Slip rates on San Francisco Bay area faults from anelastic deformation of the continental lithosphere

Journal of Geophysical Research B: Solid Earth
By:  and 

Links

Abstract

Long-term slip rates on major faults in the San Francisco Bay area are predicted by modeling the anelastic deformation of the continental lithosphere in response to regional relative plate motion. The model developed by Bird and Kong [1994] is used to simulate lithospheric deformation according to a Coulomb frictional rheology of the upper crust and a dislocation creep rheology at depth. The focus of this study is the long-term motion of faults in a region extending from the creeping section of the San Andreas fault to the south up to the latitude of Cape Mendocino to the north. Boundary conditions are specified by the relative motion between the Pacific plate and the Sierra Nevada-Great Valley microplate [Argus and Gordon, 2000]. Rheologic-frictional parameters are specified as independent variables, and prediction errors are calculated with respect to geologic estimates of slip rates and maximum compressive stress directions. The model that best explains the region-wide observations is one in which the coefficient of friction on all of the major faults is less than 0.15, with the coefficient of friction for the San Andreas fault being approximately 0.09, consistent with previous inferences of San Andreas fault friction. Prediction error increases with lower fault friction on the San Andreas, indicating a lower bound of μSAF > 0.08. Discrepancies with respect to previous slip rate estimates include a higher than expected slip rate along the peninsula segment of the San Andreas fault and a slightly lower than expected slip rate along the San Gregorio fault.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Slip rates on San Francisco Bay area faults from anelastic deformation of the continental lithosphere
Series title Journal of Geophysical Research B: Solid Earth
DOI 10.1029/2000JB900254
Volume 105
Issue B11
Year Published 2000
Language English
Publisher American Geophysical Union
Description 10 p.
First page 25543
Last page 25552
Country United States
State California
City San Francisco
Other Geospatial San Francisco Bay
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details