Articles | Volume 11, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-791-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-791-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
05 May 2020
Research article |
| 05 May 2020
| 05 May 2020
Seismicity characterization of oceanic earthquakes in the Mexican territory
Quetzalcoatl Rodríguez-Pérez
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Dirección Adjunta
de Desarrollo Científico, 03940, Mexico City, Mexico
Centro de Geociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de
México, Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
Víctor Hugo Márquez-Ramírez
Centro de Geociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de
México, Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
Francisco Ramón Zúñiga
Centro de Geociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de
México, Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
Related authors
Quetzalcoatl Rodríguez-Pérez and F. Ramón Zúñiga
Solid Earth, 15, 229–249, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-229-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-229-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The behavior of seismic energy parameters and their possible dependence on the type of fault for globally detected earthquakes were studied. For this purpose, different energy estimation methods were used. Equations were obtained to convert energies obtained in different ways. The dependence of the seismic energy on the focal mechanism was confirmed up to depths close to 180 km. The results will help to explain the seismic rupture of earthquakes generated at greater depth.
Quetzalcoatl Rodríguez-Pérez and F. Ramón Zúñiga
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 4781–4801, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-4781-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-4781-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We present a comprehensive catalog of focal mechanisms for earthquakes in Mexico and neighboring areas spanning February 1928 to July 2022. The catalog comprises a wide range of earthquake magnitudes and depths and includes data from diverse geological environments. We collected and revised focal mechanism data from various sources and methods. The catalog is a valuable resource for future studies on earthquake source mechanisms, tectonics, and seismic hazard in the region.
Raphael S. M. De Plaen, Víctor Hugo Márquez-Ramírez, Xyoli Pérez-Campos, F. Ramón Zuñiga, Quetzalcoatl Rodríguez-Pérez, Juan Martín Gómez González, and Lucia Capra
Solid Earth, 12, 713–724, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-713-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-713-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in countries with a dominant informal economy have been a greater challenge than in other places. This motivated the monitoring of the mobility of populations with seismic noise throughout the various phases of lockdown and in the city of Querétaro (central Mexico). Our results emphasize the benefit of densifying urban seismic networks, even with low-cost instruments, to observe variations in mobility at the city scale over exclusively relying on mobile technology.
Marisol Monterrubio-Velasco, F. Ramón Zúñiga, Quetzalcoatl Rodríguez-Pérez, Otilio Rojas, Armando Aguilar-Meléndez, and Josep de la Puente
Geosci. Model Dev., 13, 6361–6381, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-6361-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-6361-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The Mexican subduction zone along the Pacific coast is one of the most active seismic zones in the world, where every year larger-magnitude earthquakes shake huge inland cities such as Mexico City. In this work, we use TREMOL (sThochastic Rupture Earthquake ModeL) to simulate the seismicity observed in this zone. Our numerical results reinforce the hypothesis that in some subduction regions single asperities are responsible for producing the observed seismicity.
Marisol Monterrubio-Velasco, Quetzalcóatl Rodríguez-Pérez, Ramón Zúñiga, Doreen Scholz, Armando Aguilar-Meléndez, and Josep de la Puente
Geosci. Model Dev., 12, 1809–1831, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-12-1809-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-12-1809-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Earthquakes are the result of brittle failure within the heterogeneous crust of the Earth. In this article, we present a computer code called the stochasTic Rupture Earthquake MOdeL, TREMOL v0.1, developed to investigate the rupture process of asperities on the earthquake rupture surface. According to our results, TREMOL is able to simulate the magnitudes of real earthquakes, showing that it can be a powerful tool to deliver promising new insights into earthquake rupture processes.
Quetzalcoatl Rodríguez-Pérez and F. Ramón Zúñiga
Solid Earth, 15, 229–249, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-229-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-229-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The behavior of seismic energy parameters and their possible dependence on the type of fault for globally detected earthquakes were studied. For this purpose, different energy estimation methods were used. Equations were obtained to convert energies obtained in different ways. The dependence of the seismic energy on the focal mechanism was confirmed up to depths close to 180 km. The results will help to explain the seismic rupture of earthquakes generated at greater depth.
Quetzalcoatl Rodríguez-Pérez and F. Ramón Zúñiga
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 4781–4801, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-4781-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-4781-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We present a comprehensive catalog of focal mechanisms for earthquakes in Mexico and neighboring areas spanning February 1928 to July 2022. The catalog comprises a wide range of earthquake magnitudes and depths and includes data from diverse geological environments. We collected and revised focal mechanism data from various sources and methods. The catalog is a valuable resource for future studies on earthquake source mechanisms, tectonics, and seismic hazard in the region.
Xyoli Pérez-Campos, Víctor H. Espíndola, Daniel González-Ávila, Betty Zanolli Fabila, Víctor H. Márquez-Ramírez, Raphael S. M. De Plaen, Juan Carlos Montalvo-Arrieta, and Luis Quintanar
Solid Earth, 12, 1411–1419, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1411-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1411-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Mexican seismic stations witnessed a reduction in noise level as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown strategies. The largest drop was observed in Hermosillo, which is also the city with the fastest noise-level recovery and a quick increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases. Since 1 June 2020, a traffic-light system has modulated the re-opening of economic activities for each state, which is reflected in noise levels. Noise reduction has allowed the identification and perception of smaller earthquakes.
Velio Coviello, Lucia Capra, Gianluca Norini, Norma Dávila, Dolors Ferrés, Víctor Hugo Márquez-Ramírez, and Eduard Pico
Earth Surf. Dynam., 9, 393–412, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-393-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-393-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The Puebla–Morelos earthquake (19 September 2017) was the most damaging event in central Mexico since 1985. The seismic shaking produced hundreds of shallow landslides on the slopes of Popocatépetl Volcano. The larger landslides transformed into large debris flows that travelled for kilometers. We describe this exceptional mass wasting cascade and its predisposing factors, which have important implications for both the evolution of the volcanic edifice and hazard assessment.
Raphael S. M. De Plaen, Víctor Hugo Márquez-Ramírez, Xyoli Pérez-Campos, F. Ramón Zuñiga, Quetzalcoatl Rodríguez-Pérez, Juan Martín Gómez González, and Lucia Capra
Solid Earth, 12, 713–724, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-713-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-713-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in countries with a dominant informal economy have been a greater challenge than in other places. This motivated the monitoring of the mobility of populations with seismic noise throughout the various phases of lockdown and in the city of Querétaro (central Mexico). Our results emphasize the benefit of densifying urban seismic networks, even with low-cost instruments, to observe variations in mobility at the city scale over exclusively relying on mobile technology.
Marisol Monterrubio-Velasco, F. Ramón Zúñiga, Quetzalcoatl Rodríguez-Pérez, Otilio Rojas, Armando Aguilar-Meléndez, and Josep de la Puente
Geosci. Model Dev., 13, 6361–6381, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-6361-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-6361-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The Mexican subduction zone along the Pacific coast is one of the most active seismic zones in the world, where every year larger-magnitude earthquakes shake huge inland cities such as Mexico City. In this work, we use TREMOL (sThochastic Rupture Earthquake ModeL) to simulate the seismicity observed in this zone. Our numerical results reinforce the hypothesis that in some subduction regions single asperities are responsible for producing the observed seismicity.
Marisol Monterrubio-Velasco, F. Ramón Zúñiga, José Carlos Carrasco-Jiménez, Víctor Márquez-Ramírez, and Josep de la Puente
Solid Earth, 10, 1519–1540, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1519-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1519-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Earthquake aftershocks display spatiotemporal correlations arising from their self-organized critical behavior. Stochastical models such as the fiber bundle (FBM) permit the use of an analog of the physical model that produces a statistical behavior with many similarities to real series. In this work, a new model based on FBM that includes geometrical faults systems is proposed. Our analysis focuses on aftershock statistics, and as a study case we modeled the Northridge sequence.
Marisol Monterrubio-Velasco, Quetzalcóatl Rodríguez-Pérez, Ramón Zúñiga, Doreen Scholz, Armando Aguilar-Meléndez, and Josep de la Puente
Geosci. Model Dev., 12, 1809–1831, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-12-1809-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-12-1809-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Earthquakes are the result of brittle failure within the heterogeneous crust of the Earth. In this article, we present a computer code called the stochasTic Rupture Earthquake MOdeL, TREMOL v0.1, developed to investigate the rupture process of asperities on the earthquake rupture surface. According to our results, TREMOL is able to simulate the magnitudes of real earthquakes, showing that it can be a powerful tool to deliver promising new insights into earthquake rupture processes.
Lucia Capra, Velio Coviello, Lorenzo Borselli, Víctor-Hugo Márquez-Ramírez, and Raul Arámbula-Mendoza
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 781–794, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-18-781-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-18-781-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The Volcán de Colima (Mexico) is commonly hit by hurricanes that form over the Pacific Ocean, triggering multiple lahars along main ravines on the volcano. Rainfall-runoff simulations were compared with the arrival time of main lahar fronts, showing that flow pulses can be correlated with rainfall peak intensity and watershed discharge, depending on the watershed area and shape. This outcome can be used to implement an early warning system based on the monitoring of a hydro-meteorological event.
A. Clemente-Chavez, F. R. Zúñiga, J. Lermo, A. Figueroa-Soto, C. Valdés, M. Montiel, O. Chavez, and M. Arroyo
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 1391–1406, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-14-1391-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-14-1391-2014, 2014
A. Clemente-Chavez, A. Figueroa-Soto, F. R. Zúñiga, M. Arroyo, M. Montiel, and O. Chavez
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 13, 2521–2531, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-13-2521-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-13-2521-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Subject area: Tectonic plate interactions, magma genesis, and lithosphere deformation at all scales | Editorial team: Seismics, seismology, paleoseismology, geoelectrics, and electromagnetics | Discipline: Seismology
Global seismic energy scaling relationships based on the type of faulting
The 2022 MW 6.0 Gölyaka–Düzce earthquake: an example of a medium-sized earthquake in a fault zone early in its seismic cycle
A new seismicity catalogue of the eastern Alps using the temporary Swath-D network
Two subduction-related heterogeneities beneath the Eastern Alps and the Bohemian Massif imaged by high-resolution P-wave tomography
Basin inversion: reactivated rift structures in the central Ligurian Sea revealed using ocean bottom seismometers
Moho and uppermost mantle structure in the Alpine area from S-to-P converted waves
COVID-19 lockdown effects on the seismic recordings in Central America
Present-day geodynamics of the Western Alps: new insights from earthquake mechanisms
Seismicity and seismotectonics of the Albstadt Shear Zone in the northern Alpine foreland
Seismicity during and after stimulation of a 6.1 km deep enhanced geothermal system in Helsinki, Finland
Seismic gaps and intraplate seismicity around Rodrigues Ridge (Indian Ocean) from time domain array analysis
Rupture-dependent breakdown energy in fault models with thermo-hydro-mechanical processes
Potential influence of overpressurized gas on the induced seismicity in the St. Gallen deep geothermal project (Switzerland)
Seismic waveform tomography of the central and eastern Mediterranean upper mantle
Influence of reservoir geology on seismic response during decameter-scale hydraulic stimulations in crystalline rock
Lithospheric and sublithospheric deformation under the Borborema Province of northeastern Brazil from receiver function harmonic stripping
Induced seismicity in geologic carbon storage
Moment magnitude estimates for central Anatolian earthquakes using coda waves
Event couple spectral ratio Q method for earthquake clusters: application to northwest Bohemia
Quetzalcoatl Rodríguez-Pérez and F. Ramón Zúñiga
Solid Earth, 15, 229–249, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-229-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-229-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The behavior of seismic energy parameters and their possible dependence on the type of fault for globally detected earthquakes were studied. For this purpose, different energy estimation methods were used. Equations were obtained to convert energies obtained in different ways. The dependence of the seismic energy on the focal mechanism was confirmed up to depths close to 180 km. The results will help to explain the seismic rupture of earthquakes generated at greater depth.
Patricia Martínez-Garzón, Dirk Becker, Jorge Jara, Xiang Chen, Grzegorz Kwiatek, and Marco Bohnhoff
Solid Earth, 14, 1103–1121, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-1103-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-1103-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We analyze the 2022 MW 6.0 Gölyaka sequence. A high-resolution seismicity catalog revealed no spatiotemporal localization and lack of immediate foreshocks. Aftershock distribution suggests the activation of the Karadere and Düzce faults. The preferential energy propagation suggests that the mainshock propagated eastwards, which is in agreement with predictions from models, where the velocity in the two sides of the fault is different.
Laurens Jan Hofman, Jörn Kummerow, Simone Cesca, and the AlpArray–Swath-D Working Group
Solid Earth, 14, 1053–1066, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-1053-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-1053-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We present an earthquake catalogue for the eastern and southern Alps based on data from a local temporary monitoring network. The methods we developed for the detection and localisation focus especially on very small earthquakes. This provides insight into the local geology and tectonics and provides an important base for future research in this part of the Alps.
Jaroslava Plomerová, Helena Žlebčíková, György Hetényi, Luděk Vecsey, Vladislav Babuška, and AlpArray-EASI and AlpArray working
groups
Solid Earth, 13, 251–270, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-251-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-251-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We present high-resolution tomography images of upper mantle structure beneath the E Alps and the adjacent Bohemian Massif. The northward-dipping lithosphere, imaged down to ∼200 km beneath the E Alps without signs of delamination, is probably formed by a mixture of a fragment of detached European plate and the Adriatic plate subductions. A detached high-velocity anomaly, sub-parallel to and distinct from the E Alps heterogeneity, is imaged at ∼100–200 km beneath the southern part of the BM.
Martin Thorwart, Anke Dannowski, Ingo Grevemeyer, Dietrich Lange, Heidrun Kopp, Florian Petersen, Wayne C. Crawford, Anne Paul, and the AlpArray Working Group
Solid Earth, 12, 2553–2571, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2553-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2553-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We analyse broadband ocean bottom seismometer data of the AlpArray OBS network in the Ligurian Basin. Two earthquake clusters with thrust faulting focal mechanisms indicate compression of the rift basin. The locations of seismicity suggest reactivation of pre-existing rift structures and strengthening of crust and uppermost mantle during rifting-related extension. Slightly different striking directions of faults may mimic the anti-clockwise rotation of the Corsica–Sardinia block.
Rainer Kind, Stefan M. Schmid, Xiaohui Yuan, Benjamin Heit, Thomas Meier, and the AlpArray and AlpArray-SWATH-D Working Groups
Solid Earth, 12, 2503–2521, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2503-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2503-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
A large amount of new seismic data from the greater Alpine area have been obtained within the AlpArray and SWATH-D projects. S-to-P converted seismic phases from the Moho and from the mantle lithosphere have been processed with a newly developed method. Examples of new observations are a rapid change in Moho depth at 13° E below the Tauern Window from 60 km in the west to 40 km in the east and a second Moho trough along the boundary of the Bohemian Massif towards the Western Carpathians.
Mario Arroyo-Solórzano, Diego Castro-Rojas, Frédérick Massin, Lepolt Linkimer, Ivonne Arroyo, and Robin Yani
Solid Earth, 12, 2127–2144, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2127-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2127-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We present the first seismic noise variation levels during COVID-19 in Central America using 10 seismometers. We study the impact of the seismic noise reduction on the detectability of earthquakes and on the felt reports. Our results show maximum values (~50 % decrease) at seismic stations near airports and densely inhabited cities. The decrease in seismic noise improved earthquake locations and reports. Seismic noise could also be useful to verify compliance with lockdown measures.
Marguerite Mathey, Christian Sue, Colin Pagani, Stéphane Baize, Andrea Walpersdorf, Thomas Bodin, Laurent Husson, Estelle Hannouz, and Bertrand Potin
Solid Earth, 12, 1661–1681, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1661-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1661-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This work features the highest-resolution seismic stress and strain fields available at the present time for the analysis of the active crustal deformation of the Western Alps. In this paper, we address a large dataset of newly computed focal mechanisms from a statistical standpoint, which allows us to suggest a joint control from far-field forces and from buoyancy forces on the present-day deformation of the Western Alps.
Sarah Mader, Joachim R. R. Ritter, Klaus Reicherter, and the AlpArray Working Group
Solid Earth, 12, 1389–1409, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1389-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1389-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The Albstadt Shear Zone, SW Germany, is an active rupture zone with sometimes damaging earthquakes but no visible surface structure. To identify its segmentations, geometry, faulting pattern and extension, we analyze the continuous earthquake activity in 2011–2018. We find a segmented N–S-oriented fault zone with mainly horizontal and minor vertical movement along mostly NNE- and some NNW-oriented rupture planes. The main horizontal stress is oriented NW and due to Alpine-related loading.
Maria Leonhardt, Grzegorz Kwiatek, Patricia Martínez-Garzón, Marco Bohnhoff, Tero Saarno, Pekka Heikkinen, and Georg Dresen
Solid Earth, 12, 581–594, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-581-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-581-2021, 2021
Manvendra Singh and Georg Rümpker
Solid Earth, 11, 2557–2568, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2557-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2557-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Using seismic array methods, 63 events were located in the Rodrigues–CIR region, not reported by any global network, most of them being off the ridge axis. The lack of seismicity along this section of the CIR, as observed from global data and this study, can possibly be attributed to the presence of partially molten mantle beneath Rodrigues Ridge. The results will be of interest for a broad range of geoscientists interested in the tectonic evolution of Indian Ocean and plume–crust interaction.
Valère Lambert and Nadia Lapusta
Solid Earth, 11, 2283–2302, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2283-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2283-2020, 2020
Dominik Zbinden, Antonio Pio Rinaldi, Tobias Diehl, and Stefan Wiemer
Solid Earth, 11, 909–933, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-909-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-909-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The deep geothermal project in St. Gallen, Switzerland, aimed at generating electricity and heat. The fluid pumped into the underground caused hundreds of small earthquakes and one larger one felt by the local population. Here we use computer simulations to study the physical processes that led to the earthquakes. We find that gas present in the subsurface could have intensified the seismicity, which may have implications for future geothermal projects conducted in similar geological conditions.
Nienke Blom, Alexey Gokhberg, and Andreas Fichtner
Solid Earth, 11, 669–690, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-669-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-669-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We have developed a model of the Earth's structure in the upper 500 km beneath the central and eastern Mediterranean. Within this model, we can see parts of the African tectonic plate that have sunk underneath the European plate over the past tens of millions of years. This model was constructed using seismic waveform tomography by matching the seismograms from many earthquakes recorded at the surface to synthetic seismograms that were generated by simulating earthquake wave propagation.
Linus Villiger, Valentin Samuel Gischig, Joseph Doetsch, Hannes Krietsch, Nathan Oliver Dutler, Mohammadreza Jalali, Benoît Valley, Paul Antony Selvadurai, Arnaud Mignan, Katrin Plenkers, Domenico Giardini, Florian Amann, and Stefan Wiemer
Solid Earth, 11, 627–655, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-627-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-627-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Hydraulic stimulation summarizes fracture initiation and reactivation due to high-pressure fluid injection. Several borehole intervals covering intact rock and pre-existing fractures were targets for high-pressure fluid injections within a decameter-scale, crystalline rock volume. The observed induced seismicity strongly depends on the target geology. In addition, the severity of the induced seismicity per experiment counter correlates with the observed transmissivity enhancement.
Gaelle Lamarque and Jordi Julià
Solid Earth, 10, 893–905, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-893-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-893-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Our goal is to better understand the evolution of the Earth's outer shell in northeast Brazil. We analyze the propagation properties (anisotropy) of distant seismic waves in order to look for subsurface, large-scale deformation structures. Results show that structures visible at the surface can be traced down to ~100 km depth, that the imprint of the opening of the Atlantic Ocean can be detected along the coast and that the continental interior is anomalous due to a complex deformation history.
Víctor Vilarrasa, Jesus Carrera, Sebastià Olivella, Jonny Rutqvist, and Lyesse Laloui
Solid Earth, 10, 871–892, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-871-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-871-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
To meet the goal of the Paris Agreement to limit temperature increase below 2 ºC, geologic carbon storage (GCS) will be necessary at the gigatonne scale. But to successfully deploy GCS, seismicity induced by CO2 injection should be controlled and maintained below a threshold that does not generate nuisances to the population. We conclude that felt induced seismicity can be minimized provided that a proper site characterization, monitoring and pressure management are performed.
Tuna Eken
Solid Earth, 10, 713–723, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-713-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-713-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Proper magnitude estimates for earthquakes can give insight into the seismic energy released at an earthquake source. This is, in fact, essential for better seismic hazard assessments in tectonically active regions. In the present work, I examine local earthquakes in central Anatolia to estimate their moment magnitudes. The main outcome of this study is an empirical relation that can provide a direct physical quantity of seismic energy in the study region.
Marius Kriegerowski, Simone Cesca, Matthias Ohrnberger, Torsten Dahm, and Frank Krüger
Solid Earth, 10, 317–328, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-317-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-317-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We developed a method that allows to estimate the acoustic attenuation of seismic waves within regions with high earthquake source densities. Attenuation is of high interest as it allows to draw conclusions on the origin of seismic activity. We apply our method to north-west Bohemia, which is regularly affected by earthquake swarms during which thousands of earthquakes are registered within a few days. We find reduced attenuation within the active volume, which may indicate high fluid content.
Cited articles
Abe, K.: Magnitudes of large shallow earthquakes from 1904 to 1980, Phys.
Earth Planet. Int., 27, 72–92, 1981.
Abercrombie, R. E. and Ekström, G.: Earthquake slip on oceanic transform
faults, Nature, 410, 74–77, 2001.
Abercrombie, R. E. and Ekström, G.: A reassessment of the rupture
characteristics of oceanic transform earthquakes, J. Geophys. Res., 108, 1–9,
2003.
Aki, K.: Maximum likelihood estimate of b in the formula log
Álvarez-Gómez, J. A.: FMC: A program to manage, classify and plot
focal mechanism data, Version 1.01, 1–27, 2015.
Antolik, M., Abercrombie, R., Pan J., and Ekström, G: Rupture
characteristics of the 2003 Mw 7.6 mid-Indian Ocean earthquake:
implications for seismic properties of young oceanic lithosphere, J.
Geophys. Res., 111, B04302, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JB003785, 2006.
Bandy, W. L.: Geological and geophysical investigation of the Rivera-Cocos
plate boundary: implications for plate fragmentation, Ph.D. thesis, Texas
A&M University, College Station, 195 pp., 1992.
Bandy, W. L., Michaud, F., Mortera Gutierrez, C. A., Dyment, J., Bourgois, J.,
Royer, J. Y., Calmus, T., Sosson, M., and Ortega-Ramirez, J.: The
Mid-Rivera-Transform discordance: morphology and tectonic development, Pure
Appl. Geophys., 168, 1391–1413, 2011.
Bergman, E. A.: Intraplate earthquakes and the state of stress in oceanic
lithosphere, Tectonophysics, 132, 1–35, 1986.
Bergman, E. A. and Solomon, S. C.: Oceanic intraplate earthquakes:
implications for local and regional intraplate stress, J. Geophys. Res., 85,
5389–5410, 1980.
Beroza, G. C. and Jordan, T.: Searching for slow and silent earthquakes
using free oscillations, J. Geophys. Res., 95, 2485–2510, 1990.
Bird, P., Kagan, Y. Y., and Jackson, D. D.: Plate tectonics and earthquake
potential of spreading ridges and oceanic transform faults, in: Plate Boundary Zones, Geodynamics Series, edited by: Stein, S. and
Freymueller, J. T., American
Geophysical Union, 203–218, 2002.
Boettcher, M. S. and Jordan, T. H.: Seismic behavior of oceanic transform
faults, Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union (AGU), San Francisco,
California, 10–14 December, 1–2, 2001.
Boettcher, M. S. and Jordan, T. H.: Earthquake scaling relations for
mid-ocean ridge transform faults, J. Geophys. Res., 109, B12302, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JB003110, 2004.
Boettcher, M. S. and McGuire, J. J.: Scaling relations for seismic cycles on
mid-ocean ridge transform faults, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L21301, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009GL040115, 2009.
Boettcher, M. S., Hirth, G., and Evans, B.: Olivine friction at the base of
oceanic seismogenic zones, J. Geophys. Res., 112, B01205, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JB004301, 2007.
Boettcher, M. S., Wolfson-Schwehr, M. L., Forestall, M., and Jordan, T. H.:
Characteristics of oceanic strike-slip earthquakes differ between plate
boundary and intraplate settings, Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union
(AGU), San Francisco, California, 3–7 December, Seismology, 2012, 7245, 2012.
Bohnenstiehl, D. R., Tolstoy, M., Dziak, R. P., Fox, C. G., and Smith, D. K.:
Aftershock sequences in the mid-ocean ridge environment: an analysis using
hydroacoustic data, Tectonophysics, 354, 49–70, 2002.
Bohnenstiehl, D. R., Tolstoy, M., and Chapp, E.: Breaking into the plate: A
7.6 Mw fracture-zone earthquake adjacent to the central Indian Ridge,
Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L02615, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003GL018981, 2004.
Bohnenstiehl, D. R., Waldhauser, F., and Tolstoy, M.: Frequency-magnitude
distribution of microearthquakes beneath the 9∘50'N region of the East
Pacific Rise, October 2003 through April 2004, Geochem. Geophy. Geosy.,
9, Q10T03, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GC002128, 2008.
Choy, G. L. and Boatwright, J.: Global patterns of radiated seismic energy
and apparent stress, J. Geophys. Res., 100, 18205–18226, 1995.
Choy, G. L. and McGarr, A.: Strike-slip earthquakes in the oceanic
lithosphere: Observations of exceptionally high apparent stress, Geophys. J.
Int., 100, 18205–18226, 2002.
Cowie, P. A., Scholz, C. H., Edwards, M., and Malinverno, A.: Fault strain and
seismic coupling on Mid-Ocean Ridges, J. Geophys. Res., 98, 17911–17920,
1993.
Davis, S. D. and Frohlich, C.: Single-link cluster analysis, synthetic
earthquake catalogues and aftershock identification, Geophys. J. Int., 104,
289–306, 1991.
DeMets , C., Gordon, R. G., Argus, D. F., and Stein, S.: Effect of recent
revisions to the geomagnetic reversal time scale on estimate of current
plate motions, Geophys. Res. Lett., 21, 2191–2194, 1994.
Dziewonski, A. M., Chou, T. A., and Woodhouse, J. H.: Determination of
earthquake source parameters from waveform data for studies of global and
regional seismicity, J. Geophys. Res., 86, 2825–2852, 1981.
Ekström, G., Nettles, M., and Dziewonski, A. M.: The global CMT project
2004-2010: centroid-moment tensors for 13,017 earthquakes, Phys. Earth
Planet. Int., 200/201, 1–9, 2012.
Frohlich, C.: Practical suggestions for assessing rates of seismic-moment
release, B. Seismol. Soc. Am., 97, 1158–1166, 2007.
Gephart, J. W. and Forsyth, D. W.: An improved method for determining the
regional stress tensor using earthquake focal mechanism data: application to
the San Fernando earthquake sequence, J. Geophys. Res., 89, 9305–9320, 1984.
Goslin, J., Benoit, M., Blanchard, D., Bohn, M., Dosso, L., Dreher, S., Etoubleau, J.,
Gente, P., Gloaguen, R., Imazu, Y., Luis, J., Maia, M., Merkouriev,S., Oldra, J.-P., Patriat, P., Ravilly,
M., Souriot, T., Thirot, J.-L., and Yama-ashi, T.: Extent of Azores plume influence on the Mid-Atlantic
Ridge north of the hotspot, Geology, 27, 991–994, 1999.
Goslin, J., Lourenço, N., Dziak, R.P., Bohnenstiehl, D. R., Haxel, J.,
and Luis, J.: Long-term seismicity of the Reykjanes Ridge (North Atlantic)
recorded by a regional hydrophone array, Geophys. J. Int., 162, 516–524,
2005.
Gutenberg, B. and Richter, C. F.: Frequency of earthquakes in California, B.
Seismol. Soc. Am., 34, 185–188, 1944.
Houston, H., Anderson, H., Beck., S. L., Zhang, J., and Schwartz, S.: The
1986 Kermadec earthquake and its relation to plate segmentation, Pure Appl.
Geophys., 140, 331–364, 1993.
Hwang, L. J. and Kanamori, H.: Rupture process of the 1987–1988 Gulf of
Alaska earthquake sequence, J. Geophys. Res., 97, 19881–19908, 1992.
Ihmlé, P. F. and Jordan, T. H.: Teleseismic search for slow precursors to
large earthquakes, Science, 266, 1547–1551, 1994.
International Seismological Centre: On-line Bulletin and catalog,
https://doi.org/10.31905/D808B830, 2020.
Ishimoto, M. and Iida, K.: Observations of earthquakes registered with the
microseismograph constructed recently, B. Earthq. Res. I. Tokyo, 17,
443–478, 1939.
Kagan, Y. Y.: Seismic moment-frequency relation for shallow earthquakes:
regional comparisons, J. Geophys. Res., 102, 2835–2852, 1997.
Kagan, Y. Y.: Universality of the seismic moment-frequency relation, Pure
Appl. Geophys., 155, 537–573, 1999.
Kagan, Y. Y.: Seismic moment distribution revisited: I. Statistical results,
Geophys. J. Int., 148, 520–541, 2002.
Kagan, Y. Y.: Earthquake size distribution: power-law with exponent
Kagan, Y. Y. and Jackson, D. D.: Probabilistic forecasting of earthquakes,
Geophys. J. Int., 143, 438–453, 2000.
Kagan, Y. Y. and Schoenberg, F.: Estimation of the upper cutoff parameter for
the tapered pareto distribution, J. Appl. Probab. A, 38, 158–175, 2001.
Kanamori, H. and Stewart, G. S.: Mode of the strain release along the Gibbs
fracture zone, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Phys. Earth Planet. Int., 11, 312–332,
1976.
Kaverina, A. N., Lander, A. V., and Prozorov, A. G.: Global creepex
distribution and its relation to earthquake-source geometry and tectonic
origin, Geophys. J. Int., 125, 249–265, 1996.
Kawasaki, I., Kawahara, Y., Takata, I., and Kosugi, I.: Mode of seismic
moment release at transform faults, Tectonophysics, 118, 313–327, 1985.
Kisslinger, C.: Aftershocks and fault-zone properties, Adv. Geophys., 38,
1–36, 1996.
Klein, F. W., Wright, T., and Nakata, J.: Aftershock decay, productivity, and
stress rates in Hawaii: indicators of temperature and stress from magma
sources, J. Geophys. Res., 111, B07307, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JB003949, 2006.
Läderach, C.: Seismicity of ultraslow spreading mid-ocean ridges at
local, regional and teleseismic scales: A case study of contrasting
segments, Ph.D thesis, University of Bremen, 116 pp., 2011.
Lund, B. and Townend, J.: Calculating horizontal stress orientations with
full or partial knowledge of the tectonic stress tensor, Geophys. J. Int.,
270, 1328–1335, 2007.
McGuire, J. J.: Seismic cycles and earthquake predictability on East Pacific
Rise transform faults, B. Seismol. Soc. Am., 98, 1067–1084, 2008.
McGuire, J. J., Ihmlé, P. F., and Jordan, T. H.: Time-domain observations
of a slow precursor to the 1994 Romanche transform earthquake, Science, 274,
82–85, 1996.
McGuire, J. J., Boettcher M. S., and Jordan, T. H.: Foreshock sequences and
short-term earthquake predictability on East Pacific Rise transform faults,
Nature, 434, 457–461, 2005.
McGuire, J. J., Collins, J. A., Gouédard, P., Roland, E., and Lizarralde,
D.: Variations in earthquake rupture properties along the Gofar transform
fault, East Pacific Rise, Nat. Geosci., 5, 336–341, 2012.
Mogi, K.: Magnitude-frequency relation for elastic shocks accompanying
fractures of various materials and some related problems in earthquakes, B.
Earthq. Res. I. Tokyo, 40, 831–853, 1962.
Molchan, G., Kronrod, T., and Panza, G. F.: Multi-scale seismicity model for
seismic risk, B. Seismol. Soc. Am., 87, 1220–1229, 1997.
Nelder, J. A. and Mead, R.: A simplex method for function minimization,
Comput. J., 7, 308–313, 1965.
Nuannin, P., Kulhanek, O., and Persson, L.: Variations of b-value preceding
large earthquakes in the Andaman-Sumatra subduction zone, J. Asian Earth
Sci., 61, 237–242, 2012.
Okal, E. A. and Stewart, L. M.: Slow earthquakes along oceanic fracture
zones: evidence for asthenospheric flow away from hotspots?, Earth Planet.
Sc. Lett., 57, 75–87, 1992.
Olive, J.-A.: Get_GR_parameters.m Matlab
function for analysis of earthquake catalogs, available at: https://jaolive.weebly.com/codes.html (last acces: 23 December 2019), 2016.
Pacheco, J. F. and Sykes, L. R.: Seismic moment catalog of large shallow
earthquakes, 1900 to 1989, B. Seismol. Soc. Am., 82, 1306–1349, 1992.
Papadakis, G., Vallianatos, F., and Sammonds, P.: Evidence of nonextensive
statistical physics behavior of the Hellenic subduction zone seismicity,
Tectonophysics, 608, 1037–1048, 2013.
Pockalny, R. A., Fox, P. J., Fornari, D. J., McDonald, K., and Perfit, M. R.:
Tectonic reconstruction of the Clipperton and Siqueiros Fracture zones:
evidence and consequences of plate motion change for the last 3 Myr, J.
Geophys. Res., 102, 3167–3181, 1997.
Rabinowitz, N. and Steinberg, D. M.: Aftershock decay of the three recent
strong earthquakes in the Levant, B. Seismol. Soc. Am., 88, 1580–1587, 1998.
Riedesel, M., Orcutt, J. A., McDonald, K. C., and McClain, J. S.:
Microearthquakes in the Black Smoker Hydrothermal Field, east Pacific Rise
at 21∘ N, J. Geophys. Res., 87, 10613–10623, 1982.
Rodríguez-Pérez, Q. and Zúñiga, F. R.: Seismicity
characterization of the Maravatío-Acambay and Actopan regions, central
Mexico, J. S. Am. Earth Sci., 76, 264–275, 2017.
Rodríguez-Pérez, Q. and Zúñiga, F. R.: Imaging b-value depth
variations within the Cocos and Rivera plates at the Mexican subduction
zone, Tectonophysics, 734, 33–43, 2018.
Roland, E., Behn, M. D., and Hirth, G.: Thermal-mechanical behavior of
oceanic transform faults: Implications for the spatial distribution of
seismicity, Geochem. Geophy. Geosy., 11, Q07001, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010GC003034, 2010.
Scholz, C. H.: The frequency-magnitude relation of micro fracturing in rock
and its relation to earthquakes, B. Seismol. Soc. Am., 58, 388–415, 1968.
Schorlemmer, D. S., Wiemer, S., and Wyss, M.: Variations in earthquake-size
distribution across different stress regimes, Nature, 437, 539–542, 2005.
Scordilis, E. M.: Empirical global converting Ms and mb to moment
magnitude, J. Seismol., 10, 225–236, 2006.
Servicio Sismológico Nacional: On-line catalog, https://doi.org/10.21766/SSNMX/SN/MX, 2020.
Shcherbakov, R., Turcotte, D. L., and Rundle, J. B.: A generalized Omoris's
law for earthquakes aftershocks decay, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L11613, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004GL019808,
2004.
Silva, R., Franca, G., Vilar, C., and Alcaniz, J.: Nonextensive models for
earthquakes, Phys. Rev. E, 73, 026102, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.73.026102, 2006.
Simão, N., Escartín, J., Goslin, J., Haxel, J., Cannat, M., and
Dziak, R.: Regional seismicity of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: observations from
autonomous hydrophone arrays, Geophys. J. Int., 183, 1559–1578, 2010.
Smith, D. K., Tolstoy, M., Fox, C. G., Bohnenstiehl, D. R., Matsumoto, H., and
Fowler, M. J.: Hydroacoustic monitoring of seismicity at the slow-spreading
Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Geophys. Res. Lett., 29, 13-1–13-4, 2002.
Smith, D. K., Escartin, J., Cannat, M., Tolstoy, M., Fox, C. G., Bohnenstiehl,
D. R., and Bazin, S.: Spatial and temporal distribution of seismicity along
the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge (15∘–35∘), J. Geophys. Res.,
108, https://doi.org/10.1029/2002JB001964, 2003.
Smith, W. D.: The b-value as an earthquake precursor, Nature, 289, 136–139,
1981.
Sotolongo-Costa, O. and Posadas, M. A.: Fragment-asperity interaction model
for earthquakes, Phys. Rev. Lett., 92, 048501, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.048501, 2004.
Stein, S. and Pelayo, A.: Seismological constraints on stress in the
oceanic lithosphere, Philos. T. R. Soc.
Lond., 337, 53–72, 1991.
Sykes, L. R.: Mechanism of earthquakes and nature of faulting on the
mid-oceanic ridges, J. Geophys. Res., 72, 2131–2153, 1967.
Telesca, L.: Nonextensive analysis of seismic sequences, Physica A, 389, 1911–1914,
2009.
Telesca, L.: A non-extensive approach in investigating the seismicity of
L'Aquila area (central Italy), struck by the 6 April 2009 earthquake
(ML=5.8), Terra Nova, 22, 87–93, 2010.
Telesca, L.: Tsallis-based nonextensive analysis of the Southern California
seismicity, Entropy, 13, 1267–1280, 2011.
Tolstoy, M., Bohnenstiehl, D. R., and Edwards, M. H.: Seismic character of
volcanic activity at the ultraslow-spreading Gakkel Ridge, Geology, 29,
1139–1142, 2001.
Tsallis, C.: Possible generalization of Boltzmann-Gibbs statistics, J. Stat.
Phys., 52, 479–487, 1988.
Urbancic, T. I., Trifu, C. I., Long, J. M., and Young, R. P.: Space-time
correlation of b-values with stress release, Pure Appl. Geophys., 139,
449–462, 1992.
Utsu, T.: A statistical study on the occurrence of aftershocks, Geophys.
Mag., 30, 521–605, 1961.
Utsu, T.: Statistical features of seismicity, International Handbook of
Earthquake and Engineering Seismology, Part A, Academic Press, 719–732,
2002.
Utsu, T., Ogata, Y., and Matsura, R. S.: The centenary of the Omori formula
for a decay law of aftershock activity, J. Phys. Earth., 43, 1–33, 1995.
Vallianatos, F.: A non-extensive approach to risk assessment, Nat. Hazards
Earth Syst. Sci., 9, 211–216, 2009.
Valverde-Esparza, S. M., Ramirez-Rojas, A., Flores-Marquez, E. L., and
Telesca, L.: Non-extensivity analysis of seismicity within four subduction
regions in Mexico, Acta Geophys., 60, 833–845, 2012.
Vavryčuk, V.: Iterative joint inversion for stress and fault
orientations from focal mechanisms, Geophys. J. Int., 199, 69–77, 2014.
Velasco, A. A., Ammon, C. J., and Beck, S. L.: Broadband source modeling of the
November 8, 1997, Tibet (Mw=7.5) earthquake and its tectonic
implications, J. Geophys. Res., 105, 28065–28080, 2000.
Vere-Jones, D., Robinson, R., and Yang, W. Z.: Remarks on the accelerated
moment release model: problems of model formulation, simulation and
estimation, Geophys. J. Int., 144, 517–531, 2001.
Vilar, C. S., Franca, G., Silva, R., and Alcaniz, J. S.: Nonextensivity in
geological faults?, Physica A, 377, 285–290, 2007.
Warren, N. W. and Latham, G. V.: An experimental study of the thermally
induced microfracturing and its relation to volcanic seismicity, J. Geophys.
Res., 75, 4455–4464, 1970.
Wesnousky, S. G.: The Gutenberg-Richter or characteristic earthquake
distribution, which is it?, B. Seismol. Soc. Am., 84, 1940–1959, 1994.
Wiemer, S.: A software package to analyze seismicity: ZMAP, Seismol. Res.
Lett., 72, 373–382, 2001.
Wiemer, S. and Benoit, J. P.: Mapping the b-value anomaly at 100 km depth in
the Alaska and New Zealand subduction zones, Geophys. Res. Lett., 23,
1557–1560, 1996.
Wiemer, S. and Wyss, M.: Minimum magnitude of completeness in earthquake
catalogues: Examples from Alaska, the western United States, and Japan, B.
Seismol. Soc. Am., 90, 859–869, 2000.
Wiemer, S. and Wyss, M.: Mapping spatial variability of the frequency-magnitude
distribution of earthquakes, in: Advances in geophysics, Vol. 45, 259 pp.,
Elsevier, 2002.
Wiens, D. A. and Stein, S.: Intraplate seismicity and stresses in young
oceanic lithosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 89, 11442–11464, 1984.
Wolfe, C. J., Bergman, E. A., and Solomon, S. C.: Oceanic transform earthquakes
with unusual mechanisms or locations: relation to fault geometry and state
of stress in the adjacent lithosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 98,
16187–16211, 1993.
Wolfson-Schwehr, M., Boettcher, M. S., McGuire, J. J., and Collins, J. A.: The
relationship between seismicity and fault structure on the Discovery
transform fault, East Pacific Rise, Geochem. Geophy. Geosy., 15,
3698–3712, 2014.
Wyss, M.: Towards a physical understanding of the earthquake frequency
distribution, Geophys. J. Roy. Astron. Soc., 31, 341–359, 1973.
Short summary
We analyzed reported oceanic earthquakes in Mexico. We used data from different agencies. By analyzing the occurrence of earthquakes, we can extract relevant information such as the level of seismic activity, the size of the earthquakes, hypocenter depths, etc. We also studied the focal mechanisms to classify the different types of earthquakes and calculated the stress in the region. The results will be useful to understand the physics of oceanic earthquakes.
We analyzed reported oceanic earthquakes in Mexico. We used data from different agencies. By...
