The 1998 earthquake sequence south of Long Valley Caldera, California: Hints of magmatic involvement

Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

A significant episode of seismic and geodetic unrest took place at Long Valley Caldera, California, beginning in the summer of 1997. Activity through late May of 1998 was concentrated in and around the south moat and the south margin of the resurgent dome. The Sierran Nevada block (SNB) region to the south/southeast remained relatively quiet until a M 5.1 event occurred there on 9 June 1998 (UT). A second M 5.1 event followed on 15 July (UT); both events were followed by appreciable aftershock sequences. An additional, distinct burst of activity began on 1 August 1998. The number of events in the August sequence (over the first week or two) was similar to the aftershock sequence of the 15 July 1998 M 5.1 event, but the later sequence was not associated with any events larger than M 4.3. All of the summer 1998 SNB activity was considered tectonic rather than magmatic; in general the SNB is considered an unlikely location for future eruptions. However, the August sequence-an 'aftershock sequence without a mainshock'- is suggestive of a strain event larger than the cumulative seismotectonic strain release. Moreover, a careful examination of waveforms from the August sequence reveals a small handful of events whose spectral signature is strikingly harmonic. We investigate the waveforms of these events using spectral, autocorrelation, and empirical Green's function techniques and conclude that they were most likely associated with a fluid-controlled source. Our observations suggest that there may have been some degree of magma or magma-derived fluid involvement in the 1998 SNB sequence.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title The 1998 earthquake sequence south of Long Valley Caldera, California: Hints of magmatic involvement
Series title Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America
DOI 10.1785/0119990109
Volume 90
Issue 3
Year Published 2000
Language English
Publisher Seismological Society of America
Description 12 p.
First page 752
Last page 763
Country United States
State California
Other Geospatial Long Valley Caldera
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details