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Jamaican Seismicity & Tectonics

Jamaican Seismicity & Tectonics. Margaret D. Wiggins-Grandison Earthquake Unit University of the West Indies- Mona Jamaica. Contents. The Earthquake Unit Historical earthquakes Recent significant earthquake Tectonic setting Current seismicity Research and development. Introduction.

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Jamaican Seismicity & Tectonics

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  1. Jamaican Seismicity & Tectonics Margaret D. Wiggins-Grandison Earthquake Unit University of the West Indies- Mona Jamaica MDWG-IRIS_July 2006

  2. Contents • The Earthquake Unit • Historical earthquakes • Recent significant earthquake • Tectonic setting • Current seismicity • Research and development MDWG-IRIS_July 2006

  3. Introduction • Xaymaca = land of wood & water • Location = 18 N, 76-78 W ~400 km E of Grand Cayman, 150 km S of SE Cuba • 1494 – 1655: Spanish colony • 1655 – 1962: British colony • 1962 – present: independent country in the British commonwealth • Area = 240 x 90 km2 • Very mountainous: >2000 m in east; ~1000 m elsewhere • Rain forest NE and NC; semi-arid SC & SW • Population: 2.6- 2.7 million resident [another 2M elsewhere] MDWG-IRIS_July 2006

  4. The Earthquake Unit • operate the Jamaica Seismograph Network (JSN) [12 stations, 8 accelerographs] • maintain a database of all earthquakes recorded by the JSN • inform the public about recent earthquakes • collect information about effects of earthquakes felt in Jamaica • conduct research on the seismicity, seismic hazard, site response and vibration analyses & related fields • Exchange data with international and regional networks • Jamaica’s National Data Centre of the Comprehensive (Nuclear) Test-Ban Treaty Organization’s (CTBTO) International Data Centre • Welcome visits from school & community groups MDWG-IRIS_July 2006

  5. The Jamaica Seismograph Network • Sensors: Mark L4 1Hertz • Geotech analogue electronics: HP 0.2 Hz 2 pole; LP 12.5Hz 2 pole filters • UHF telemetry • 4 three-component stations • GII SDA & SDP plus SEISAN – 16-bit 50sps MDWG-IRIS_July 2006

  6. Historical Earthquakes Eastern Jamaica • 1692 (X) • 1771 (VII) • 1812 (VIII) • 1907 (IX) • 1914 (VII) • 1993 (VII) Western Jamaica • 1839 (VII) • 1943 (VII) • 1957 (VIII) MDWG-IRIS_July 2006

  7. 1692 (June 7) Port Royal M? 1907 (Jan 14) Kingston Ms 6.5 MDWG-IRIS_July 2006

  8. Aenon Town,Central JamaicaJune 12, 2005, M 5.1 MDWG-IRIS_July 2006

  9. June 12 Damage - Toppled Cockpit summit - Frazier, SW St. Ann MDWG-IRIS_July 2006

  10. House Damage – June 12 - Lemon Walk, Trelawny; Top Alston, Clarendon; Grant’s Bailey, St. Ann MDWG-IRIS_July 2006

  11. Jamaican earthquakes per century MDWG-IRIS_July 2006

  12. Tectonic Setting: MDWG-IRIS_July 2006

  13. Northern Caribbean Seismicity & Tectonics MDWG-IRIS_July 2006

  14. Jamaican seismicity NJF North Jamaica WFZ Walton DFZ Duanvale RMCR Rio Minho-Crawle River MNB Montpelier-Newmarket WWB Wagwater YPG Yallahs- Plantain Garden SCr Santa Cruz ST Spur Tree SoC South Coast BM Blue Mountain MDWG-IRIS_July 2006

  15. Stress orientation in the crust from microseismicity MDWG-IRIS_July 2006

  16. GPS and seismic stations MDWG-IRIS_July 2006

  17. Summary • The northern Caribbean plate boundary deforms by left-lateral strike-slip • There is a Gonave microplate. Gonave-caribbean slip rate 8 – 13 mm/yr; Gonave-North American slip 6-11 mm/yr. • The slip rates are relatively slow implying long return periods of potentially devastating earthquakes MDWG-IRIS_July 2006

  18. THE END MDWG-IRIS_July 2006

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