Rapid intraplate strain accumulation in the New Madrid seismic zone

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.257.5077.1666· OSTI ID:6819706

Liu, L; Zoback, M D; Segall, P ^[1]

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1. Stanford Univ., CA (United States) USGS, Menlo Park, CA (United States)

Remeasurement of a triangulation network in the southern part of the New Madrid seismic zone with the Global Positioning System has revealed rapid crustal strain accumulation since the 1950s. This area experienced three large (moment magnitudes greater than 8) earthquakes in 1811 to 1812. The orientation and sense of shear is consistent with right-lateral strike slip motion along a northeast-trending fault zone (as indicated by current seismicity). Detection of crustal strain accumulation may be a useful discriminant for identifying areas where potentially damaging intraplate earthquakes may occur despite the absence of large earthquakes during historic time. 34 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6819706
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Vol. 257:5077; ISSN 0036-8075
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
STRAIN RATE
STRAINS
DISTRIBUTION
DEFORMATION
EARTH CRUST
EARTHQUAKES
SEISMOLOGY
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
SEISMIC EVENTS
580000* - Geosciences