Strain on the San Andreas fault near Palmdale, California: Rapid, aseismic change

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Abstract

Frequently repeated strain measurements near Palmdale, California, during the period from 1971 through 1980 indicate that, in addition to a uniform accumulation of right-lateral shear strain (engineering shear, 0.35 microradian per year) across the San Andreas fault, a 1-microstrain contraction perpendicular to the fault that accumulated gradually during the interval 1974 through 1978 was aseismically released between February and November 1979. Subsequently (November 1979 to March 1980), about half of the contraction was recovered. This sequence of strain changes can be explained in terms of south-southwestward migration of a slip event consisting of the south-southwestward movement of the upper crust on a horizontal detachment surface at a depth of 10 to 30 kilometers. The large strain change in 1979 corresponds to the passage of the slip event beneath the San Andreas fault.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Strain on the San Andreas fault near Palmdale, California: Rapid, aseismic change
Series title Science
DOI 10.1126/science.211.4477.56
Volume 211
Issue 4477
Year Published 1981
Language English
Publisher American Association for the Advancement of Science
Description 3 p.
First page 56
Last page 58
Country United States
State California
City Palmdale
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