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Deciphering Dynamic Crustal Faulting from Interseismic Phenomena


Jan. 31, 2018, noon - 12:50 p.m.
Geology 1707

Presented By:
Junle Jiang
UCSD

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Geophysical observations from major crustal faults are often limited to short interseismic periods, while most of these faults are capable of hosting large earthquakes. Understanding the seismic behavior of faults from interseismic observations is hence crucial to hazard assessments. In this talk, I will present results from studies of some major crustal faults, based on modeling dynamic earthquake sequences and aseismic slip, and integrating laboratory-based insights on rock friction with observations of microseismicity and geodetic locking and creep. Such a framework is used to illuminate the depth extent of large earthquakes on the seismically quiescent San Andreas fault in California, reveal the possible occurrence of deep slow slip on the San Jacinto fault at Anza, and discern physical mechanisms responsible for unsteady shallow creep on the Superstition Hills fault in California and the North Anatolian fault at Ismetpasa, Turkey. These applications demonstrate the value of observation-driven, physics-based approaches in providing constraints on the fault zone rheology and potential behavior of past and future earthquakes.