Deadly Intraslab Mexico Earthquake of 19 September 2017 (Mw 7.1): Ground Motion and Damage Pattern in Mexico City

Abstract

Research Article| October 10, 2018 Deadly Intraslab Mexico Earthquake of 19 September 2017 (⁠Mw 7.1): Ground Motion and Damage Pattern in Mexico City S. K. Singh; S. K. Singh aInstituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito de la Investigación s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacan, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico, krishnamex@yahoo.com Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar E. Reinoso; E. Reinoso bInstituto de Ingeniería , Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Interior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacan, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D. Arroyo; D. Arroyo cDepartamento de Materiales, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Avenida San Pablo 180, Reynosa Tamaulipas, Azcapotzalco, 02200 Mexico City, Mexico Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. Ordaz; M. Ordaz bInstituto de Ingeniería , Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Interior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacan, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar V. Cruz‐Atienza; V. Cruz‐Atienza aInstituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito de la Investigación s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacan, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico, krishnamex@yahoo.com Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar X. Pérez‐Campos; X. Pérez‐Campos aInstituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito de la Investigación s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacan, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico, krishnamex@yahoo.com Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar A. Iglesias; A. Iglesias aInstituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito de la Investigación s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacan, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico, krishnamex@yahoo.com Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar V. Hjörleifsdóttir V. Hjörleifsdóttir aInstituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito de la Investigación s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacan, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico, krishnamex@yahoo.com Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Seismological Research Letters (2018) 89 (6): 2193–2203. https://doi.org/10.1785/0220180159 Article history first online: 10 Oct 2018 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation S. K. Singh, E. Reinoso, D. Arroyo, M. Ordaz, V. Cruz‐Atienza, X. Pérez‐Campos, A. Iglesias, V. Hjörleifsdóttir; Deadly Intraslab Mexico Earthquake of 19 September 2017 (⁠Mw 7.1): Ground Motion and Damage Pattern in Mexico City. Seismological Research Letters 2018;; 89 (6): 2193–2203. doi: https://doi.org/10.1785/0220180159 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietySeismological Research Letters Search Advanced Search ABSTRACT In the wake of death and destruction left by the 2017 earthquake in Mexico City, it is natural to ask whether the event was unexpected and anomalous. Although such an intraslab earthquake (⁠Mw 7.1; depth=57 km⁠; epicentral distance = 114 km from the city) was considered likely, the recordings in the city during the last 54 yrs reveal that the ground motion during the 2017 earthquake was anomalously large in the critical frequency range to the city (0.4–1 Hz). The intraslab earthquakes occur closer to Mexico City, at greater depth, and involve higher stress drop than their interplate counterparts. Consequently, the ground motion is relatively enriched at high frequencies as compared with that during interplate earthquakes, which is dominated by lower frequency waves (⁠f<0.5 Hz⁠). This explains the observed difference in the damage pattern during the 2017 and the disastrous interplate earthquake of 1985 (⁠Mw 8.0). You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.