3D fault architecture controls the dynamism of earthquake swarms
Abstract
The vibrant evolutionary patterns made by earthquake swarms are incompatible with standard, effectively two-dimensional (2D) models for general fault architecture. Here we leverage advances in earthquake monitoring with a deep-learning algorithm to image a fault zone hosting a 4-year-long swarm in southern California. We infer that fluids are naturally injected into the fault zone from below and diffuse through strike-parallel channels while triggering earthquakes. A permeability barrier initially limits up-dip swarm migration but ultimately is circumvented. This enables fluid migration within a shallower section of the fault with fundamentally different mechanical properties. Our observations provide high-resolution constraints on the processes by which swarms initiate, grow, and arrest. These findings illustrate how swarm evolution is strongly controlled by 3D variations in fault architecture.
- Authors:
-
[1];
[2];
[3];
[1]
- California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States)
- US Geological Survey, Pasadena, CA (United States)
- Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States); Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; Southern California Earthquake Center
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1739984
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-20-20957
Journal ID: ISSN 0036-8075
- Grant/Contract Number:
- 89233218CNA000001; 20180700PRD1; 20018
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Science
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 368; Journal Issue: 6497; Journal ID: ISSN 0036-8075
- Publisher:
- AAAS
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 58 GEOSCIENCES
Citation Formats
Ross, Zachary E., Cochran, Elizabeth S., Trugman, Daniel T., and Smith, Jonathan D. 3D fault architecture controls the dynamism of earthquake swarms. United States: N. p., 2020.
Web. doi:10.1126/science.abb0779.
Ross, Zachary E., Cochran, Elizabeth S., Trugman, Daniel T., & Smith, Jonathan D. 3D fault architecture controls the dynamism of earthquake swarms. United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abb0779
Ross, Zachary E., Cochran, Elizabeth S., Trugman, Daniel T., and Smith, Jonathan D. Fri .
"3D fault architecture controls the dynamism of earthquake swarms". United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abb0779. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1739984.
@article{osti_1739984,
title = {3D fault architecture controls the dynamism of earthquake swarms},
author = {Ross, Zachary E. and Cochran, Elizabeth S. and Trugman, Daniel T. and Smith, Jonathan D.},
abstractNote = {The vibrant evolutionary patterns made by earthquake swarms are incompatible with standard, effectively two-dimensional (2D) models for general fault architecture. Here we leverage advances in earthquake monitoring with a deep-learning algorithm to image a fault zone hosting a 4-year-long swarm in southern California. We infer that fluids are naturally injected into the fault zone from below and diffuse through strike-parallel channels while triggering earthquakes. A permeability barrier initially limits up-dip swarm migration but ultimately is circumvented. This enables fluid migration within a shallower section of the fault with fundamentally different mechanical properties. Our observations provide high-resolution constraints on the processes by which swarms initiate, grow, and arrest. These findings illustrate how swarm evolution is strongly controlled by 3D variations in fault architecture.},
doi = {10.1126/science.abb0779},
journal = {Science},
number = 6497,
volume = 368,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jun 19 00:00:00 EDT 2020},
month = {Fri Jun 19 00:00:00 EDT 2020}
}
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