positive δCFS values than during the other two periods. For the Valmiera and Rakuti seismites in Latvia, we can suggest a glacially-induced origin, whereas we cannot exactly match the timing at Rakuti. Given the (preliminary) dating of SSDS at some locations, at Dyburiai and Ryadino our modelling supports the interpretation of glacially-induced fault reactivation, while at Slinkis, Kumečiai and Liciškėnai they likely exclude such a source. Overall, the mutual benefit of geological and modelling investigations is demonstrated. This helps in identifying glacially-induced fault reactivation at the south-eastern edge of the Weichselian glaciation and in improving models of glacial isostatic adjustment.

Preliminary forecast model of crustal earthquakes in southwest Japan based on GNSS data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takuya Nishimura
Keyword(s):  
Strain Rate ◽  
Probability Model ◽  
Active Faults ◽  
Inelastic Strain ◽  
Forecast Model ◽  
Strain Rates ◽  
Southwest Japan ◽  
Crustal Earthquakes ◽  
Gnss Data ◽  
Geodetic Strain

<p>In Japan, the Headquarters for Earthquake Research Promotion has developed a nationwide probabilistic earthquake model called “National Seismic Hazard Maps for Japan” since the destructive 1995 Kobe earthquake. This model covers both subduction and crustal earthquakes based on a history of past large earthquakes from seismological, archaeological, and geological data. The model for crustal earthquakes relies on geological and geomorphological data of active faults and never use geodetic data, whereas contemporary deformation of the Japanese Islands has been observed by a dense GNSS network. Here, we attempt to develop a preliminary forecast model of shallow crustal earthquakes using GNSS velocity data.</p><p>We follow the procedure of Shen et al.(2007) to calculate the forecast model. The GNSS velocities at continuous GNSS stations from April 2005 to December 2009 are used for the model in southwest Japan. Elastic deformation due to interplate coupling along the Nankai Trough is removed using the block model of Nishimura et al. (2018). Strain rate field is calculated at a grid point of 0.2º x 0.2º by a method of Shen et al (1994). The strain rates are converted to geodetic moment rates by a formula proposed in Savage and Simpson (1997). The thickness of a seismogenic layer, rigidity, b value of the Gutenberg-Richter law, and magnitude of the maximum earthquake are assumed to be 12 km, 30 GPa, 0.9, and 7.5, respectively. They are uniform in the modeled region. Previous studies (e.g., Shen-Tu et al., 1994) revealed that geodetic strain rates were much larger than seismological ones in southwest Japan because geodetic strain includes both elastic and inelastic strain. Elastic strain rates presumably equal to seismological ones on a long-term average. We compared seismic moment rates released by shallow historical earthquakes since AD1586 with the geodetic moment rates. Their ratio is 0.24 and 0.16 in the Chubu, Kinki, and Chugoku region and the whole southwest Japan. This difference is probably attributed to the distribution of historical documents and may also reflect the regionality of the ratio between elastic and inelastic strain. Applying 0.16 for calculating elastic rates and the stationary Poisson process of the earthquake occurrence, a probability of M≥6 earthquakes for 30 years ranges from 5.1 % to 0.2 % in each 0.2º x 0.2º grid of southwest Japan. We verify this probability model by using shallow (Depth≤ 20 km) M≥5 earthquakes occurred in 2010-2019, which is a period after the used GNSS data. The number of earthquakes was 36, which is roughly concordant to the predicted number of the model (3.04 per year). About 58 % of the earthquakes occurred with 25 % of the area with the highest strain rates, which suggests many crustal earthquakes occur in high strain-rate regions. The verification suggests the preliminary forecast model has the predictive power reasonably.</p>

Indication of glacially-induced fault reactivation in Latvia, Lithuania and the Kaliningrad District of Russia from models of glacial isostatic adjustment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holger Steffen ◽  
Rebekka Steffen ◽  
Lev Tarasov
Keyword(s):  
Fault Reactivation ◽  
Glacial Isostatic Adjustment ◽  
Deformation Structures ◽  
Isostatic Adjustment ◽  
Stress Changes ◽  
Coulomb Failure ◽  
Sediment Deformation ◽  
Eastern Edge ◽  
Weichselian Glaciation ◽  
Unstable States

<p>We model the change of Coulomb Failure Stress (δCFS) during the Weichselian glaciation up until today at 12 locations in Latvia, Lithuania and Russia that are characterised by soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS). If interpreted as seismites, these SSDS may point to glacially-induced fault reactivation. The δCFS suggests a high potential of such reactivation when it reaches the instability zone. We show that δCFS at all 12 locations reached this zone several times in the last 120,000 years. Most notably, all locations exhibit the possibility of reactivation after ca. 15 ka BP until today. Another time of possible activity likely happened after the Saalian glaciation until ca. 96 ka BP. In addition, some models suggest unstable states after 96 ka BP until ca. 28 ka BP at selected locations but with much lower positive δCFS values than during the other two periods. For the Valmiera and Rakuti seismites in Latvia, we can suggest a glacially-induced origin, whereas we cannot exactly match the timing at Rakuti. Given the (preliminary) dating of SSDS at some locations, at Dyburiai and Ryadino our modelling supports the interpretation of glacially-induced fault reactivation, while at Slinkis, Kumečiai and Liciškėnai they likely exclude such a source. Overall, the mutual benefit of geological and modelling investigations is demonstrated. This helps in identifying glacially-induced fault reactivation at the south-eastern edge of the Weichselian glaciation and in improving models of glacial isostatic adjustment.</p><p>This work has been published in Steffen et al. (2019).</p><p>Reference:</p><p>Steffen, H., Steffen R., Tarasov L. 2019. Modelling of glacially-induced stress changes in Latvia, Lithuania and the Kaliningrad District of Russia. Baltica, 32 (1), 78–90.</p>

Strike-slip fault reactivation in the Western Alps due to Glacial Isostatic Adjustment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliette Grosset ◽  
Stéphane Mazzotti ◽  
Philippe Vernant ◽  
Jean Chéry ◽  
Kevin Manchuel
Keyword(s):  
Slip Rate ◽  
Western Alps ◽  
Strike Slip ◽  
Strike Slip Fault ◽  
Fault Reactivation ◽  
Maximum Effect ◽  
Glacial Isostatic Adjustment ◽  
Fault Systems ◽  
Isostatic Adjustment ◽  
The Impact

<p>The Western Alps represent the zone of highest seismicity density in metropolitan France. The seismicity is mainly located along two NE-SW strike-slip fault systems: the right-lateral Belledonne Fault and the left-lateral Durance Fault. Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) is one of the most common processes given to explain intraplate seismicity (e.g., Scandinavia, North America) and is also proposed as a cause of present-day deformation in the Alps. In order to test the impact of deglaciation from the Last Glacial Maximum on pre-existing vertical strike-slip faults in the Western Alps (Belledonne and Durance Faults), we use a finite-element approach to model fault reactivation throughout the deglaciation period, from ca. 18 kyr up to today. The models are tuned to fit present-day deformation rates observed by geodesy (uplift rate up to 2 mm/yr and horizontal radial extension). Simplified models (homogeneous icecap and Earth rheology) show that, under optimum conditions, GIA stress perturbations can activate a NE-SW right-lateral strike-slip fault such as the Belledonne Fault, requiring the fault to have been pre-stressed up to near-failure equilibrium before the onset of deglaciation. The maximum effect of GIA is 1.7 meters of right-lateral slip over 20 kyr, with a peak of displacement between 20 and 10 ka. These models indicate that GIA can result in a maximum slip rate of 0.08 mm/yr averaged over the Holocene, in association with earthquakes up to Mw = 7 (if all displacement is taken in one event). These results are consistent with local paleoseismicity and geomorphology evidence on the Durance fault. However, the impact of GIA on the left-lateral Belledonne Fault is poorly constrained by these simple models. Additional models based on realistic Alpine icecap reconstructions and regional rheology structures will also be presented, that allow us to test the specific effects of GIA on Holocene deformation along both the Belledone and Durance Fault systems.</p>

Glacial Isostatic Adjustment as a process of deformation but not seismicity in Western Alps: Coupling geodetical strain rate and numerical modeling 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliette Grosset ◽  
Stéphane Mazzotti ◽  
Philippe Vernant
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Modeling ◽  
Seismic Hazard ◽  
Strain Rate ◽  
Western Alps ◽  
Glacial Isostatic Adjustment ◽  
Strain Rates ◽  
Fault Activity ◽  
Isostatic Adjustment ◽  
Geodetic Strain Rate ◽  
Geodetic Strain

<p>In the last decade, geodetic data has become fundamental in studies of active faults, seismicity and seismic hazard. In particular, GNSS strain rates and velocities are used to constrain fault-slip rates and seismicity parameters, on the premise that these short-term (ca. 10 yr) measurements are representative of long-term (10<sup>4</sup>–10<sup>6</sup> yr) fault activity. The Western Alps are a good example of such development in a very-low-strain region with a high-density ongoing seismic activity. There, the first-order agreement between GNSS strain rates and earthquake deformation patterns suggest that a large part of the geodetic deformation observed in the area is seismic. This correlation also suggests that geodetic strain rates can provide constraints on seismicity and seismic hazard. With a numerical modeling approach, we point out the similarities between strain rates predicted for Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) from the Last Glacial Maximum and the geodetic strain rate field, suggesting that a large part of the GNSS signal is related to GIA. However, we show that the apparent compatibility between geodetic strain rates and seismicity hides a strain rate - stress paradox. In fact, stress perturbations due to GIA are not compatible with observed seismicity, and even tend to inhibit fault activity (as observed from focal mechanisms). Thus, the Western Alps present a typical example of a tectonic system where a transient deformation process precludes, or at least strongly complexifies, the use of geodetic strain rates in seismicity and seismic hazard analyses.</p>

Up to date geodetic velocity field of the Belledonne region (Western Alps, France)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Estelle Hannouz ◽  
Andrea Walpersdorf ◽  
Christian Sue ◽  
Marguerite Mathey ◽  
Stéphane Baize ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Field ◽  
Slip Rate ◽  
Western Alps ◽  
Strike Slip ◽  
Double Difference ◽  
Deformation Pattern ◽  
Slip Mechanism ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
Gnss Data ◽  
Dextral Strike Slip

<p>       The Belledonne region, located on the western edge of the French Alps, behaves as a deformation transfer zone between the inner part of the western Alps, where geodesy and seismicity show extensional deformation, and its compressional surrounding basin (the Rhône Valley). Seismological and geodetic networks are less dense and younger in the Rhône Valley, which makes it more difficult to characterize its deformation. Nevertheless, these two regions have a moderate historical and instrumental seismicity. A large part of these earthquakes is concentrated on the Belledonne range and accommodated by the active NE–SW Belledonne fault, located at the western foot of this chain. The fault characteristics, such as its connection at depth with surrounding fault systems (e.g. Cléry fault), still need better constraints. The dense seismological network present in the Alpine region has made it possible to highlight its dextral strike-slip kinematics. To complete these observations, we present here an update of the geodetic velocity field around this fault from GNSS data recorded over the last two decades.</p><p>To do so, we first computed daily positions for a total of about 200 stations provided by different European networks (IGS, RENAG, RGP, GAIN, DGFI networks) over a period of 23 years (from 1997 to 2020), by using a double-difference processing with the GAMIT software (Herring et al. 2015). Then, we constrained a velocity field with the Kalman filter GLOBK with respect to the fixed European plate. We finally analyzed the residual motions in our area of interest with respect to stable Europe, as provided by our updated velocity field.</p><p>Across the Belledonne range, our results show a deformation pattern consistent with the dextral strike-slip mechanism observed by the current seismicity. Methodological studies concern the expected decrease of uncertainty on the velocity field thanks to the increase of recordings through time. These tests aim at quantifying the Belledonne fault present-day slip rate, including a well-constrained velocity uncertainty. We also exploit the new 3D velocity field to confirm and precise the local amplitude, in the Belledonne area, of the general uplift of the Alpine belt, as observed by previous geodetic studies.</p>

scholarly journals Crustal strain-rate fields estimated from GNSS data with a Bayesian approach and its correlation to seismic activity in Mainland China

2021 ◽  
pp. 229003
Author(s):  
Ziyao Xiong ◽  
Jiancang Zhuang ◽  
Shiyong Zhou ◽  
Mitsuhiro Matsu'ura ◽  
Ming Hao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Strain Rate ◽  
Bayesian Approach ◽  
Seismic Activity ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Crustal Strain ◽  
Gnss Data

scholarly journals Visualization of the Strain-Rate State of a Data Cloud: Analysis of the Temporal Change of an Urban Multivariate Description

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (14) ◽  
pp. 2920
Author(s):  
Lorena Salazar-Llano ◽  
Camilo Bayona-Roa
Keyword(s):  
Strain Rate ◽  
Temporal Change ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Urban System ◽  
Deformation Pattern ◽  
Analysis Methodology ◽  
Global Deformation ◽  
Temporal Rate ◽  
Cloud Of Points ◽  
Entire Dataset

One challenging problem is the representation of three-dimensional datasets that vary with time. These datasets can be thought of as a cloud of points that gradually deforms. However, point-wise variations lack information about the overall deformation pattern, and, more importantly, about the extreme deformation locations inside the cloud. This present article applies a technique in computational mechanics to derive the strain-rate state of a time-dependent and three-dimensional data distribution, by which one can characterize its main trends of shift. Indeed, the tensorial analysis methodology is able to determine the global deformation rates in the entire dataset. With the use of this technique, one can characterize the significant fluctuations in a reduced multivariate description of an urban system and identify the possible causes of those changes: calculating the strain-rate state of a PCA-based multivariate description of an urban system, we are able to describe the clustering and divergence patterns between the districts of a city and to characterize the temporal rate in which those variations happen.

Looking for the hidden morphological signature of active faults in a Low Strain Rate region: clues from the eastern Kachchh region (NW India) 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eshaan Srivastava ◽  
Nicolò Parrino ◽  
Javed Malik ◽  
Fabrizio Pepe ◽  
Pierfrancesco Burrato
Keyword(s):  
Strain Rate ◽  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
Surface Deformation ◽  
Active Faults ◽  
Tectonic Geomorphology ◽  
Seismic Events ◽  
Rate Region ◽  
Ongoing Work ◽  
Morphotectonic Evolution ◽  
Low Strain Rate

<p>The Kachchh region (NW India), a pericratonic rift basin delimited by E-W trending major thrust faults, is a Low Strain Rate region[PB1] . In this area, the tectonic forcing magnitude is stronger enough to trigger infrequent significant earthquakes but not enough to overprint the climatic forcing signature. As a consequence, the active faults sources of the largest seismic events are largely poorly known and their geomorphic signature is subdued. </p><p>Instrumental and paleoseismological evidence highlights that the eastern part of Kachchh experienced a significant number of seismic events such as the 1819-06-16 Allah Bund earthquake (Mw 7.8, also known as the Rann of Kutch earthquake), the 1956-07-21 Anjar earthquake (Mw 6.1), the 2001-01-26 Bhuj earthquake (Mw 7.6) and the 2006 events (Mw 5.0 and 5.6 earthquake occurred along Island Belt Fault and Gedi fault). </p><p>In this region, the unavailability of useful outcrop information due to a significant climatic overprinting of the fault’s morphological signatures hampers the detection and parametrization of actively deforming faults.</p><p>For this reason, in this ongoing work, we propose a multidisciplinary approach, aimed at detecting active geological structures and their related [PB2] surface deformation, which mainly consists of quantitative tectonic geomorphology and paleoseismological analyses and structural interpretation and modelling. Preliminary results are a morphotectonic evolution model and 3D fault model of the study area. Finally, we stress the concept that only a multidisciplinary approach could provide useful information to understand better the highly debated active tectonic framework of the study area.</p>

On the Determination of Stress, Strain, Strain-Rate Relations From Dynamic Beam Tests

1969 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 632-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. P. Gillis ◽  
J. M. Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Strain Rate ◽  
Dynamic Testing ◽  
Direct Method ◽  
Bending Moment ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Stress Strain ◽  
Analytical Technique ◽  
Flexural Response ◽  
Flexural Tests

A direct method is proposed for the determination of stress, strain, strain-rate relations from dynamic flexural tests in which bending moment is given in terms of curvature and curvature rate, or any other suitable deformation parameter and deformation rate parameter. The method is demonstrated by application to published experimental results. It is found that the stress, strain, strain-rate relations that are derived from the flexural test data are in significantly better accord with uniaxial data on the same material, than moment, curvature, curvature-rate relations predicted from the uniaxial data correspond with the experimental results. It appears that the process of reducing flexural data to uniaxial relations by the method proposed is much less sensitive than that of predicting flexural response from uniaxial data. Since flexural tests have many experimental advantages over uniaxial tests this analytical technique seems to open up possibilities for improved dynamic testing methods.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document