Geodetic slip rate partitioning in the central Anninghe and Daliangshan faults: Effects of fault geometry, elastic heterogeneity, and viscoelastic rheology

Abstract

Geodetic measurements can be employed to estimate the secular slip rates and locking depths of crustal faults, two key parameters which influence assessment of long-term seismic hazard presented by a fault. However, this process requires making assumptions about the rheological properties of the Earth's crust and lithosphere, as well as the fault geometry at depth. Previous geodetic studies have inferred widely varying slip rates and locking depths for the central Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang Fault System, located along the southeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau. In this study, we use updated GNSS measurements, including 13 new velocities, to explore the effects of assumed rheology and fault geometry on the inferred slip rates and locking depths of the subparallel Anninghe (ANH) and Daliangshan (DLS) faults in this region. We demonstrate that only models taking into account the viscoelastic relaxation of the lower crust can resolve the apparent discrepancies. Models assuming a fully elastic rheology suggest very deep locking depths (∼35 km) and a lower slip rate on the ANH fault (∼5 mm/yr) than the DLS fault (∼7 mm/yr). Neither the relative slip rates nor the locking depths agree with seismic or geologic observations. We also consider models assuming a heterogeneous elastic rheology, but find they are indistinguishable from the homogeneous models. Modifying the fault geometry can impact the relative slip rates of the two faults but does not produce a reasonable locking depth either. In contrast, viscoelastic models accounting for seismic cycle effects indicate a faster ANH slip rate (∼5–7 mm/yr), a slower DLS rate (∼4–5 mm/yr), and a shallower locking depth for both faults (∼18 km), all of which are more consistent with independent seismic and geological observations. Our study suggests that steady long-term motion on these faults is modulated by long-lasting viscoelastic effects over a relatively broad region.