Fault Length Research Articles

Quantitative Analysis of Faulting in the Danakil Depression Rift of Afar: The Importance of Faulting in the Final Stages of Magma‐Rich Rifting

AbstractMagmatic intrusion and faulting both accommodate crustal extension in magma‐rich rifts. However, quantitative constraints on the contribution of faulting to total extension and along‐rift variations of faulting during the final stages of break‐up are lacking. We targeted the Danakil Depression (Afar, Ethiopia) to conduct a quantitative, high‐resolution study of fault activity and interaction in a magma‐rich rift near break‐up. Quantitative analysis of >500 rift axis faults, identified using remote sensing data (satellite imagery, DEMs), shows an increase in fault density, length and connectivity away from magmatic segments. Kinematic and earthquake focal mechanism data demonstrate a transition from transtensional opening in the northern and central sub‐regions of the rift to oblique opening in the southern Giulietti Plain and Tat‐Ali sub‐regions. Oblique opening is attributed to the along‐axis step between the Erta‐Ale and Harak sub‐regions. Integration of seismic reflection and borehole data with the mapped faults shows that extension is primarily accommodated by magmatism within the rift center, with faulting more significant toward the ends of the rift. ∼30% of crustal extension is accommodated by axial faulting in areas of low magmatism, highlighting the importance of faulting even in the final stages of magma‐rich rifting. Comparing our findings with spreading ridge morphology and structure, relevant due to the rift maturity and extensive magmatism, we conclude that the Danakil Depression is in a transitional stage between continental rifting and seafloor spreading. Spatial changes in the importance of faulting and magmatism in accommodating extension, alongside rift morphology, resemble the relationships observed along spreading ridges.

En echelon faults reactivated by wastewater disposal near Musreau Lake, Alberta

SUMMARY We use machine-learning and cross-correlation techniques to enhance earthquake detectability by two magnitude units for the earthquake sequence near Musreau Lake, Alberta, which is induced by wastewater disposal. This deep catalogue reveals a series of en echelon ∼N–S oriented strike-slip faults that are favourably oriented for reactivation. These faults require only ∼0.6 MPa overpressure for triggering to occur. Earthquake activity occurs in bursts, or episodes; episodes restricted to the largest fault tend to have earthquakes starting near the southern end (distant from injectors) and progressing northwards (towards the injectors). While most events are concentrated along these ∼N–S oriented faults, we also delineate smaller faults. Together, these findings suggest pore pressure as the triggering mechanism, where a time-dependent increase in pore pressure likely caused these faults to progressively reawaken. Analysis of the ‘next record-breaking event’, a statistical model that forecasts the sequencing of earthquake magnitudes, suggests that the next largest event would be ML ∼4.3. The seismically illuminated length of the largest fault indicates potential magnitudes as large as Mw 5.3.

Fault structure and segmentation of the Punta Montalva Fault in southwestern Puerto Rico using high-resolution digital elevation models

The Punta Montalva Fault is an active fault that slipped during the 2019–2023 Puerto Rico seismic sequence. It lies in southwestern Puerto Rico within the ∼250-km-wide deformation zone of the North American-Caribbean plate boundary. The fault cuts Miocene limestone and contains surface features that suggest left-lateral displacement. Previous work suggested that the fault connects with the North Boquerón Bay Fault for a length of 33 km and poses a large seismic hazard. However, not much is known about the structure, segmentation, and spatial extent of the fault as it is obscured under thick vegetation. This study used high-resolution topographic data to map the structure, segmentation, and spatial extent of the fault. The results would allow us to better assess the seismic potential of the Punta Montalva Fault by constraining its spatial extent and how strain has been accommodated. A 0.5 m resolution bare-earth digital elevation model (DEM) derived from a 2018 airborne LiDAR survey and another 1 m resolution 2018 DEM showing shallow bathymetry were used to map the Punta Montalva Fault. High-resolution mapping revealed that the Punta Montalva Fault is comprised of three main fault segments on land, a possible additional scarp, and three fault scarps on the seafloor to the SE. No evidence suggests the Punta Montalva Fault extends further NW of Punta Montalva into La Parguera in Lajas. The DEM revealed that the fault cuts a shallowly dipping sedimentary sequence of the Ponce Limestone that has karst topography in places. On land, the fault is conspicuous where it forms scarps, drags and cuts sedimentary layers, and forms a duplex structure with a predominantly left-lateral offset. A left-lateral offset of an intermittent stream has been refined to 133.6 ± 7.3 m. The fault scarps along a marine shelf strike E-W and show a maximum normal offset of 4.8 m. Another sub-parallel fault scarp in the seafloor strikes NW-SE and displays a left-lateral offset of 98.3 m. The total length of the fault segments is ∼2.67 km long. The surface segmentation suggests that the fault would have a lower seismic hazard than if it were continuous and connected to the North Boquerón Bay Fault. However, if the Punta Montalva Fault is continuous beneath the surface, its total fault length would be approximately 7.97 km long and would pose a larger seismic hazard than that suggested by the surface segmentation. Strike-slip, folding, and normal offset suggest that the area is being deformed by transtentional deformation, which supports seismic analyses and tectonic models.

Characterizing the Final Stage of Simulated Earthquake Nucleation Governed by Rate‐And‐State Fault Friction

AbstractPrevious experiments and modeling on earthquake nucleation reveal accelerating slip and development of a final patch of fixed or expanding length, but whether the nucleation phase is spatially large enough to be detected in real‐Earth conditions with durations long enough to be helpful is unknown. This study performed a suit of simulations of the nucleation process based on the rate‐and‐state friction law on homogeneous faults started from a “locked” state. Our results reveal the development of a weakening‐zone core (WZcore, defined as a region bounded by two outwardly moving shoulders of stress distribution during the early phase, and later bounded by two inwardly shifting edges between the stress‐releasing region and stress‐increasing exterior) where stress releases continuously, which expands first to a dimension less than the half fault length then shrinks to a final length before re‐expanding. The slip rate within the WZcore is above several times of the driving rate, and the high‐rate region expands constantly up to the instability. The WZcore is similar to a strain‐releasing zone in our new experiment. Under the assumption that much higher seismicity rate can be observed within the WZcore due to higher slip rate and stress‐releasing state as augmented driving force for small asperities, these nucleation features, as well as the slip rate levels in our model, are consistent with step‐like increases in seismicity preceding large subduction earthquakes. On the time scale, duration of the WZcore is weeks before large subduction earthquakes under high driving rate, but years on low‐rate continental faults.

High-resolution P- and S-wave reflection studies of an intraplate structure: The Azambuja fault, Portugal

The Azambuja fault is a NNE trending structure located 50 km north of Lisbon, the capital and most populous city of Portugal. The fault has been considered as a possible source for the historical, large earthquakes. Understanding this fault is a priority in seismic hazard evaluation of this region. The fault has a clear morphological signature. Miocene and Pliocene sediments are tilted eastward and cut by steeply dipping mesoscale fault segments, presenting reverse and normal offsets with a net downthrow to the east. Neotectonic studies indicate a Quaternary slip on the fault of 0.05–0.06 mm/year. However, no direct evidence of the Azambuja fault affecting the Pleistocene or Holocene sediments was found so far. Here, we present the findings from high-resolution seismic reflection studies using both P- and S-waves over the Holocene deposits. The detection of small-throw faulting in ductile sediments is a challenging task. We show that multiple signatures, like perturbations in the reflection hyperbolae visible in shot and CMP gathers, interruptions of reflectors in stacked sections, lateral seismic velocity variations obtained by horizon velocity analysis, all at coincident locations, strongly suggest that the activity of the Azambuja fault has affected the Holocene sediments in the study area. The lateral velocity variations are corroborated by wavepath eikonal traveltime tomography and velocity analysis supported by seismic modeling. By means of 2D viscoelastic modeling, we explain the absence of fault-related diffractions and negligible back-scattered energy from the fault. Using data from nearby boreholes, we find that the 15 ka old alluvium cover has indeed been disturbed by the presence of shallow fault strands. Considering the estimated vertical throws and the empirical relationships between fault length, co-seismic rupture and magnitude, a slip rate of 0.07 mm/y, slightly larger than previously thought, is expected for this fault.

Cenozoic Fault Growth Mechanisms in the Outer Apulian Platform

This work focuses on a ca. 55 km-long extensional fault zone buried underneath the foredeep deposits of the southern Apennines, Italy, with the goal of deciphering the Cenozoic fault growth mechanisms in the Outer Apulian Platform. By considering public 2D seismic reflection profiles, well logs, and isochron maps data, the study normal fault zone is interpreted as made up of four individual fault segments crosscutting Top Cretaceous, Top Eocene, Top Miocene, and Top Pliocene chrono-stratigraphic surfaces. The computed cumulative throw profiles form either bell-shaped or flat-shaped geometries along portions of the single fault segments. The computed incremental throw profiles also show an initial fault segmentation not corresponding with the present-day structural configuration. Data are consistent with the initial, post-Cretaceous fault segments coalescing together during Miocene–Pliocene deformation and with fault linkage processes localizing at the stepover/relay zones. Pleistocene faulting determined the evolution of a coherent fault system. The computed n-values obtained for the single time intervals by considering the maximum fault throw–fault length relations indicate that the fault segments formed scale-dependent geometries. Variations of these computed values are interpreted as due to the higher degree of maturity reached by the entire fault system during Miocene to Pleistocene deformation.

The Destructive Earthquake Doublet of 6 February 2023 in South-Central Türkiye and Northwestern Syria: Initial Observations and Analyses

AbstractOn 6 February 2023, two large earthquakes with magnitude 7.8 and 7.6 rocked south-central Türkiye and northwestern Syria. At the time of writing, the death toll exceeded 50,000 in Türkiye and 7200 in Syria. The epicenter of the first mainshock was located ∼15 km east of the east Anatolian fault (EAF), the second large earthquake (9 hr later) initiated ∼90 km to the north on the east–west-trending Sürgü fault. Aftershocks delineate fault lengths of ∼350 and ∼170 km, respectively. Using satellite and seismic data for first-order analyses of surface-fault offsets, space–time rupture evolution, and recorded ground motions, our study sheds light on the reasons for the extensive destruction. The first event ruptured the EAF bilaterally, lasted for ∼80 s, and created surface fault offsets of over 6 m. The second event also ruptured bilaterally with a duration of ∼35 s and more than 7 m surface offsets. Horizontal ground accelerations reached locally up to 2g in the first mainshock; severe and widespread shaking occurred in the Hatay-Antakia area with values near 0.5g. Both earthquakes are characterized by directivity effects and abrupt rupture cessation generating stopping phases that contributed to strong seismic radiation. Shaking was further aggravated locally by site-amplification effects.

Elastic response of porous rock to accumulated slip on strike slip fault networks in geo-reservoirs

Subsurface reservoirs are generally highly fractured, whereby fractures constitute a natural fluid flow path and define the preferential flow direction. Slip accumulated during the faulting process alters also the petrophysical properties of the host rock. Although the mechanical alteration of the host rock, and related porosity and permeability changes, due to fault slip has been previously described, a predictive physics-based model has not been scaled with fault length in reservoirs to provide an initial porosity permeability alteration model yet. In this study, we develop a predictive model to quantify how accumulated fault slip changes porosity and permeability in a porous medium, by combining deformation modeling based on triangular dislocations and linearized poro-elasticity equations. We applied our model the Ghawar field fault map and rock-types. We conducted a Monte-Carlo simulation, varying fault roughness and accumulated slip, to quantify the corresponding variation in porosity and permeability using a 5 km long strike-slip fault and three different rock-types. Our Monte-Carlo simulation shows that long-term accumulated slip on rough strike-slip fault surfaces change porosity by ±1%, leading to an absolute permeability change of up to 22.5%. We further used these results as a benchmark for the elastic response of porous rocks to accumulated slip scaled to certain fault length. Using these benchmark results for Ghawar field reservoir rocks, we determined the slip-related porous medium permeability changes for every fault on the Ghawar fault map, accounting for their length, location, and orientation. In doing so, we found that fault roughness, slip amount, and shear sense all affect the medium’s permeability, creating substantial permeability anisotropies. Locally, these anisotropies are further enhanced by superposition of permeability changes of individual faults that constitute the fault system. We suggest the resulting permeability distribution model should be used as the initial permeability model for porous media in fractured reservoirs.

Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Geologic Slip Rates, Cucamonga Fault, California, USA: Implications for Along‐Strike Applications and Multi‐Fault Rupture

AbstractTo constrain fault processes and hazard, fault slip rates may be extrapolated over different fault lengths or time intervals. Here, we investigate slip rates for the Cucamonga Fault (CF). The CF is located at the junction of the Transverse Range fault system with the San Andreas and San Jacinto Faults, and it is hypothesized to connect with these faults, promoting the propagation of large, multi‐fault earthquakes. Previous work has shown that CF displacements on late Quaternary alluvial fan surfaces are highly variable along strike. We present two new 10Be surface exposure ages from depth profiles on the alluvial fans. Slip rates are consistent with a rate of 1.4 ± 0.3 m/kyr over time intervals of ∼20, ∼30, and ∼40 kyr. If the CF participates in multi‐fault ruptures, then these earthquakes occur either rarely or with sufficient regularity to maintain apparently steady rates over multiple intervals. We also explore along‐strike fault displacement variability using a calibrated morphological model. The model successfully reproduces scarp profiles and indicates that fault displacement variability can be explained in part by scarp age but not uplift rate. We infer that both erosion by ephemeral gullying and distributed deformation contribute to fault displacement variability, although both are difficult to detect confidently without excavations across the scarp. These investigations show that better characterization of cumulative‐slip variability along strike may improve accuracy and precision of slip rates. Slip rates that do not consider epistemic uncertainties may not be suitable for extrapolation over longer fault sections.

Predictions of Arsenic in Domestic Well Water Sourced from Alluvial Aquifers of the Western Great Basin, USA.

Chronic exposure to high levels of arsenic in drinking water can have wide-ranging health effects and is a global health concern. The domestic well population of the western Great Basin (WGB) is at increased risk of exposure to arsenic due to the hydrologic, geologic, and climatic setting of the region. A logistic regression (LR) model was developed to predict the probability of elevated arsenic (≥5 μg/L) in alluvial aquifers and assess the potential geologic hazard level posed to domestic well populations. Alluvial aquifers are susceptible to arsenic contamination, which is a concern because they are the primary source of water for domestic well users of the WGB. The probability of elevated arsenic at a domestic well is strongly influenced by tectonic and geothermal variables, including the total Quaternary fault length in the hydrographic basin and the distance between the sampled well and a geothermal system. The model had an overall accuracy of 81%, sensitivity of 92%, and specificity of 55%. Results show a >50% probability of elevated arsenic in untreated well water for approximately 49 thousand (64%) alluvial-aquifer domestic well users in northern Nevada, northeastern California, and western Utah.

Rifting/spreading propagation interacts with preexisting transform faults: 3D geodynamic modeling

The divergent rifting/spreading centers and the strike-slip transform faults are the essential tectonic units on Earth, the dynamic evolution of which regulates the development of rifting/spreading basins. The propagation of rifting/spreading centers may interact with pre-existing transform faults, but how they interact with each other remains enigmatic. Here we use three-dimensional geodynamical numeric models to systematically simulate the interaction between rifting/spreading propagation and the pre-existing transform faults. Our model results provide the following findings. 1) The pre-existing transform faults affect rifting/spreading propagation promoting the formation of ridge segments with an offset distance, facilitating the process of spreading of the western sea basin and restraining the propagation of the east sea basin. Yet, the evolution of the transform faults is regulated by rifting/spreading propagation, featured by the increase of its length, the change in its width along strike and the presence of lineated magmatism. 2) The initial length and orientation of the pre-existing transform faults largely affect rifting/spreading propagation, i.e., large transform fault length favors the formation of large offset between ridge segments, and oblique transform faults facilitate the formation of overlapped spreading centers. 3) Model results shed new light on the evolution of the South China Sea basin, implying that the observed ridge segments in the east and southwest sub-basins, the difference of the Zhongnan Fault Zone width along strike and the lineated volcanos along the Zhongnan Fault Zone are the results of the interaction between the rifting/spreading propagation and the pre-existing transform fault.

Behaviour of Precariously Balanced Rocks under Seismic Excitation

A naturally occurring geological formation is precariously balanced rocks (PBRs) which might easily topple by an earthquake with severe ground motion. These rocks have been at the same place for many years. Strong ground accelerations have not occurred in the area for thousands of years as shown by the zone of unstable rocks. So, they are significant in both the engineering and seismological domains since they provide source of data for the maximum earthquake ground motion occurring at a site over the rock’s life time. The precariously balanced rock taken for this study is Krishna Butter Ball which is in Mahabalipuram, Chengalpattu district. In the numerical analysis, the peak ground acceleration at which the Krishna butter ball may topple is obtained. To identify the possible future earthquake, deterministic seismic hazard analysis has been carried out for Chengalpattu district. For this analysis, fault details have been obtained from Geological Survey of India. Arc map 10.1 version in Geographical Information System (GIS) platform is used for the interpretation of data like fault length, source (fault) to site (Mahabalipuram) distance from the fault details given by GSI. From the results of Deterministic Seismic Hazard Analysis (DSHA), it is observed that the possible future earthquake may have the magnitude in the range of 6.03 to 7.9. The computed peak ground acceleration (PGA) value corresponding to those magnitude ranges from 0.027g to 0.49g. The maximum PGA value 0.49g corresponds to the Palar river fault which is just 28.53 km away from the Krishna butter ball. From the results of numerical analysis, the behavior of Krishna butter ball for three different PGA i.e. 0.05g, 0.1g, 0.15g has been observed. Newmark sliding block analysis said that the rock may topple at the PGA of 0.35g. From this it can be concluded that the toppling acceleration of Krishna butter ball is relatively low.

Identification of the late Quaternary activity of the littoral fault zone at the Northern Jiangsu province in China

It has been accepted that a littoral fault zone (LFZ) exists at the Northern Jiangsu Province, but its geometric distribution and the late Quaternary activity are still controversial. In this study, to constrain its late Quaternary activity, we collected two high-resolution shallow-reflection seismic profiles crossing the northern segment of the littoral fault zone (NLFZ) in the Yellow Sea, using mini-multichannel seismograph. Four reflection interfaces were identified clearly in the reflection profiles, dividing Quaternary strata in the study area into four seismic units. Combined with the existing regional borehole data, it is inferred that these units correspond to strata in the Holocene, the Late Pleistocene, the Middle Pleistocene, and the Early Pleistocene. The breakpoints F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, and F6 correspond to the NLFZ, and the uppermost offset marker is the Late Pleistocene–Holocene interface. Therefore, the NLFZ is tentatively identified as a Late Pleistocene–Holocene active fault. Our method utilized to obtain high-resolution profiles also provides a good example for research studies at similar sites. Moreover, considering the regional tectonic background, its fault length, and long aseismic period, the NLFZ is capable of generating strong earthquakes of Mw 6.5 or above in the future, which needs further investigation. Finally, based on our profiles and previous studies, it is inferred that the kinematic properties of the LFZ transformed at the Middle Pleistocene, at least.

MORGen: an Algorithm to Compute Spreading Centre and Transform Geometries from Simple Initial Plate Boundaries and Euler Rotations

The age structure of the global ocean floor is a key feature in paleogeographic reconstructions, which in turn forms the quantitative basis for Earth System Science. However, much of the ocean floor in paleogeographic reconstructions has been lost to subduction. The age structure of such lost ocean floor is constructed from the reconstructions of adjacent continents, using the relative rotations, around Euler poles to predict the geometry of spreading centres and transform faults. Building such mid-ocean ridge features in paleogeographic reconstructions is laborious, as it requires redrawing of ridge-transform systems upon every Euler pole shift in the model. In this paper, we present the Mid-Ocean Ridge Generator (MORGen) algorithm, based on pyGPlates. MORGen reduces the laborious task by automating the drawing of mid-ocean ridge geometries from geometrically simple plate boundary input assuming ridge-perpendicular spreading and adjusts ridge geometries in a simplest-scenario fashion by gradually adjusting ridge orientation and transform fault length upon Euler pole shifts, inspired by observations from the modern sea floor. The code takes as input curved line features, representing approximate divergent plate boundaries, and a set of Euler poles. These are then converted into spreading centre-transform geometries. Upon Euler pole shifts, the geometries are adjusted to fit the set of small circles and great circles dictated by the new Euler pole. For studies of paleo-environment and paleo-oceanography MORGen can be used in combination with other algorithms for full reconstructions of ocean floors, including their age, bathymetry, and roughness. For in-situ preserved ocean floor, the paleo-age distribution can be reconstructed directly in high resolution from geophysical and geological data from the modern ocean floor and MORGen would not normally be the option of choice. In cases where models contain ocean floor that has now been subducted, MORGen straightforwardly facilitates mid-ocean ridge geometry reconstruction. To illustrate how well the MORGen algorithm reproduces real ocean floor age structure, we show a synthetic ridge evolution for the South Atlantic and Southern Oceans and compare this to geophysically constrained ocean floor geometry. In addition, we show examples of use cases where direct (re)construction of mid ocean ridges is not possible: now-subducted ocean basins in the Mediterranean region and an ocean in a future supercontinent scenario.

Variation of Displacement Fields for Great Earthquakes due to Rectangular Fault System

The expressions for the displacement fields produced by a finite rectangular fault associated with great earthquakes are explained by elastic theory of dislocation. The variation of displacement fields has been estimated by considering the elastic half-space in contact with traction free boundary and varying depth, distance from top to bottom of the fault. It is also carried out in an infinite elastic medium. Also, the variation of displacement fields with the distance from fault especially for strike slip fault shows that even if different fault length and approximately equal magnitudes, the variation of displacement fields with the distance from the fault is almost the same in the case of great earthquakes viz. San Francisco (1906) and Bihar-Nepal (1934).

New 3D fault model for eastern Flanders (Belgium) providing insights on the major deformation phases in the region since the late Paleozoic

A new 3D fault model was created for the Upper Paleozoic to Cenozoic subsurface in eastern Flanders (Belgium). The model was based on the integration of 2D seismic interpretations, borehole and gravimetric data, as well as coal mining and topographic maps. Four major tectonic phases, taking place during the latest Paleozoic, Jurassic, Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic, shaped the fault network. The latest Paleozoic phase was transpressional and expressed by local folding of the Carboniferous strata underneath the base Permian unconformity. The largest anticlines were asymmetric, with amplitudes of up to 500 m and SSW-NNE oriented axal planes. The subsequent Jurassic phase caused normal faulting across the area, resulting in the development of the northeast-dipping, western border fault systems of the Campine Basin and Roer Valley Graben. Fault strikes were predominantly WNW-ESE to NNW-SSE. Both fault directions were most likely inherited from early Carboniferous and older tectonic phases. Jurassic fault reactivation explains the activity along fault populations with different orientations as well as the linkage of these faults into long (>10 km) systems, despite displaying generally relatively small vertical throws (<500 m). Soft-linked boundaries (accommodation zones) between Jurassic fault domains are located on top of the largest latest Paleozoic transpressional anticlines.The Late Cretaceous major tectonic phase was compressional and involved inversion of the Roer Valley Graben with subsequent subsidence and carbonate deposition in the flanking Campine Block.During the Cenozoic extensional phase, most normal faults that developed were rooted in Jurassic faults and therefore displayed similar WNW-ESE to NNW-SSE strikes. Cenozoic extension was, however, weaker than Jurassic extension; Cenozoic fault numbers, lengths and vertical throws were smaller than during the Jurassic phase. Also during the Cenozoic phase, faulting was more localized onto the pre-existing Roer Valley Graben border fault system compared to the more diffuse Jurassic faulting. The Cenozoic faults were generally planar, whereas some of its Jurassic roots near and in the border fault system of the Roer Valley Graben were listric.

High‐Rate Fluid Injection Reduces the Nucleation Length of Laboratory Earthquakes on Critically Stressed Faults in Granite

AbstractWe conducted fluid injection experiments on cylindrical low‐permeability granite samples with a critically stressed sawcut fault at local injection rates of 0.2 and 0.8 mL/min and confining pressures of 31 and 61 MPa. A local array of six strain gauges attached close to the faults allows us to estimate the nucleation length of each injection‐induced dynamic slip event (i.e., laboratory earthquake). We find nucleation lengths decrease from approximately 90% to &lt;15% of the fault length with higher injection rate and increased effective normal stress. Injection‐induced laboratory earthquakes with smaller nucleation lengths show generally higher peak slip rates and larger fault slip displacements, signifying an intensified seismic hazard. Our results also indicate that initially stable fault patches may be reactivated to slip seismically by increasing injection rates. This study systematically demonstrates that higher injection rates constitute dynamic loading, which increase the seismic hazard by shrinking the earthquake nucleation length.

Seismo-Lineaments in Egypt: Analysis and Implications for Active Tectonic Structures and Earthquake Magnitudes

Quiescent faults may be capable of creating catastrophic earthquakes in locations with moderate and/or low seismic activity, such as Egypt. This study combines structural, remote sensing (RS), geophysical, and seismic activity data to examine and analyze the relationship between tectonic structures and seismotectonic activity in Egypt. In a new seismo-lineaments map of Egypt, tectonic lineaments of the Egyptian mainland were delineated and classified. The database contains 8000 lineaments that were divided into distinct geographical zones using statistical analysis and general features. Delineated lineaments were integrated with digitized geological and geophysical surface and subsurface faults and geographic information systems (GIS) processing techniques were applied to produce 4249 faults. The spatial distribution of seismic activity was determined to extract 1968 competent faults out of 4249 capable faults (i.e., greater than 10 km and suitably orientated concerning the existing stress field). Maximum expected magnitudes (Mmax) were calculated for distinct seismogenic locations in Egypt, taking into account the nature of the regional rupture. At the national scale, empirical scaling relations between fault lengths and earthquake magnitude were employed for all mapped faults in Egypt. The findings concerning the faults were highly consistent with traditional geological information. The results suggest that our technique for estimating the highest predicted magnitudes produces similar values and might be used to evaluate Egypt’s possible future seismic hazard. The results were compared to seismic databases. The similarity of our results with those reported in the catalogs lends confidence to the proposed scheme.

Implementation &amp; simulation of fault locating algorithm and localization for linear transmission lines on PMU based two terminal system.

The demand of electricity is increasing rapidly. Among all, electricity is most reliable and sustainable source. With the growth in demand, power system will be more complex and sophisticated. Transmission lines are backbone for supplying electricity to every consumer. Transmission line are mostly prone to faults. So, clearing the fault of transmission in least possible time is most important to reduce the damage occurred due to fault. The protection of the transmission line could benefit tremendously from the capacity to locate and identify the issue. The Phasor Measurement Unit is used in this work to offer a contemporary method of fault localization and detection. The PMU transmission line and fault have been modelled using MATLAB/Simulink. The detection of fault uses discrete wavelet transform, PMU uses discrete Fourier transform and the localization of fault is done using Universal algorithm. In general, this paper provides the concept of PMU and its application in fault detection and locating the fault point in transmission as well as distribution line. The approach taken in this paper has been tested for different line length, source impedance and different types of faults.

Temporal variations of the probability distribution of voronoi cells generated by earthquake epicenters

The area of the cells of Voronoi tessellations has been modelled through different probability distributions among which the most promising are the generalized gamma and tapered Pareto distributions. In particular the latter has been used to model times and distances between successive earthquakes besides area and perimeter of cells generated by earthquake epicenters. In the framework of nonextensive statistical mechanics applied in geophysics, variables like seismic moment, inter-event time or Euclidean distance between successive earthquakes or length of faults in a given region have been studied through the so-calledq-exponential distributions obtained by maximizing the Tsallis entropy under suitable conditions. These distributions take also the name of generalized Pareto distributions in the context of the limit distributions of excesses. In this work we consider the spatial distribution of a set of earthquakes and its temporal variations by modelling the area of Voronoi cells generated by the epicenters through a generalized Pareto distribution. Following the Bayesian paradigm we analyze the recent seismicity of the central Italy and we compare the posterior marginal likelihood of the aforementioned distributions in shifting time windows. We point out that the best fitting distribution varies over time and the trend of all three distributions converges to that of the exponential distribution in the preparatory phase for the mainshock.