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Delayed triggering of microearthquakes by multiple surface waves circling the Earth
Author(s) -
Peng Zhigang,
Wu Chunquan,
Aiken Chastity
Publication year - 2011
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 - 10.1029/2010gl046373
Subject(s) - seismology , geology , geothermal gradient , microseism , amplitude , seismic wave , induced seismicity , range (aeronautics) , surface wave , geophysics , remotely triggered earthquakes , seismic gap , physics , materials science , quantum mechanics , astronomy , composite material
It is well known that direct surface waves of large earthquakes are capable of triggering shallow earthquakes and deep tremor at long‐range distances. However, it is not clear whether multiple surface waves circling the Earth could also trigger/modulate seismic activities. Here we conduct a systematic search of remotely triggered microearthquakes near the Coso Geothermal Field in central California following the 2010 M w 8.8 Chile earthquake. We find a statistically significant increase of microearthquakes in the first few hours after the Chile mainshock. These observations of apparently delayed earthquake triggering do not follow the Omori‐law decay with time since the largest M L 3.5 event occurred during the large‐amplitude Love waves. Instead, they are better correlated with the first three groups of multiple surface waves ( G 1 − R 1 , G 2 − R 2 , and G 3 ). Our observation provides an alternative explanation of delayed triggering of microearthquakes at long‐range distances, at least in the first few hours after large earthquakes.