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Postseismic deformation in Chile: Constraints on the asthenospheric viscosity
Author(s) -
Piersanti Antonio
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/1999gl005375
Subject(s) - asthenosphere , geology , deformation (meteorology) , rheology , viscoelasticity , viscosity , mantle (geology) , seismology , lithosphere , geophysics , physics , tectonics , oceanography , thermodynamics , quantum mechanics
By means of a spherical Earth model with Maxwell rheology, an analysis of the postseismic deformation field due to the viscoelastic relaxation of the mantle and asthenosphere following the great 1960 Chile earthquake is performed. Due to the exceptional energy release of that earthquake, geomorphological evidences of postseismic deformation are available in a broad area surrounding the rupture zone. The comparison of the synthetic results with the available data allows to put some constraints on the viscosity of the asthenosphere beneath the Chilean region. Values between 8 · 10 19 and 10 20 Pa s are compatible with the available postseismic deformation field data.