Abstract
Large earthquakes are generally generated in the contact zone between tectonic plates, with the width of the interplate contact zone controlling the maximum earthquake size. In this work, hypocenters and focal mechanisms of earthquakes that occurred in the Guerrero-Oaxaca subduction zone between 1968 and 2017 were examined to determine the maximum depth of seismogenic coupling. From the deepest thrust-faulting events consistent with interplate slip, we estimate a seismogenic width of 125 ± 10 km. Aftershock areas of Mw ≥ 6.9 events that occurred from 1937 to 1995 and rupture zones of Mw > 7 earthquakes that occurred from 1995 to date do not extend beyond a distance of 115–120 km in the downdip direction and are consistent with the estimated range in seismogenic width. This estimate is greater than the seismogenic width of 60–80 km previously suggested for the region. The result has important implications for estimating the maximum magnitude expected for subduction earthquakes and the evaluation of seismic hazard.
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