Journal article
Localized fault-zone dilatancy and surface inelasticity of the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes
Nature geoscience, Vol.13(10), pp.699-704
10/2020
DOI: 10.1038/s41561-020-0628-8
Abstract
Earthquakes produce a spectrum of elastic and inelastic deformation processes that are reflected across various length and time scales. While elasticity has long dominated research assumptions in active tectonics, increasing interest has focused on the inelastic characteristics of earthquakes, particularly those of the surface fault rupture zone itself, and how they relate to ground rupture hazard and the mechanics of damage zones. Here we present detailed co-seismic surface-strain analysis of the 2019 Ridgecrest, California, earthquakes. We derive three-dimensional high-resolution surface displacements from satellite optical imagery, which we then invert for the co-seismic surface-strain tensors. We show that fault-zone dilation is pervasive throughout these earthquakes and that inelastic failure is present but relatively localized (median width of 31 m). The width of the inelastic failure zone is not correlated to off-fault deformation, surface geology or displacement magnitude. Instead, the extent and kinematics of inelastic failure reflect active, mylonitic deformation of the fault damage zone that is influenced by rupture velocity and fault maturity. These results highlight how a single earthquake contributes to the long-term, permanent geologic record of faulting.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Localized fault-zone dilatancy and surface inelasticity of the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes
- Creators
- William BarnhartRyan GoldJames Hollingsworth - Institut des Sciences de la Terre
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Nature geoscience, Vol.13(10), pp.699-704
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41561-020-0628-8
- ISSN
- 1752-0894
- eISSN
- 1752-0908
- Publisher
- Nature Publishing Group
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100011510, name: Southern California Earthquake Center, award: 17086, 16147
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 10/2020
- Academic Unit
- Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984066332302771
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