Open AccessNumerical simulations of tectonic processes in Southern California
Author(s) -
Kosloff Dan
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
geophysical journal of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0016-8009
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1977.tb06931.x
Subject(s) - geology , tectonics , seismology , induced seismicity , stress field , shear (geology) , san andreas fault , fault (geology) , pacific plate , geophysics , finite element method , paleontology , subduction , physics , thermodynamics
Summary. A relaxation model for crustal tectonics, using the Finite Element method, was developed and applied to the region of Southern California. Both the existence of the Transverse Ranges and the geometry of the San Andreas fault in the region of Southern California, imply a stress pattern deviating from the simple horizontal shear which parallels the spreading between the Pacific and the North American plates. A number of possible mechanisms responsible for this anomalous stress field were examined quantitatively in the light of seismicity and other tectonic observations, and in particular to the Palmdale uplift which was reported to have occurred between the years 1960–65.