Focal Mechanism Analyses of Aftershocks of the 1984 Western Nagano Prefecture Earthquake.

Abstract

Focal mechanisms around Ontake Volcano, central Japan, were investigated by using the data set obtained by a seismic observation project of the 1986 Joint Seismological Research in Western Nagano Prefecture (JSR'86). The data set included P-wave first motions of aftershocks of the 1984 Western Nagano Prefecture Earthquake (M=6.8) mainly. A total of 556 events was selected for the focal mechanism analysis. The P-wave data from the surrounding university routine networks were also utilized additionally. Four hundred two events were successfully analyzed. Based on the types of focal mechanisms and on the spatial distribution of the events, we classify these events into the following 4 groups: (1) events of strike-slip fault type with a common nodal plane parallel to the ENE-WSW striking nodal plane in the fracture zone of the 1984 main shock; (2) events of reverse fault type in the area of the preexisting earthquake swarm to the northeast of the main shock, in a possible relation with an earthquake swarm activated by the main shock; (3) events of reverse fault type that occurred near the largest aftershock (M=6.2), but are not the continued aftershock sequence of the largest aftershock; (4) events of strike-slip fault type at depths to the easternmost part where no activity had been observed before the operation of JSR'86. The plural types of focal mechanisms obtained and the spatial distribution of foci suggest a complex seismo-tectonic structure that consists of at least 2 kinds of fracturings around Ontake Volcano.