Probing the Fault Complexity of the 2017 Ms 7.0 Jiuzhaigou Earthquake Based on the InSAR Data

On 8 August 2017, a surface wave magnitude (Ms) 7.0 earthquake occurred at the buried faults extending to the north of the Huya fault. Based on the coseismic deformation field obtained from interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data and a series of finite fault model tests, we propose a brand-new two-fault model composed of a main fault and a secondary fault as the optimal model for the Jiuzhaigou earthquake, in which the secondary fault is at a wide obtuse angle to the northern end of the main fault plane. Results show that the dislocation distribution is dominated by sinistral slip, with a significant shallow slip deficit. The main fault consists of two asperities bounded by an aftershock gap, which may represent a barrier. In addition, most aftershocks are located in stress shadows and appear a complementary pattern with the coseismic high-slip regions. We propose that the aftershocks are attributable to the background tectonic stress, which may be related to the velocity-strengthening zones.

Present-day orogenic processes in the western Kalpin nappe explored by interseismic GNSS measurements and coseismic InSAR observations of the 2020 Mw 6.1 Kalpin event

Summary As the largest and most active intracontinental orogenic belt on Earth, the Tien Shan (TS) is a natural laboratory for understanding the Cenozoic orogenic processes driven by the India-Asia collision. On 19 January 2020, a Mw 6.1 event stuck the Kalpin region, where the southern frontal TS interacts with the Tarim basin. To probe the local ongoing orogenic processes and potential seismic hazard in the Kalpin region, both interseismic and instantaneous deformation derived from geodetic observations are employed in this study. With the constraint of interseismic global navigation satellite system (GNSS) velocities, we estimate the décollement plane parameters of the western Kalpin nappe based on a two-dimensional dislocation model, and the results suggest that the décollement plane is nearly subhorizontal with a dip of ∼3° at a depth of 24 km. Then, we collect both Sentinel-1 and ALOS-2 satellite images to capture the coseismic displacements caused by the 2020 Kalpin event, and the interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) images show a maximum displacement of 7 cm in the line of sight near the epicentral region. With these coseismic displacement measurements, we invert the source parameters of this event using a finite-fault model. We determine the optimal source mechanism in which the fault geometry is dominated by thrust faulting with an E–W strike of 275° and a northward dip of 11.2°, and the main rupture slip is concentrated within an area 28.0 km in length and${\rm{\,\,}}$10.3 km in width, with a maximum slip of 0.3 m at a depth of 6–8 km. The total released moment of our preferred distributed slip model yields a geodetic moment of 1.59 × 1018 N$\cdot $m, equivalent to Mw 6.1. The contrast of the décollement plane depth from interseismic GNSS and the rupture depth from coseismic InSAR suggests that a compression still exists in the Kalpin nappe forefront, which is prone to frequent moderate events and may be at risk of a much more dangerous earthquake.

Comparative study of the 3D tsunami simulations performed with the use of different approaches to the reconstruction of the bottom movement

<p>Information on the earthquake source mechanism (Centroid Moment Tensor) becomes publicly available in a few minutes after the earthquake (for example, https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes or http://geofon.gfz-potsdam.de/eqinfo). Using this information, we can calculate the ocean bottom displacement in the earthquake area [Leonard, 2010; Okada, 1985] and then use this displacement as an input data for hydrodynamic simulation of the tsunami waves. Let us call this type of input data - Type 1. Somewhat later (and sometimes much later), than CMT, more detailed information on the rupture fault structure (Finite Fault Model) becomes available. According to Finite Fault Model, the rupture fault in the earthquake source consists of a certain number of segments characterized by their dip and strike angles. Each segment consists of a finite number of rectangular subfaults, for each of which a displacement vector, an activation time and a rise time are specified. By applying Okada's formulas to each subfault and using the principle of superposition, we can calculate the ocean bottom displacement in the earthquake area and also use it as an input data for tsunami simulations. Let us call this type of input data - Type 2. However, based on the Finite Fault Model, we are able to create a third type of input data (Type 3). To do this, it is necessary to take into account the displacement start time (subfault activation time) and the displacement duration (subfault rise time) of each subfault and consider the dynamics of the rupture process. In this case, we will be able to reconstruct not only the coseismic bottom displacement in the earthquake source (Type 2), but also describe the dynamics of the coseismic bottom displacement formation in the tsunami source (Type 3).</p><p> </p><p>This paper compares the tsunami simulation results performed with the of different types of input data (Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3). We performed calculations for a number of large earthquakes at the beginning of the 21st century. We took all the earthquake source information from the USGS catalog (https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes). The bottom deformations of all three types were calculated using the ffaultdisp code (http://ocean.phys.msu.ru/projects/ffaultdisp/). Tsunami modeling was carried out using a combined 2D / 3D CPTM model [Nosov, Kolesov, 2019; Sementsov et al., 2019]. The simulation results are compared with each other as well as with the DART ocean bottom observatories records.</p><p> </p><p>The study was supported by Russian Foundation for Basic Research (projects 20-35-70038, 19-05-00351, 20-07-01098).</p><p> </p>

Slip-deficit estimation with a 3D fault model of the North Anatolian Fault by using InSAR time series

<p>Crustal earthquakes are events of sudden stress release throug­h rock failure, for example as a consequence of continuous and long-term stress buildup at tectonic faults that eventually exceeds the strength of rock. Before failure, under increasing stress at a fault, the surrounding crust is slowly deforming. The amount and pattern of crustal deformation carries information about location and potential magnitude of future earthquakes.</p><p>Time series of space-borne interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data can be used to precisely measure the surface motion, which corresponds to the crustal deformation, in the radar line-of-sight and across large areas. These observations open the opportunity to study fault loading in terms of location, size of locked parts at faults and their slip deficit. Here we study the North Anatolian Fault (NAF), a major right-lateral strike-slip fault zone of about 1500 km length in the north of Turkey and we create its first large-scale 3D finite-fault model based on InSAR data.</p><p>We use the InSAR time series of data recorded by ESA’s Envisat SAR satellite between 2002 and 2010 (Hussain et al., 2018 and Walters et al., 2014).<!-- Das ist nicht ganz eindeutig formuliert. rigid motion darf nicht auf die InSAR Daten bezogen werden. --> We represent the fault with several vertical, planar fault segments that trace the NAF with reasonable resolution. The medium model is a layered half space with a viscoelastic lower crust and mantle. Several GNSS velocity measurements are used to apply a trend correction and calibrate the InSAR time series data to an Eurasia-fixed-reference frame. We use the plate motion difference of the Anatolian and the Eurasian plates calculated through an Euler pole to set up a back-slip finite-fault model. We then optimize the back-slip as the slip deficit, the width and the depth of the locked fault zone at each segment to achieve a good fit to the measured surface motion.</p><p>We find shallow locking depths and small slip deficits in the eastern and westernmost regions of the NAF, while the central part shows both deeper locking depths and larger slip deficits for the observation period. <!-- So wie es jetzt ist sind es zu viele Wörter, wenn man diesen erklär-Satz rausnehmen würde, würde es gerade so passen. Für die Erdbebenaktivität im Osten hab ich bis jetzt für den Zeitraum auch noch kein entsprechendes Paper gefunden, da suche ich aber noch. -->For both parameters the trends are in an overall agreement to earlier studies. There, InSAR-time series data have been used to calculate slip deficits at the North Anatolian fault with 2D models and/or assuming a homogeneous and purely elastic medium.<!-- Passt vom flow jetzt besser hier hin, denke ich. --> Local modeled differences therefore might be connected to differences in the modeling approaches, but also remain subject to further investigations and discussions.</p><p>Our model provides a very suitable basis for future time-dependent modeling of the slip deficit at the NAF that includes also more recent InSAR time series based on data from the Sentinel-1 radar satellite mission of ESA.</p>

Rupture process of the 7 May 2020 Mw 5.0 Tehran earthquake and its relation with the Damavand stratovolcano, and Mosha Fault

<p>In May 2020 an earthquake with Mw 5.0 struck at ~40 km east of Tehran metropolis and ~15 km south of the Damavand stratovolcano. It was responsible for 2 casualties and 23 injured. The mainshock was preceded by a foreshock with Ml 2.9 and followed by a significant aftershock sequence, including ten events with Ml 3+. The occurrence of this event raised the question of its relation with volcanic activities and/or concern about the occurrence of larger future earthquakes in the capital of Iran. Tehran megacity is surrounded by several inner-city and adjacent active faults that correspond to high-risk seismic sources in the area. The Mosha fault with ~150 km long is one of the major active faults in central Alborz and east of Tehran. It has hosted several historical earthquakes (i.e. 1665 Mw 6.5 and 1830 Mw 7.1 earthquakes) in the vicinity of the 2020 Mw 5.0 Tehran earthquake’s hypocenter. In this study, we evaluate the seismic sequence of the Tehran earthquake and obtain the full moment tensor inversion of this event and its larger aftershocks, which is a key tool to discriminate between tectonic and volcanic earthquakes. Furthermore, we obtain a robust characterization of the finite fault model of this event applying probabilistic earthquake source inversion framework using near-field strong-motion records and broadband seismograms, with an estimation of the uncertainties of source parameters. Due to the relatively weak magnitude and deeper centroid depth (~12 km), no static surface displacement was observed in the coseismic interferograms, and modeling performed by seismic records. Focal mechanism solution from waveform inversion, with a significant double-couple component, is compatible with the orientation of the sinistral north-dipping Mosha fault at the centroid location. The finite fault model suggests that the mainshock rupture propagated towards the northwest. This directivity enhanced the peak acceleration in the direction of rupture propagation, observed in strong-motion records. The 2020 moderate magnitude earthquake with 2 casualties, highlights the necessity of high-resolution seismic monitoring in the capital of Iran, which is exposed to a risk of destructive earthquakes with more than 10 million population. Our results are important for the hazard and risk assessment, and the forthcoming earthquake early warning system development in Tehran metropolis.</p>

Normal Faulting in the 2020 Mw 6.2 Yutian Event: Implications for Ongoing E–W Thinning in Northern Tibet

Extensional earthquakes in the Tibetan Plateau play an important role in the plateau’s orogenic evolution and cause heavy seismic hazard, yet their mechanisms remain poorly known, in particular in harsh northern Tibet. On 25 June 2020, a Mw 6.2 earthquake struck Yutian, Xinjiang, offering us a rare chance to gain insights into its mechanism and implications in the Tibetan extension. We used both descending and ascending Sentinel-1 images to generate coseismic deformation associated with this event, which indicates a typical extensional mechanism with a maximum subsidence displacement of 25 cm and minor uplift. The causative fault constrained with interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data based on a finite fault model suggests that the fault plane has a strike of 186.4° and westward dip of 64.8°, and the main rupture is concentrated at a depth of 3.6–10.8 km with a peak slip of 0.85 m. Our source model indicates that the 2020 Yutian event ruptured an unknown high-angle blind normal fault with N–S striking. The total released geodetic moment yields 2.69 × 1018 N·m, equivalent to Mw 6.23. We used dense interseismic global positioning system (GPS) measurements to reveal an approximate 7 mm/yr extensional motion in the Yutian region, but it still does not seem large enough to support high local seismicity for normal events within 12 years, i.e., Mw 7.1 in 2008, Mw 6.2 in 2012, and this event in 2020. Combined with Coulomb stress change modeling, we speculate that the seismicity in Yutian is related to the lower lithospheric dynamics.

Near‐Real‐Time Finite‐Fault Inversions for Large Earthquakes in Chile Using Strong‐Motion Data

ABSTRACT Recent efforts have been made to model the rupture process of large earthquakes in near‐real time (NRT) in Chile. In this study, we propose an automated procedure using strong‐motion data in an integrated system, which can characterize large earthquakes with a finite‐fault model (FFM) in NRT. We developed several heuristic rules using the preliminary W‐phase solutions to automatically set up the search ranges of the finite‐fault inversions. The results show using strong‐motion data and a W‐phase magnitude, it is possible to obtain a rapid kinematic FFM in just a few minutes after the earthquake origin time.