智利M_W8.3地震与M_W8.8地震的震源过程及其引起的库仑应力特征

2015年9月17日6时54分32秒(北京时间)智利中部伊拉佩尔附近(震中31.57°S,71.67°W)发生了一次M_w8.3大地震,在此次地震震中以南约500 km处的马乌莱地区曾于2010年2月27日14时34分11秒发生过一次M_w8.8强震(震中36.12°S,72.90°W),两次地震余震分布区之间有约75 km的地震空区.本文利用远场体波与面波波形,基于有限断层模型,反演了这两次地震的震源破裂过程.结果显示这两次地震均为逆冲型大地震,2015年伊拉佩尔M_w8.3地震的平均滑动角度为107°,平均滑动量为2.43 m,平均破裂速度为1.82 km·s~(-1),标量地震矩为3.28×10~(21)Nm,95%的标量地震矩在104 s内得到了释放.最大滑动量约8 m,位于沿走向75 km,深度8 km处.2010年马乌莱M_w8.8地震的平均滑动角度为109°,平均滑动量为4.95 m,平均破裂速度1.90 km·s~(-1),标量地震矩为1.86×10~(22)Nm,95%的标量地震矩在121 s内得到了释放.最大滑动量约12.5 m,位于沿走向100 km,深度21 km处.2015年伊拉佩尔M_w8.3地震浅部更大的滑动量应该是其引起了较大海啸的一个原因.基于破裂滑动分布,我们计算了这两次地震引起的周边俯冲带上静态库仑应力变化,结果显示两次地震均显著增加了周边俯冲带上的库仑应力,2010年马乌莱地震使得2015.年伊拉佩尔地震震源区附近的库仑应力增加了(0.01~0.15)×10~5Pa,从应力积累的角度看,2010年马乌莱地震有利于2015年伊拉佩尔地震的发生,对后者的发生起到了促进作用.     

2014年美国加州纳帕M_W6.1地震断层参数的Sentinel-1A InSAR反演

2014年8月24日,在美国加州旧金山海湾北部的纳帕地区发生了MW6.1地震.发震断层是西纳帕断裂系统中的一部分,但是该断层之前并未被足够重视.本文利用欧洲空间局最近发射成功并刚刚投入使用的Sentinel-1A卫星获取的第一对同震干涉像对(20140807-20140831),得到了该地震的地表同震形变场,结合震后24h内区域GPS同震形变资料作为约束条件,反演了纳帕地震的断层几何参数以及滑动分布.Sentinel-1A干涉结果表明,此次地震造成了明显的地面形变,视线向最大抬升和最大沉降量均达到了10cm.联合反演结果表明,该发震断层的走向为344°,倾角为80°.主要破裂以右旋走滑为主,平均倾滑角为-146.5°,最大倾滑量达到了1.1m,位于地表下约4km,存在明显的滑动亏损现象.此次地震,累计释放地震矩达1.5×1018 N·m,约合矩震级MW6.1.该结果略小于InSAR单独约束结果,可能与Sentinel-1A像对中包含的快速震后形变分量有关.     

芦山7.0级地震序列的震源位置与震源机制解特征

基于中国国家和四川区域数字地震台网记录,采用HypoDD方法精确定位了四川芦山M_L2.0级以上地震序列的震源位置,采用CAP方法反演了36次M_L4.0级以上地震的最佳双力偶震源机制解,并利用小震分布和区域应力场拟合了可能存在的发震断层面参数,从而综合分析了芦山地震序列的震源深度、震源机制和震源破裂面特征,探讨可能的发震构造.结果显示,7.0级主震的震源位置为30.30°N、102.97°E,初始破裂深度为15 km左右,震源矩心深度为14 km左右,最佳双力偶震源机制解的两组节面分别为走向209°/倾角46°/滑动角94°和走向23°/倾角44°/滑动角86°,可视为纯逆冲型地震破裂,绝大多数M_L4.0级以上余震的震源机制也表现出与主震类似的逆冲破裂特征.M_L2.0级以上余震序列发生在主震两侧,集中分布的长轴为30 km左右,震源深度主要集中在5～27 km,M_L3.5级以上较大余震则集中分布在9～25 km的深度上,并揭示出发震断层倾向北西的特征.利用小震分布和区域应力场拟合得到发震断层参数为走向207°/倾角50°/滑动角92°,绝大多数余震发生在断层面附近10 km左右的区域.综合地震序列分布特征、主震震源深度和已有破裂过程研究结果,可以推测主震破裂过程自初始点沿断层的两侧扩展破裂,南侧破裂比北侧稍长,滑动量主要集中在初始破裂点附近,可能没有破裂到地表.综合本文研究成果、地震烈度分布和现有的科学考察结果,初步推测发震构造为龙门山山前断裂,也不排除主震震中东侧还存在一条未知的基底断裂发震的可能性.     

2015年7月3日皮山6.5级地震发震构造初步研究

基于新疆区域数字地震台网记录,采用CAP（Cut and Paste）方法反演了2015年7月3日皮山6.5级主震和部分M_S3.6以上余震的震源机制解和震源深度;采用HypoDD方法重新定位了序列中M_L2.5以上地震序列的震源位置,并利用小震分布和区域应力场拟合了可能存在的发震断层面参数.基于上述研究,综合分析了皮山6.5级地震序列的震源深度、震源机制和震源破裂面特征,探讨可能的发震构造.结果显示,利用CAP方法得到的最佳双力偶机制解节面I：走向280°/倾角60°/滑动角90°;节面Ⅱ：走向100°/倾角30°/滑动角90°,矩心深度19 km,表明该地震为一次逆冲型地震事件.大部分M_S3.6以上余震震源机制与主震具有一定的相似性.双差定位结果显示,M_L2.5以上的余震序列主要分布在主震的西南方向,深度主要分布在0～15 km范围内,余震分布显示出与发震构造泽普隐伏断裂一致的倾向南西的特征.利用小震分布和区域应力场拟合得到发震断层参数为走向104°/倾角34°/滑动角94°,该结果与主震震源机制解中节面Ⅱ的滑动角较为接近,绝大多数余震发生在断层面附近10 km左右的区域.根据本研究得到的震源机制、精定位结果以及利用小震分布和区域应力场拟合得到的断层面的参数,结合震源区地质构造情况,初步给出了此次皮山6.5级地震的发震模式.     

2014年3月10日加州西北岸M_w6.9级地震震源破裂过程

2014年3月10日13时18分(北京时间)美国加利福尼亚州西北岸发生Mw6.9级地震,震中位于戈尔达板块内部.本文利用国际地震学研究联合会(IRIS)地震数据中心提供的远场体波数据,通过波形反演的方法来研究此次地震的震源破裂过程,并分析未造成重大人员伤亡及诱发海啸的原因,为该地区地球动力学的研究提供依据.选取19个方位角覆盖均匀的远场P波垂向波形记录和13个近场P波初动符号进行约束,基于剪切位错点源模型确定此次地震的震源机制解.结合地质构造背景资料,确定断层破裂面的走向.在考虑海水层多次反射效应的影响下,采用18个远场P波垂向波形数据和21个远场SH波切向波形数据,利用有限断层模型,将断层面剖分为17×9块子断层单元来模拟破裂面上滑动的时空分布,通过波形反演的方法获得此次地震的震源破裂过程.利用海水层地壳模型,剪切位错点源模型的反演结果为:走向323°,倾角86.1°,滑动角-180°,震源深度为10.6km.有限断层模型的反演结果表明,此次地震的破裂过程相对简单,主要滑动量集中于震源上方35km×9km的区域内,破裂时间持续19s左右,平均破裂传播速度约为2.7km·s-1,较大滑动量均沿着走向分布,最大滑动量为249cm.此次地震为发生在戈尔达板块内部的一次Mw6.9级的陡倾角走滑型地震.此次地震为单纯的走滑型地震,断层面接近竖直方向,且发生在洋壳底部,因此破坏力不大,不会对沿岸城市造成重大损失.陡倾角断层在走滑错动的过程中不会使海底地形发生大幅度变化,不会引起大面积水体的突然升降,因此不会诱发大规模海啸.     

The response of creeping parts of the San Andreas fault to earthquakes on nearby faults: Two examples

Rates of shallow slip on creeping sections of the San Andreas fault have been perturbed on a number of occasions by earthquakes occurring on nearby faults. One example of such perturbations occurred during the 26 January 1986 magnitude 5.3 Tres Pinos earthquake located about 10 km southeast of Hollister, California. Seven creepmeters on the San Andreas fault showed creep steps either during or soon after the shock. Both left-lateral (LL) and right-lateral (RL) steps were observed. A rectangular dislocation in an elastic half-space was used to model the coseismic fault offset at the hypocenter. For a model based on the preliminary focal mechanism, the predicted changes in static shear stress on the plane of the San Andreas fault agreed in sense (LL or RL) with the observed slip directions at all seven meters; for a model based on a refined focal mechanism, six of the seven meters showed the correct sense of motion. Two possible explanations for such coseismic and postseismic steps are (1) that slip was triggered by the earthquake shaking or (2) that slip occurred in response to the changes in static stress fields accompanying the earthquake. In the Tres Pinos example, the observed steps may have been of both the triggered and responsive kinds. A second example is provided by the 2 May 1983 magnitude 6.7 Coalinga earthquake, which profoundly altered slip rates at five creepmeters on the San Andreas fault for a period of months to years. The XMM1 meter 9 km northwest of Parkfield, California recorded LL creep for more than a year after the event. To simulate the temporal behavior of the XMM1 meter and to view the stress perturbation provided by the Coalinga earthquake in the context of steady-state deformation on the San Andreas fault, a simple time-evolving dislocation model was constructed. The model was driven by a single long vertical dislocation below 15 km in depth, that was forced to slip at 35 mm/yr in a RL sense. A dislocation element placed in the seismogenic layer under XMM1 was given a finite breaking strength of sufficient magnitude to produce a Parkfield-like earthquake every 22 years. When stress changes equivalent to a Coalinga earthquake were superposed on the model running in a steady state mode, the effect was to make a segment under XMM1, that could slip in a linear viscous fashion, creep LL and to delay the onset of the next Parkfield-like earthquake by a year or more. If static stress changes imposed by earthquakes off the San Andreas can indeed advance or delay earthquakes on the San Andreas by months or years, then such changes must be considered in intermediate-term prediction efforts.     

A surface-wave investigation of the rupture mechanism of the Gobi-Altai (December 4, 1957) earthquake

Long-period records of multiple Love waves from the 1957 earthquake in Mongolia (M_S = 8.0) at Pasadena are analysed and compared to synthetic seismograms, generated by the method of Kanamori. A fit in the time domain shows that the records are not consistent with the previous solution, achieved through a frequency-domain analysis of directivity by Ben-Menahem and Toksöz. The solution asks for a shorter rupture of 270 km at a velocity of 3.5 km/s. The focal parameters are constrained by updating all the reported first motion and are found to be: strike = 103°, dip = 53°, slip = 32°. A seismic moment of 1.8 · 10²⁸ dyn · cm is obtained. These figures are also consistent with a time-domain analysis of Love waves at Palisades and Strasbourg, and of Rayleigh waves at Pasadena, with a directivity study of Love waves at Pasadena, and with static deformation and isoseismal data. A discussion is given of the relation between moment, magnitude and rupture area, and a comparison is made with other events in the same region: it is concluded that this earthquake does not exhibit an “intra-plate” behavior, but rather compares better with “inter-plate” events, such as the great Assam earthquake.     

2013年7月22日甘肃岷县-漳县M_S6.6地震震源破裂过程

2013年7月22日,在甘肃岷县漳县交界处发生MS6.6地震,地震震中位置靠近临潭—宕昌断裂.本文通过构建有限断层模型,利用国家强震动台网中心提供的12条强地面运动三分量资料,通过波形反演方法来研究这次地震的震源破裂过程.结果显示这次地震是发生在甘东南地区岷县—宕昌断裂带东段附近的一次MW6.1级逆冲兼具左旋走滑破裂事件,最大滑动量约为80cm.发震断层走向及滑动性质与岷县—宕昌断裂吻合,推断本次地震与东昆仑断裂向北的扩展和推挤密切相关,是岷县—宕昌断裂进一步活动的结果.     

Instability model for recurring large and great earthquakes in southern California

The locked section of the San Andreas fault in southern California has experienced a number of large and great earthquakes in the past, and thus is expected to have more in the future. To estimate the location, time, and slip of the next few earthquakes, an earthquake instability model is formulated. The model is similar to one recently developed for moderate earthquakes on the San Andreas fault near Parkfield, California. In both models, unstable faulting (the earthquake analog) is caused by failure of all or part of a patch of brittle, strain-softening fault zone. In the present model the patch extends downward from the ground surface to about 12 km depth, and extends 500 km along strike from Parkfield to the Salton Sea. The variation of patch strength along strike is adjusted by trial until the computed sequence of instabilities matches the sequence of large and great earthquakes sincea.d. 1080 reported by Sieh and others. The last earthquake was theM=8.3 Ft. Tejon event in 1857. The resulting strength variation has five contiguous sections of alternately low and high strength. From north to south, the approximate locations of the sections are: (1) Parkfield to Bitterwater Valley, (2) Bitterwater Valley to Lake Hughes, (3) Lake Hughes to San Bernardino, (4) San Bernardino to Palm Springs, and (5) Palm Springs to the Salton Sea. Sections 1, 3, and 5 have strengths between 53 and 88 bars; sections 2 and 4 have strengths between 164 and 193 bars. Patch section ends and unstable rupture ends usually coincide, although one or more adjacent patch sections may fail unstably at once. The model predicts that the next sections of the fault to slip unstably will be 1, 3, and 5; the order and dates depend on the assumed length of an earthquake rupture in about 1700.     

2016年印尼苏门答腊岛海域MW7.8地震震源运动学特征

根据中国和全球地震台网记录的波形记录,采用W震相矩张量反演、反投影分析及有限断层模型反演方法,研究了2016年3月2日印尼7.8级地震破裂过程,分析讨论印尼地震震源运动学特征.结果表明：此地震为一次对称的双侧破裂走滑型事件,北北东─南南西向的断层节面（走向5°/倾角85°）为发震断层面.标量地震矩约6.19×10²⁰ Nm,矩震级为7.79,最大的滑动量约11 m,位于破裂起始点北东,沿着断层走向约30 km处.破裂平均速度2.0~2.2 km·s^-1,破裂持续时间35 s,破裂在5~25 s内释放的能量,约占总能量的97%.最终形成了总长度90 km左右的断层.印尼地震具有破裂持续时间短、破裂速度慢、高滑动能量带相对集中等显著特点.本研究对进一步增进海洋岩石圈地震的震源特性认识有重要参考意义.     

A viscoelastic relaxation model for post-seismic deformation from the San Francisco earthquake of 1906

We present a realistic model of the San Andreas fault zone. We propose that aseismic ground displacement is a sum of visco-elastic relaxation following large earthquakes, transient fault slip, steady fault slip and a large-scale relative plate motion. We used the model to explain the aseismic ground displacements observed after the San Francisco earthquake of 1906.The data do not resolve the question of which is the dominant mechanism, but viscoelastic relaxation can contribute a significant fraction of the displacement if the elastic plate thickness is 50 km or less. If the relative plate motion is taken to be 5.5 cm/yr, as found from plate rotation pole studies, then the zone of significant shearing in the mantle is probably at least 100 km thick beneath California.     

2004年7月11日西藏Mw62级地震震源破裂过程研究

基于有限断层模型，利用远场体波波形数据研究了2004年7月11日西藏MW62级地震的震源破裂过程.结果表明该地震是一个以倾滑为主的浅源正断层型地震，震源深度为125km，断层面走向152°，倾角44°，平均倾滑角-117°.破裂在震中处成核，然后以28km/s的平均速度向两侧传播，在震中以东偏北5km处达到最大滑动43cm.该地震主张力轴近E W方向，受浅部NNW SSE或N S向裂谷带控制，青藏高原南部的逆冲运动是引发这次地震的直接原因.     

用形变资料反演1976年唐山地震序列的破裂分布

1976年唐山发生了7.8级地震,相继又发生了两次大余震——滦县7.1级地震和宁河6.9级地震.地震发生在观测条件比较好的地区,水准测量和三角测量测得了地震的同震位移场.本研究采用原始水准测量数据,而不是采用根据水准数据处理的地面沉降图像,和三角测量数据反演了该地震序列的破裂分布.模型构建中考虑了滦县地震和宁河地震的断层形态和大小.结果表明,唐山地震主震断层有明显的右旋走滑性质,最大走向滑动错距>6 m,位于断层南段,北段的走滑分量明显小于南段.主震总地震矩达2.58×10²⁰N·m,与地震波反演得到的地震矩的量级相当;滦县地震断层总体表现为左旋正断层,释放地震矩达4.95×10¹⁹N·m;宁河地震断层总体表现为右旋正断层,释放地震矩达3.94×10¹⁹N·m,比地震波反演的地震矩大一个量级.据此可以推测唐山地震的无震滑移主要发生在宁河地震断层的西部上,滑动性质以正断层为主.该结果对于唐山地震序列后的动力学演变过程及余震发生机理有一定参考.     

Similarities between strike-slip faults at different scales and a simple age determining method for active faults

Abstract Several differently scaled strike‐slip faults were examined. The faults shared many geometric features, such as secondary fractures and linkage structures (damage zones). Differences in fault style were not related to specific scale ranges. However, it was recognized that differences in style may occur in different tectonic settings (e.g. dilational/contractional relays or wall/linkage/tip zones), different locations along the master fault or different fault evolution stages. Fractal dimensions were compared for two faults (Gozo and San Andreas), which supports the idea of self‐similarity. Fractal dimensions for traces of faults and fractures of damage zones were higher (D ～1.35) than for the main fault traces (D ～1.005) because of increased complexity due to secondary faults and fractures. Based on the statistical analysis of another fault evolution study, single event movements in earthquake faults typically have a maximum earthquake slip : rupture length ratio of approximately 10^?4, although this has only been established for large earthquake faults because of limited data. Most geological faults have a much higher maximum cumulative displacement : fault length ratio; that is, approximately 10^?2 to 10^?1 (e.g. Gozo, ～10^?2; San Andreas, ～10^?1). The final cumulative displacement on a fault is produced by accumulation of slip along ruptures. Hence, using the available information from earthquake faults, such as earthquake slip, recurrence interval, maximum cumulative displacement and fault length, the approximate age of active faults can be estimated. The lower limit of estimated active fault age is expressed with maximum cumulative displacement, earthquake slip and recurrence interval as T ? (d_max /u) · I(M).     

2006年12月26日台湾南部滨海Ms7.2级地震破裂过程研究

2006年12月26日12点26分27秒(GMT)台湾南部滨海发生M_s7.2(Harvard CMT)级地震.震中位于台湾南部滨海之南海次板块与菲律宾海板块碰撞引发造山作用生成的海洋增生楔内, 这次地震是该区域百年来震级最大的地震.我们利用中国数字地震台网(CSDN)和美国地震学联合研究所(IRIS) 提供的上地幔及远场范围宽频带P波垂向记录资料,基于点源和有限断层模型进行波形拟合反演,获得这次地震的震源机制解并给出了震源破裂过程.反演结果表明,本次地震为东倾正断层兼小幅度走滑破裂事件, 断层面走向为341.5°,倾角为77.9°,震源深度6 km.所得正断层震源机制解表明,地震可能与板块的拆离（break-off）作用引发的在台湾造山带局部存在伸张作用力有关.     

1999年山西大同Ms 5.6地震的震源断层

大同震区先后在 1989、1991和 1999年发生MS >5地震 ,利用大同遥测地震台网的记录资料进行比较精确的地震序列震源定位 ,结合宏观烈度分布和震源机制解资料 ,详细地分析对比了 3次子序列的异同。结果显示 ,1999年MS5 .6地震的震源断层是走向NWW、长 16km、宽12km、埋深 5km以下、倾角近直立的左旋走滑断层。而前 2个子序列是NNE为主的右旋走滑断层活动所致 ,表明地震破裂方向发生了变化。这种 2个以上方向先后出现、并且强弱有别的地震破裂是普遍存在的 ,表明震源环境的复杂程度与地震序列的类型有关。虽然震区存在NE向的大王村断裂和NW向的团堡断裂 ,但目前没有证据说明震源断层和 2条构造断层连通。 3次子序列的震源断层都是走滑断层 ,也和 2条构造正断层有别。 1999年的子序列可能属于新破裂。     

Sentinel-1A及ALOS2数据约束下的阿克陶地震震源参数反演及发震构造研究

2016年11月25日,在新疆阿克陶县发生了M_W6.6地震.本文利用Sentinel-1A宽幅数据和ALOS2精细数据获得了同震形变场,干涉形变场沿木吉断裂展布,显示本次地震破裂长度可达70 km,在地表形成两个形变中心,且震中东部形变场条纹密集而西部稀疏、影响范围广,跨断层剖面显示视线向最大形变量可达12 cm.利用一种结合先验知识的多视角最小二乘迭代分解法求解出地表的三维形变场,结果显示震中东部形变中心垂向向下运动最大可达20 cm,木吉断裂南侧西向运动可达10 cm,断层表现为右旋走滑兼具正断作用.采用前向模拟的方法确定二段式分段断层模型能够较好地恢复观测形变场,进而以InSAR观测数据为约束,基于弹性半空间形变模型采用两段非均匀断层滑动模型来反演断层面上的精细滑动值.反演结果显示本次地震可能为两次地震事件,发生在断层西段的第一次事件以右旋走滑为主,走向103°,倾角76°,滑动角-167°,震源深度10.1 km,累计地震矩为7.2×10¹⁸N·M;东段的第二次事件为右旋走滑兼具正断作用,走向109°,倾角略缓约55°,滑动角-160°,震源深度5.3 km,累计地震矩7.76×10¹⁸N·M.本次地震是一次发生在公格尔拉张系的拉张环境下的构造地震.     

Source parameters of central California earthquakes on February 24 and September 4, 1972

The directivity function method is combined with an earthquake sequence study to obtain the reliable estimates of rupture area and rupture velocity of two right-lateral strike-slip earthquakes occurring along the San Andreas fault zone in central California. By utilizing a significant difference in velocity structure on both sides of the main fault, a modified version of the directivity function is formulated and applied to near-field SH waves. On assuming aftershock areas following their step-wise increase with time as rupture areas, an extensive systematic search for the best fit between the observed and theoretical directivity functions is made for a combination of both source parameters. The rupture at the February 24, 1972 earthquake (M_L = 5.0) propagated unilaterally with an average velocity of about 2.3 km/sec. It produced a rectangular area, the horizontal and vertical lengths being about 5 and 2 km, respectively. The rupture at the September 4, 1972 earthquake (M_L = 4.6) was of bilateral, yielding a nearly square rupture area of which side length is about 2 km. The rupture velocity of this earthquake, though some ambiguities resulting from a lower quality of the observed directivity function, is estimated at 1.9 km/sec or less. A difference in average rupture velocity between both earthquakes might imply its dependence on the ambient tectonic environment such as represented by local stress and humidity. By taking into account a post-earthquake creep increase of about 3.0–3.5 cm observed at a creepmeter station situated over the focus of the February 24, 1972 earthquake, its stress drop and seismic moment are estimated at about 10 bar and 10²³ dyn · cm, respectively. The above procedure has a broad applicability for recovering reliable estimates of source parameters, especially when it is combined with a synthetic approach.     

日本熊本MW7.0地震同震位移场和震源滑动模型反演

利用2016年4月16日日本熊本M_W7.0地震震中周围94个近场强震动台的观测资料和新近改进的强震经验基线校正方法SMBLOC,尝试解算并绘制了一个内陆M7左右走滑型地震的同震位移场全貌,并反演了其震源滑动模型.与日本国土地理院(GSI)公布的该地震57个GPS同震位移结果的比较显示,两种完全不同资料、不同解算方法给出的水平同震位移场的最大幅值均为100 cm左右,均呈右旋走滑为主兼具部分正断分量的震源机制.强震最大水平和垂直永久位移分别为104.5 cm和58.0 cm, 分别出现在震中东北侧的KMMH162台和KMM005台.两种资料单独以及联合反演的震源滑动模型均表明,此次地震为北东侧破裂为主并呈双事件特征,且主要滑动均不在初始破裂点附近, 而是集中于第二次事件周围,即距离初始破裂点东北侧约20 km处的走向长约40 km、倾向宽约20 km的范围内.基于强震和GPS模型所得的最大滑动量分别为5.10 m和5.87 m,量级一致,反演矩震级均为M_W7.1左右;主破裂区近地表滑动量比野外调查结果略微偏大,可能与数值效应有关.此外,还利用不同方法得到的解算结果比较了熊本地震特有的12组台间距在3 km以内的GPS-强震台站对各自的三分量同震位移,其结果表明对于M7左右的地震而言,SMBLOC方法解算同震位移时方向和幅值的可靠性下限约为2 cm.      

Rupture process of the Lorca (southeast Spain) 11 May 2011 (M w = 5.1) earthquake

On 11 May 2011, a M _w ?=?5.1 earthquake shook the town of Lorca (SE Spain) causing a disproportionately large damage for its magnitude. In order to contribute to knowledge of the behavior of the active faults present in the region and define the parameters which control their motion, we made a detailed study of the rupture process of this earthquake from inversion of body waves at regional and teleseismic distances. Ground motion displacements obtained in this way are in agreement with near-field strong motion data and GPS observations recorded in Lorca. We have obtained a partly bilateral rupture propagating to WSW (238°, 54°, 59°) with 27 cm of maximum slip and shallow focus (4 km). The fault plane orientation corresponds to that of the Cejo de los Enamorados Fault located NE of the Lorca town and parallel to the Alhama de Murcia Fault. The distribution of slip on the fault plane can explain the lack of any observed surface rupture as we found that the rupture started at 4-km depth along a plane dipping at 54°, with motion propagating upward to stop at 1.5 km below the surface. The strong motion and GPS data recorded near the epicenter are in agreement with the maximum slip on the fault. Directivity effects and the extreme shallowness of the rupture could explain the considerable damage that the earthquake caused in the town of Lorca.