Open AccessLarge‐scale characteristics of plate boundary deformations related to the post‐seismic readjustment of a thin asthenosphere
Author(s) -
Lehner F. K.,
Li V. C.
Publication year - 1982
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.1982.tb02797.x
Subject(s) - asthenosphere , geology , lithosphere , subduction , viscoelasticity , plate tectonics , seismology , geophysics , seismic tomography , mantle (geology) , tectonics , materials science , composite material
Summary The large‐scale response of an elastic lithosphere, riding on a ‘thin’ viscoelastic asthenosphere, to periodically occurring ruptures at a transform or subduction‐type plate boundary is described approximately by appropriate limit cycle solutions for a plate/foundation model introduced previously by Rice. The cyclic behaviour of thickness‐averaged displacements, strains and strain rates, their decay away from the plate boundary, and a resolution into coseismic and post‐seismic alterations are obtained and their dependence on repeat time and a characteristic relaxation time investigated. A comparison is made with existing periodic solutions for the surface deformations in a Nur‐Mavko half‐space model. This suggests important effects due to viscosity stratification on post‐seismic rebound when earthquake repeat times exceed relevant relaxation times by at least one order of magnitude.