Preface to the Focus Section on the 2020 Intermountain West earthquakes

Seismological Research Letters
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Abstract

The Intermountain West region of the United States extends from the eastern margin of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains in the west to the Rocky Mountains in the east. The region is characterized by dextral shear along the eastern margin of the Sierra Nevada and nearly east-west extension in the Basin and Range. This region experienced four significant earthquake sequences in the first half of 2020. The most significant mainshocks were the 18 March 2020 Mw 5.7 earthquake north of Magna, Utah (a suburb of Salt Lake City), the 31 March 2020 Mw 6.5 earthquake northwest of Stanley, Idaho, the 15 May 2020 Mw 6.5 earthquake in the Monte Cristo Range, northwest of Tonopah, Nevada, and the 24 June 2020 Mw 5.8 earthquake near Lone Pine, California. The 15 articles appearing in this focus section explore timely and important topics associated with these sequences, including kinematic rupture models, near-field ground motions, aftershock statistics, geologic observations, seismic hazard implications, and seismotectonics. It is noteworthy that the efforts to record and characterize these earthquake sequences took place during travel and work restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Preface to the Focus Section on the 2020 Intermountain West earthquakes
Series title Seismological Research Letters
DOI 10.1785/0220210001
Volume 92
Issue 2A
Year Published 2021
Language English
Publisher Seismological Society of America
Contributing office(s) Geologic Hazards Science Center
Description 4 p.
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