TERESVA-II EARTHQUAKE on July 19, 2015 with KR=11.1, МSH=3.4, I0=6 (Transcarpathia, Ukraine)

The instrumental and macroseismic data of the Teresvа-II earthquake on July 19, 2015 with the energy class KR=11.1, МSH=3.4 are considered. The earthquake occurred in the seismically active Tyachevo-Sigetskaya zone of Transcarpathia in the upper part of the Earth's crust and caused shaking intensity of I0=6 in the epicentral zone near the village of Teresva. The data on the focal mechanism solution, intensity distribution, parameters of the strongest aftershocks are presented. The release of seismic energy continued for 35 days. During this time, 306 earthquakes were recorded in a wide energy range. The space-time and energy properties of the complex sequence of the Teresvа earthquakes in 2015 have been investigated. The tectonics and previous seismi-city of the area are described.

SEISMICITY of the CRIMEAN-BLACK SEA REGION in 2015

In 2015, 58 earthquakes were registered in Crimea in the range of energy classes КП=5.2–10.8. The bulk of the epicenters refers to the Black Sea. The maximum density of epicenters can be traced in Alushta (№ 3) area and in the Kerch-Anapa area (№ 5). Spectral and dynamic parameters of their foci were obtained for 16 events in the region; and for 1 of them a focal mechanism solution was obtained. Seismic processes in the Crimean-Black Sea region were monitored by seven stationary digital seismic stations. In February, the «Tarkhankut» observation point was closed. Representative registration of earthquakes with Кп=9.0 is still provided for main part of the Crimean-Black Sea region. A peculiarity of spatial distribution of earthquakes is the occurrence of two strongest earthquakes in the year under consideration with КП=10.8 in the Kerch-Anapa (№ 5) and Azovo-Kuban (№ 7) areas. The maximum (Кп=10.8, MLWSG=3.8, Mw=3.8) earthquake occurred on August 16 at 22h38m in the Kerch-Anapa region at the depth of h=7 km. This shock caused tremors in Anapa with the intensity of I=2 according the MSK-64 scale. 2015 is characterized by weak seismic activity. The total number of registered earthquakes, ΣN=58, decreased against ΣN=119 in 2014 and is below than the average Nav=69 for the ten-year observation period (2004–2013). The annual seismic energy is ΣE=1.491011J, that is 5.6 times less than the average value ΣEav=8.41011J for the ten-year period. This suggests that we can expect increased seismicity in the region in subsequent years.

Unexpected Shallow Earthquake of August 1st, 2020 in the North of Indramayu, West Java, Indonesia

During the last one hundred years, there are no shallow seismicity in the north of Java. This area is dominated by intermediate and deep focus earthquakes due to the subducted Indo-Australian slab. An earthquake with magnitude ML 4.5 struck Indramayu, north of West Java on August 1, 2020. According to the Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG), the earthquake was felt III MMI scale in Indramayu and its vicinity. We used waveform data from BMKG seismic station in West Java, then we picked P-and S-waves arrival times from each station and hypocenter location was determined by Geiger method. We have detected Pn before Pg phase on four BMKG seismic stations, indicating a shallow crustal earthquake. Our inversion show that the earthquake occurred in 6.1805° S, 108.2612° E with 5 km focus depth at 16:24:38 GMT+7. Our focal mechanism solution was determined by using moment tensor inversion shows a strike-slip faulting, which corresponds to the active fault in the north of Indramayu.

A functional tool to explore the reliability of micro-earthquake focal mechanism solution for seismotectonic purposes

Improving the knowledge of seismogenic faults requires the integration of geological, seismological, and geophysical information. Among several analyses, the definition of earthquake focal mechanisms plays an essential role in providing information about the geometry of individual faults and the stress regime acting in a region. Fault plane solutions can be retrieved by several techniques operating in specific magnitude ranges, both in the time and frequency domain and using different data. For earthquakes of low magnitude, the limited number of available data and their uncertainties can compromise the stability of fault plane solutions. In this work, we propose a useful methodology to evaluate how well a seismic network used to monitor natural and/or induced micro-seismicity estimates focal mechanisms as function of magnitude, location, and kinematics of seismic source and consequently their reliability in defining seismotectonic models. To study the consistency of focal mechanism solutions, we use a Bayesian approach that jointly inverts the P/S long-period spectral-level ratios and the P polarities to infer the fault-plane solutions. We applied this methodology, by computing synthetic data, to the local seismic network operated in the Campania-Lucania Apennines (Southern Italy) to monitor the complex normal fault system activated during the Ms 6.9, 1980 earthquake. We demonstrate that the method we propose can have a double purpose. It can be a valid tool to design or to test the performance of local seismic networks and more generally it can be used to assign an absolute uncertainty to focal mechanism solutions fundamental for seismotectonic studies.

Focal Mechanism and Seismogenic Structure of the MS 5.1 Qingbaijiang Earthquake on February 3, 2020, Southwestern China

The 3 February 2020 MS 5.1 Qingbaijiang earthquake, southwestern China, is the closest recorded MS ≥ 5.0 event to downtown Chengdu City to date, with an epicentral distance of only 38 km. Here we analyze seismic data from the Sichuan and Chengdu regional seismic networks, and employ a multi-stage location method to relocate the earthquakes that have occurred along the central and northern segments of the Longquanshan fault zone since 2009, including the MS 5.1 Qingbaijiang earthquake sequence, to investigate the seismogenic structure of the region. The relocation results indicate that the seismicity along the central and northern segments of the Longquanshan fault zone has occurred mainly along the eastern branch since 2009, with the hypocentral distribution along a vertical cross-section illustrating a steep, NW-dipping parallel imbricate structure. The terminating depth of the eastern branch is about 12 km. The distribution of the MS 5.1 Qingbaijiang earthquake sequence is along the NE–SW-striking Longquanshan fault zone. The aftershock focal depths are in the 3–6 km range, with the mainshock located at 104.475°E, 30.73°N. Its initial rupture depth of 5.2 km indicates that the earthquake occurred above the shallow decollement layer of the upper crust in this region. The hypocentral distribution along the long axis of the aftershock area highlights that this earthquake sequence occurred along a fault dipping at 56° to the NW. Our surface projection of the inferred fault plane places it near the eastern branch of the Longquanshan fault zone. We infer the MS 5.1 mainshock to be a thrust faulting event based on the focal mechanism solution via the cut-and-paste waveform inversion method, with strike/dip/rake parameters of 22°/36°/91° and 200°/54°/89° obtained for nodal planes I and II, respectively. We identify that the seismogenic fault of the MS 5.1 Qingbaijiang earthquake lies along the eastern branch of the Longquanshan fault zone, and nodal plane II represents the coseismic rupture plane, based on a joint analysis of the event relocation results, mainshock focal mechanism, and regional geological information. Our study provides vital information for assessing the seismic hazard of the Longquanshan fault zone near Chengdu City.

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>

Co-Seismic Inversion and Post-Seismic Deformation Mechanism Analysis of 2019 California Earthquake

In July 2019, a series of seismic events, including a magnitude (Mw) 7.1 mainshock and Mw 6.4 foreshock, occurred in Eastern California. Studying these seismic events can significantly improve our understanding of the Eastern California tectonic environment. Sentinel-1A and ALOS-2 PALSAR images were utilized to obtain co-seismic deformation fields, including mainshock and foreshock deformation. The Okada elastic dislocation model and ascending and descending orbit results were used to invert the co-seismic slip distribution and obtain a co-seismic focal mechanism solution. Using ascending Sentinel-1A images, a time-series deformation was obtained for 402 d after the earthquake, and the deformation evolution mechanism was analyzed. The maximum uplift caused by the co-seismic mechanism reached 1.5 m in the line of sight (LOS), and the maximum subsidence reached 1 m in the LOS. For 402 d after the earthquake, the area remained active, and its deformation was dominated by after-slip. The co-seismic inversion results illustrated that California earthquakes were mainly strike-slip. The co-seismic inversion magnitude was approximately Mw 7.08. The Coulomb stress change illustrated that the seismic moment caused by the co-seismic slip was 4.24 × 1026 N × m, which is approximately Mw 7.06. This finding is consistent with the co-seismic slip distribution inversion results.

Complex Shear Partitioning Involving the 6 February 2012 MW 6.7 Negros Earthquake Ground Rupture in Central Philippines

A 75 km-long, generally NE-striking ground rupture associated with the 6 February 2012 MW 6.7 (Mb 6.9) Negros earthquake was mapped on the eastern side of Negros Island, Philippines. It closely follows a previously unmapped, pre-existing fault trace along the coast which is marked mostly by terrace-forming scarps. The dominance of vertical separation (west side up) is consistent with a west-dipping reverse fault, as indicated by focal mechanism solutions. The ground rupture map eliminates the ambiguity in the focal mechanism solution regarding the orientation, sense of motion, and location of the seismogenic fault plane, which are indispensable in the assessment of seismic hazards and the nature and distribution of deformation. This study uses the ground rupture map of the 2012 Negros earthquake in sorting out the mechanism of deformation in the Visayas Islands region. The ground rupture’s length is well within the aftershock area while its scarp heights are consistent with an earthquake of its magnitude and nature of movement. The 2012 Negros earthquake rupture’s pattern, scarp types, and offset of man-made structures are similar to those of recent reverse/thrust ground ruptures mapped globally and are distinct from those associated with erosion, landslide, and liquefaction. The onshore coseismic reverse fault of the Negros earthquake, which contradicts a model of coseismic slip on an offshore blind thrust fault by previous workers, represents the first thoroughly mapped ground rupture of its kind in the Philippines. The ground ruptures of the 2012 Negros and 2013 Bohol earthquakes, along with the Philippine Trench and the Philippine Fault Zone (PFZ), represent a complex shear partitioning mechanism in the Visayas Islands region. This departs from the current simple shear partitioning model for the region and is distinct from those for other regions along the PFZ and adjacent subduction zones. This study shows how an appreciation of morphotectonic features can lead to a better understanding of the distribution of deformation and the nature of earthquake hazards.