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Geodetic Observations of the 2018 Mw 7.5 Sulawesi Earthquake and Its Implications for the Kinematics of the Palu Fault
Author(s) -
Song Xiaogang,
Zhang Yingfeng,
Shan Xinjian,
Liu Yunhua,
Gong Wenyu,
Qu Chunyan
Publication year - 2019
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 - 10.1029/2019gl082045
Subject(s) - geology , seismology , geodetic datum , slip (aerodynamics) , submarine pipeline , fault (geology) , interferometric synthetic aperture radar , kinematics , strike slip tectonics , tectonics , geodesy , synthetic aperture radar , remote sensing , geotechnical engineering , physics , classical mechanics , thermodynamics
The ascending and descending interferometric synthetic aperture radar data are used to investigate the fault rupture and slip model of the 2018 Mw 7.5 Sulawesi, Indonesia, earthquake. The best fitting slip model indicates that this earthquake ruptured not only a segment extending the Palu fault to the north but also a northwestern segment offshore. The slip on the onshore fault is predominant left‐lateral strike slip. The slip on the offshore fault is dominated by normal faulting with a maximum slip of ~6.3 m. The newly discovered offshore normal faulting is likely to be the cause of the tsunami after the shock. Combined with previous geomorphic, tectonic, geodetic, and modeling studies, we suggest that the kinematics of the Palu fault maintained the same style of faulting from north to south, which resulted from an oblique extension occurred on an east dipping fault at depths. The deformation pattern of NW Sulawesi is dominated by this slip mechanism.