Evidence for Fault Zone Trapped Waves from 1999 Hector Mine Earthquake Aftershocks

Marie Ammerman
UC Santa Barbara
marieammerman@hotmail.com
Mentor: Ralph Archuleta, UCSB

When an earthquake occurs within a fault, it generates longer period waves, fault zone trapped waves (FZTW), that arrive after the direct S wave. My project involves investigating the source of these FZTW from aftershocks of the 1999 Hector Mine earthquake. FZTW are generated by the lower velocities that characterize the fault zone. When FZTW are observed, they reveal the
structure of the fault zone, including the width and the velocity of the material within the fault zone.

FZTW can be differentiated from waves trapped in near surface low-velocity material by comparing the directions and phase velocities of the FZTW and the direct S waves. If it is concluded that the observed waves are FZTW, the maximum depth at which they are observed may show us the depth at which the fault becomes too thin to trap waves.

Seismograms from the Bullion Wash Array will be analyzed for FZTW using Seismic Analysis Code. Seismograms from earthquakes that occur both on and off the fault will be compared to ensure that the waves are FZTW.

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Table of Contents

Evidence for Fault Zone Trapped Waves

The Hector Mine Earthquake

Surface Rupture

Pictures of the Surface Rupture

What are Fault Zone Trapped Waves

Fault Zone Model

How waves travel through a fault zone

Bullion Wash Array

Aftershock Selection

Data Processing

How fault zone trapped waves appear on a seismogram

Another Example

Seismograms Without Fault Zone Trapped Waves

Differentiating from Basin Trapped Waves

Distinguishing Among Waves

Fault Zone Trapped Waves Tell Us About Fault Structure

Trapped Waves Show the Structure of Fault Junctions

Analysis Will Reveal the Velocity of the Fault Gouge

An Example of a BBFK Plot

Problems Encountered

Geologic Map

Geologic Cross Section Across the Bullion Wash Array

Timing Corrections

Will the Timing Corrections Help?

Plan for the Rest of the Summer

The End