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Earthquake Focal Mechanisms from the New Madrid Seismic Zone Thesis Proposal Brown Bag Greg Johnson. Outline 1) Purpose 2) Study area 3) Data & Method 4) Preliminary Results 5) Future Work. Purpose History: Limited number of available focal mechanisms
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Earthquake Focal Mechanisms from the New Madrid Seismic Zone Thesis Proposal Brown Bag Greg Johnson
Outline 1) Purpose 2) Study area 3) Data & Method 4) Preliminary Results 5) Future Work
Purpose • History: Limited number of available focal mechanisms • Herrmann: Surface wave studies of larger events • Lui: Microearthquake focal mechanisms using • waveform modeling and PANDA data • Chiu: P-wave first motion study from PANDA • recorded events • New three component data: 2000-2007 • Better locations – s-wave picks • SH-wave polarity • Generate a more complete catalogue of earthquake focal mechanisms • Seismotectonic model
Data • Pre-1995: single component data and PANDA data • 1995-1999: New Madrid seismic network updates • • 96 three-component stations and 13 broadband seismometers • 2000-2007 data set: 1567 events • md ≥ 4.0 - 4 events • 3.0 ≤ md < 4.0 - 13 events • 2.0 ≤ md < 3.0 - 284 events • 1.0 ≤ md < 2.0 - 1190 events • 0 < md < 1.0 - 76 events
Method - Generation of earthquake focal mechanisms • FPFIT • Use only P-wave Polarity • Parameter Estimate: • Strike = 200°± 15 • Dip = 85° ± 28 • Rake = - 5° ± 35 • Constrained FM when uncertainty ≤ 20° • FOCMEC • Combine SH- first motion polarity observations • Parameter Estimate • Strike = 180° ± 6 • Dip = 40° ± 5 • Rake = 90° ± 8
Study Area • New Madrid Seismic Zone • •Seismicity • Northern Mississippi embayment • Structure • Embayment structures • Focal mechanisms available • Herrmann - 16 • Lui - 54 • Chiu - 9 • Allison Shumway - ?
Method - Mapping focal mechanisms 1) Distribution of focal mechanisms on segments 2) Categorize type by rake 3) Characterization
Preliminary Results • Central segment: 28% of focal mechanisms identified with this segment show reverse slip on a nodal plane striking ~N21W with ~45º dip to the southwest • Totals Reverse slip: 50% Strike slip: 21% Normal slip: 29% • Southern segment: 19% of the focal mechanisms identified with this segment show right-lateral strike-slip on a nearly vertical nodal plane striking ~N50E • Totals Reverse slip: 35% Strike slip: 49% Normal slip: 16% • Northern segment: 45% of the focal mechanisms identified with this segment show right-lateral strike-slip on a nearly vertical nodal plane striking ~N30E • Totals Reverse slip: 41% Strike slip: 55% Normal slip: 4%
Future work • Complete 2007 dataset • Evaluate and archive focal mechanisms • Update catalog and map • Seismotectonic Model (time permitting)
Thanks to my graduate committee for their help and support throughout this study. Mitch M. Withers Stephen P. Horton Randy T. Cox