Premium
A complex earthquake sequence captured by the continuous GPS network in SW Iceland
Author(s) -
Hreinsdóttir S.,
Árnadóttir T.,
Decriem J.,
Geirsson H.,
Tryggvason A.,
Bennett R. A.,
LaFemina P.
Publication year - 2009
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 - 10.1029/2009gl038391
Subject(s) - aftershock , seismology , geology , asperity (geotechnical engineering) , seismic zone , seismic moment , global positioning system , slip (aerodynamics) , sequence (biology) , geodesy , fault (geology) , intraplate earthquake , induced seismicity , tectonics , telecommunications , physics , genetics , geotechnical engineering , biology , computer science , thermodynamics
A complex sequence of earthquakes struck the western part of the South Iceland Seismic Zone (SISZ) on 29 May 2008. The sequence initiated with a M w 6.3 (NEIC) earthquake in the western part of the SISZ. Aftershocks from the earthquake delineate two parallel N–S trending structures 4 km apart, in addition to activity along an E‐W zone further westward. Continuous GPS measurements can best be explained by right‐lateral strike‐slip motion on two parallel N–S trending faults, with little slip occurring on other structures illuminated by earthquake activity. We estimate a total moment release of M w 6.2, with M w 6.1 on the first rupture and M w 6.0 on the second rupture. High rate (1 Hz) CGPS data from a near‐field station suggest that the main asperity on the Kross fault ruptured within 3 s of the initial mainshock on the Ingólfsfjall fault.