Evidence for dyke intrusion earthquake mechanisms near long valley caldera, California

Nature
By:

Links

Abstract

A re-analysis of the magnitude 6 earthquakes that occurred near Long Valley caldera in eastern California on 25 and 27 May 1980, suggests that at least two of them, including the largest, were probably caused by fluid injection along nearly vertical surfaces and not by slip on faults. Several investigators 1,2 have reported difficulty in explaining both the long-period surface-wave amplitudes and phases and the locally recorded short-period body-wave first motions from these events, using conventional double-couple (shear fault) source models. They attributed this difficulty to: (1) complex sources, not representable by single-fault models; (2) artefacts of the analysis methods used; or (3) effects of wave propagation through hypothetical structures beneath the caldera. We show here that the data agree well with the predictions for a compensated linear-vector dipole (CLVD) equivalent-force system3 with its principal extensional axis horizontal and trending N 55-65?? E. Such a mechanism is what would be expected for fluid injection into dykes striking N 25-35?? W, which is the approximate strike of numerous normal faults in the area. ?? 1983 Nature Publishing Group.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Evidence for dyke intrusion earthquake mechanisms near long valley caldera, California
Series title Nature
DOI 10.1038/303323a0
Volume 303
Issue 5915
Year Published 1983
Language English
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Nature
First page 323
Last page 325
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details