Seismicity of the Earth 1900-2010 Mexico and vicinity
Open-File Report
2010-1083-F
Prepared in cooperation with Institute of Earth Sciences, CSIC, Barcelona, Spain and Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA
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Abstract
Mexico, located in one of the world's most seismically active regions, lies on three large tectonic plates: the North American plate, Pacific plate, and Cocos plate. The relative motion of these tectonic plates causes frequent earthquakes and active volcanism and mountain building. Mexico's most seismically active region is in southern Mexico where the Cocos plate is subducting northwestward beneath Mexico creating the deep Middle America trench. The Gulf of California, which extends from approximately the northern terminus of the Middle America trench to the U.S.-Mexico border, overlies the plate boundary between the Pacific and North American plates where the Pacific plate is moving northwestward relative to the North American plate. This region of transform faulting is the southern extension of the well-known San Andreas Fault system.
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Seismicity of the Earth 1900-2010 Mexico and vicinity |
| Series title | Open-File Report |
| Series number | 2010-1083 |
| Chapter | F |
| DOI | 10.3133/ofr20101083F |
| Year Published | 2011 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | Geologic Hazards Science Center |
| Description | 1 Map Sheet: 35.02 x 23.02 inches |
| Country | Mexico |
| Projection | Universal Transverse Mercator |
| Scale | 8000000 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |