The 9 June 94 Bolivian Deep Earthquake: An exceptional event in an extraordinary subduction zone

Geophysical Research Letters
By: , and 

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Abstract

We investigate the physical setting of the Bolivian shock based on the history of the subducting Nazca plate, intraslab seismicity, deep seismic moment release, and seismic tomography. South America has two broad regions of reverse arc curvature. Subduction constrained to this unique geometry produces slab kinking contortions that may cause unusual slab thickening as they sink to the bottom of the transition zone and encounter resistance to penetration into the lower mantle. Such contortions are observed at intermediate depths “upstream” from the slab source regions of both the great 1970 Colombian and 1994 Bolivian events. Thickening helps explain how the Nazca slab accommodates large seismic source dimensions at depths of 625–650 km.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title The 9 June 94 Bolivian Deep Earthquake: An exceptional event in an extraordinary subduction zone
Series title Geophysical Research Letters
DOI 10.1029/95GL01802
Volume 22
Issue 16
Year Published 1995
Language English
Publisher American Geophysical Union
Contributing office(s) Earthquake Science Center
Description 4 p.
First page 2233
Last page 2236
Other Geospatial Nazca Plate
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