EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Husen et al. 2000
Husen, S., Kissling, E. and Flueh, E.R. (2000). Local earthquake tomography of shallow subduction in north Chile: A combined onshore and offshore study. Journal of Geophysical Research 105: doi: 10.1029/2000JB900229. issn: 0148-0227.

Selected travel time data from the aftershock series of the great Antofagasta earthquake (Mw=8.0) have been inverted simultaneously for both hypocenter locations and three-dimensional VP and VP/VS structure. The data were collected with a dense 44-station seismic network including ocean bottom hydrophones. We performed a series of inversions with increasing complexity: 1-D, 2-D, and 3-D. This approach was chosen to account for the heterogeneous seismicity distribution and to obtain a smooth regional model in areas of low resolution. Special efforts were made to assess the solution quality including standard resolution estimates and tests with synthetic travel times. The subducted plate is imaged between 20 and 50 km in depth as an eastward dipping high-VP feature. High VP/VS ratios within the oceanic crust possibly indicate elevated fluid content. Underplating of material eroded close to the trench is found beneath the Mejillones Peninsula. The lower crust of the overlying plate is characterized by an average VP of 6.8--6.9 km/s and an average to low VP/VS ratio. Large areas of anomalously high VP are found in the lower crust south of the city of Antofagasta; they are interpreted as remants of magmatic intrusions. A zone of high VP/VS ratios is found within the rupture area of the Antofagasta main shock, just above the subducted slab. Its location within the region of highest stress release from the main shock suggests that the main shock rupture causes the high VP/VS ratio. The high VP/VS ratio could indicate postseismic fluid migration from the subducted oceanic crust into the overlying lower crust. ¿ 2000 American Geophysical Union

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Seismology, Continental crust, Seismology, Seismicity and seismotectonics, Tectonophysics, Tomography, Information Related to Geographic Region, South America
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit