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Explore distribution of b-value in the MAT near Nicoya Peninsula, significance, method, and results. Discusses locked zone implications and geodetic support for mapping subduction zones.
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Distribution of b-value in the Middle America Trench, near Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica Abhijit Ghosh A. V. Newman, A. M. Thomas, G. T. Farmer School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences Georgia Tech A. Ghosh, EAS, Georgia Tech
Outline of the talk • Basics of plate tectonics • Why this study is important • What is b-value… • Data processing and results • Discussions • Summary A. Ghosh, EAS, Georgia Tech
Plate tectonic map http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ A. Ghosh, EAS, Georgia Tech
Plate boundaries http://www.permatopia.com/wetlands/images/ A. Ghosh, EAS, Georgia Tech
Why this study is important Lowman and Montgomery, 1998 A. Ghosh, EAS, Georgia Tech
Study area: Middle America Trench A. Ghosh, EAS, Georgia Tech
Seismic network and earthquake location 1-D global velocity model 3-D local velocity model A. Ghosh, EAS, Georgia Tech
What is ‘b-value’… : frequency-magnitude distribution log10N = a – b. M M = Magnitude of earthquakes N = number of earthquakes equal or greater than M b = slope of the line a = intercept of the line (seismicity rate) A. Ghosh, EAS, Georgia Tech
b-value in the study area b = 1.29±0.03 a = 6.19±0.1 A. Ghosh, EAS, Georgia Tech
Spatial variation of Mc A. Ghosh, EAS, Georgia Tech
Spatial variation of b-value A. Ghosh, EAS, Georgia Tech
b-value error A. Ghosh, EAS, Georgia Tech
Interpretation Norabuena et al., 2004 A. Ghosh, EAS, Georgia Tech
Summary • b-value varies spatially in the Middle America Trench (MAT), near Nicoya Peninsula • Anomalously low b-value zone detected • May indicate locked part of MAT • Supported by independent geodetic model • b-value mapping may be used to identify locked portion of subduction zone A. Ghosh, EAS, Georgia Tech
Thanks and Questions ?? A. Ghosh, EAS, Georgia Tech