Tsunami scenario triggered by submarine landslide offshore of northern Sumatra Island and its hazard assessment

Near the northern border of Sumatra, the right-lateral strike-slip Sumatran Fault Zone splits into two branches and extends into the offshore, as revealed by seismic sounding surveys. However, due to its strike-slip faulting characteristics, the Sumatran Fault Zone’s activity is rarely believed to cause tsunami hazards in this region. According to two reprocessed reflection seismic profiles, the extended Sumatran Fault Zone is strongly associated with chaotic facies, indicating that large submarine landslides have been triggered. Coastal steep slopes and new subsurface characteristics of submarine landslide deposits were mapped using recently acquired high-resolution shallow bathymetry data. Slope stability analysis revealed some targets with steep morphology to be close to failure. In an extreme case, an earthquake of Mw 7 or more occurred, and the strong ground shaking triggered a submarine landslide off the northern shore of Sumatra. Based on a simulation of tsunami wave propagation in shallow water, the results of this study indicate a potential tsunami hazard from a submarine landslide triggered by the strike-slip fault system. The landslide tsunami hazard assessment and early warning systems in this study area can be improved on the basis of this proposed scenario.

Stress Accumulation and Earthquake Activity on the Great Sumatran Fault, Indonesia

The seismically active Sumatra subduction zone has generated some of the largest earthquakes in the instrumental record, and both historical accounts and paleogeodetic coral studies indicate such activity has historical recorded megathrust earthquakes and transferred stress to the surrounding, including the Great Sumatran Fault (GSF). Therefore, evaluating the stress transfer from these large subduction earthquakes could delineate the highly stressed area as potential-earthquake region along the GSF. In this study, we investigated eight megathrust earthquakes from 1797 to 2010 and resolved the accumulated Coulomb stress changes onto the 18 segments along the GSF. Additionally, we also estimated the rate of tectonic stress on the GSF segments which experienced large earthquake using the case of: (1) no sliver movement and (2) with sliver movement. Based on the historical stress changes of large earthquakes and the increase in tectonic stress rate, we analysed the historical stress changes time evolution on the GSF. The Coulomb stress accumulation of megathrust earthquakes between 1797-1907 increase the stress changes mainly on the southern part of GSF which followed by four major events between 1890-1943. The estimation of tectonic stress rates using case (1) produces low rate and long recurrence intervals which implies that the megathrust earthquakes plays an important role in allowing the GSF earthquake to occur. When implementing the arc-parallel sliver movement of case (2) to the calculation, the tectonic stress rates is 9 to 58 times higher than case (1) of no sliver movement. The observed slip rate of 15-16 mm/yr at the GSF is consistent with the recurrence interval for full-segment rupture of 100-200 years obtained from case (2). This suggests that the GSF earthquake is more controlled by the rapid arc-parallel forearc sliver motion. Furthermore, the analysis of stress changes time evolution model shows that some segments such as Tripa (North and South), Angkola, Musi and Manna appear to be brought back in their seismic cycles since these segments have experienced full-segment rupture and likely locked, increasing their earthquake hazard potentials.

Crustal Structure Study in Lampung Region Using Teleseismic Receiver Function Analysis

Lampung region is seismically and volcanic active because located in subduction zone of Indo-Australian and Eurasian plate. We applied receiver function and stacking H-k analysis to estimate the crustal structure in Lampung region. We used teleseismic earthquake data (epicenter distance 30°-90°) and M>6 recorded at 3 seismic broadband stations owned by Agency for Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG). Those stations are PSLI (located on Sebesi Island approximately 20 km from Anak Krakatau) represented volcanic arc zone, KASI (located on Kota Agung, Lampung) represented Sumatran Fault Zone and KLI (located on Kotabumi, Lampung) represented back-arc basin. Crustal thickness estimated at PSLI station 32-36 km, KASI station 36-40 km, and KLI station 30-36 km. Furthermore, in 3 stations P wave velocity estimated 4.1-11 km/s, S wave velocity 2.2-6.2 km/s, while vp/vs value estimated 1.7-2.05. We estimated Anak Krakatau volcano’s magma chamber beneath PSLI station in depth 16-30 km, Great Sumatran Fault structure in depth about 8-14 km beneath KASI station, and thick sediment layer about 4 km near surface beneath KLI station. This study result is expected to explain more detail crustal of Lampung region and can be useful for developing of BMKG’s seismic monitoring systems and other geophysical fields in future.

Analysis of fault patters based on erarthquake data on the land of Sumatera island

Geodynamics of Sumatra is interesting to study because of the unique geological setting Geodynamics of Sumatra is interesting to study because of the unique geological setting and high seismicity. This high seismicity is caused by the many faults found on land and in the surrounding waters. This paper presents the results of research that aims to determine fault patterns both on land and in the waters around Sumatra based on earthquake data from 1960-2000. The area under study is at the coordinates of 6°N - 6°S and 95°E - 109°E at an epicenter depth of <60 km with a magnitude between 4-10. The area is divided into two zones, namely the front arc and the Barisan arc. Data were obtained from ISC and Global CMT. By using the Focal Mechanism Method, the results show that the fault pattern in the Sumatran forearc Basin zone is dominated by an Reverse Fault located in the accretion zone while on the mainland of Sumatra it is dominated by Strike Slip along the Sumatran Fault System. By knowing the position and pattern of the fault, especially on the mainland of the island of Sumatra, it can be used as a reference for spatial planning. In addition, further studies will also be able to learn about the dangers or disasters caused by the fault pattern.

Utilization of Gravity Satellite Data to Imaging Subsurface Conditions, Case Study: Lake Toba, North Sumatera

The purpose of this study is to utilize satellite gravity data for free to interpret subsurface conditions. The data can be obtained from the topex site with a latitude range is +/-80,738. The author tries to interpret the gravity data for Lake Toba, North Sumatra. The area is attractive because it has a sizeable geological object in the form of a large lake and a fault called the Sumatran fault. This gravity data is processed like ordinary gravity processing so that Complete Bouguer Anomaly (CBA) is obtained, then regional-residual separation is carried out using a moving average. From CBA, it can be seen that there are two closures just below Lake Toba. There are two possible chambers under Lake Toba, namely the central and southern parts. In addition, it is also clear that the lineament of the Sumatran fault is also visible, as well as three other lineaments which may be faults that are not identified from the surface. So, we can take advantage of this free gravity satellite data for interpretation of sizeable geological objects that can be applied to other areas. It is helpful to know the general picture of regional geology before conducting a more detailed survey.

Preliminary study of stress changes evolution on central part of Sumatran Fault influenced by large interplate earthquakes and tectonic stress rates

The inland seismic activity in Great Sumatran Fault (GSF) has significantly increased over the past several decades after the occurrence of historical large interplate earthquakes along the plate boundary. This condition led to some occurrences of historical intraplate earthquakes along Sumatran fault. To quantitatively examine the physical mechanisms between intraplate earthquakes and interplate earthquakes, we estimated the static coseismic stress changes of Coulomb failure function (ΔCFF) using receiver fault approach from large historical-recorded interplate earthquakes and the increase in tectonic stress rates. We examined this research in the central part of GSF since this zone is assumed to have the most heterogeneous stress field and thus became our focus study area. The cumulative ΔCFF models showed almost all segments in the central part of GSF suffered negative changes (<-0.1 MPa) which assumed to be unlikely to rupture in short time. However, the preliminary analysis of the increase in tectonic stress rate indicated that large intraplate earthquakes occurred on Angkola and Siulak segments were dominantly influenced by the increase in interseismic stress rate just after the series of large subduction earthquake occurrences, apart from the decreased stress changes from those major interplate earthquakes.

Identifying Subsurface Structures beneath the Sumani and Sianok Segments of the Great Sumatran Fault using Combined Geophysical Methods

The 1900 km long Great Sumatran Fault is a complex active fault system that is divided into segments that include the Sumani and Sianok segments in a rather densely populated area of the West Sumatra Province. Major earthquakes have occurred in these two segments that include the March 2007 Sumatra earthquake. Mitigating future risks requires a better understanding of these complex segments. To identify the subsurface structures beneath the Sumani and Sianok segments, we are conducting combined geophysical study that include gravity and magnetic. Gravity data were obtained from the published regional Bouguer anomaly map of the area around these two segments. The measurements from which the map was derived were rather sparse. Thus, more detailed magnetic measurements were carried out in this study. Magnetic measurements were also expected to be more sensitive as the predominant rocks in the study area are volcanic as well as other type of intrusive rocks. These gravity and magnetic analyses were complemented by seismicity data that include relocated seismicity data that will enhance the modelling of subsurface structures. Progress of this study will be reported. Challenges and obstacles will also be presented.

Geological Lineament Pattern and Geomorphic Indices Characteristic Related To Geothermal Manifestation Appearance: A Case Study from Gunung Talang District and Its Surroundings, Solok Regency, West Sumatra Province, Indonesia

The study area is located in Gunung Talang District and its surroundings, Solok Regency, West Sumatra Province, Indonesia. This area has a potential volcanic geothermal system and is generally covered by the Quarternary rocks which are deformed due to the tectonic activity of the Sumatran Fault System. Geological structure traces are not well preserved in such an area. This study aims to determine the geological lineament pattern associated with geological structure, the geomorphic indices characteristic related to the tectonic activity and rock permeability, and the geothermal manifestation appearance based on these two factors. Geological lineament pattern is identified using the remote sensing method. Geomorphic indices characteristic is calculated through the quantitative analysis of bifurcation ratio (Rb), drainage density (Dd), mountain front sinuosity (Smf), and lineament density (Ld). Geothermal manifestation appearance is evaluated through geospatial analysis using the overlay method on the geological lineament pattern and the geomorphic indices characteristic, which are then correlated with the distribution of geothermal manifestations. The main geological lineament patterns associated with the geological structures in the study area are north-northwest–south-southeast (NNW-SSE) and northeast-southwest (NE-SW). These lineament patterns indicate synthetic and antithetic strike-slip faults around the Sumani Segment of Sumatran Fault System successively. The geomorphic indices characteristics imply deformed areas (Rb values: 1.14-5.45), rough (Dd values: 2.00-2.66 km/km2), moderate (Dd values: 3.14-4.00 km/km2), and slightly fine landform textures (Dd values: 4.32-5.51 km/km2), active (Smf values: 1.05-1.64) and moderate to slightly active tectonisms (Smf values: 1.74-2.52), low (Ld values: 0.00-0.84 km-1), moderate (Ld values: 0.84-1.68 km-1), and high lineament densities (Ld values: 1.68-2.52 km-1) over the study area. The geothermal manifestations in the study area are divided into four groups based on their appearance characteristics, namely group I (Songsang and Garara hot springs), group II (Padang Damar, Bukit Gadang, and Batu Bajanjang hot springs), group III (Bukit Kili and Bawah Gunuang hot springs), and group IV (Gabuo Atas and Bawah Betung hot springs).