Large surface-rupture gaps and low surface fault slip of the 2021 Mw 7.4 Maduo earthquake along a low-activity strike-slip fault, Tibetan Plateau

Geophysical Research Letters
By: , and 

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Abstract

Based on field investigations, interpretations of high-resolution UAV images, and analyses of available InSAR data, we mapped the fault geometry and surface ruptures of the 2021 Mw 7.4 Maduo earthquake that occurred on a low-activity strike-slip fault within the Tibetan Plateau. The results indicate that (a) the earthquake activated a fault that is ∼161 km long and has complicated structural geometry; (b) the surface rupture occurs over a distance of 148 km, but is separated into three distinct segments by two large gaps (38 and 20 km, respectively); (c) within the surface-rupture segments, the horizontal and vertical displacements are typically 0.2–2.6 m (much lower than the InSAR-based slip maximum of 2–6 m at depth) and ≤0.4 m, respectively. The two large gaps of the Maduo surface rupture represent the two largest surface-rupture discontinuities of strike-slip earthquakes ever documented, and coincide with structurally complicated fault portions and near-surface soft sediments.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Large surface-rupture gaps and low surface fault slip of the 2021 Mw 7.4 Maduo earthquake along a low-activity strike-slip fault, Tibetan Plateau
Series title Geophysical Research Letters
DOI 10.1029/2021GL096874
Volume 49
Issue 6
Publication Date March 17, 2022
Year Published 2022
Language English
Publisher American Geophysical Union
Contributing office(s) Geologic Hazards Science Center - Seismology / Geomagnetism
Description e2021GL096874, 10 p.
Country China
Other Geospatial Tibetan Plateau
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