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Fluid‐pressure induced seismicity at regional scales

Fluid‐pressure induced seismicity at regional scales The role of high fluid pressure as a seismogenic agent has been the subject of intense study (Hubert and Rubey, 1959; Hanshaw and Bredehoeft, 1968; Healy and Rubey, 1968; Simpson, 1976; Walder and Nur, 1984; Sibson, 1990). Of particular interest is the so‐called fault‐valve mechanism (Sibson, 1976; Sibson, 1990) a hypothesis whereby fluid pressure rises (as a result of tectonic compression and pore volume reduction) until crustal failure occurs, triggering seismic activity and upward fluid discharge. Sealing and healing of the rock matrix (Richter and Simmons, 1977; Sprunt and Nur, 1979; Angevine et al, 1982) following coseismic stress drop facilitates reaccumulation of fluid pressure, initiating another loading cycle. The fault‐valve mechanism is entertained as a plausible explanation for present‐day seismic activity in the western Transverse Ranges of California. We provide a quantitative test of the fault‐valve hypothesis that uses geologic data and rates of active tectonics for a cross‐section through an active fold‐and‐thrust belt on the flank of a developing mountain range. Rates of fluid pressure buildup and average recurrence times of large earthquakes in the fold‐and‐thrust belt are estimated to be on the order of 104Pa/yrand hundreds of years, respectively. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Geophysical Research Letters Wiley

Fluid‐pressure induced seismicity at regional scales

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References (34)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 1993 by the American Geophysical Union.
ISSN
0094-8276
eISSN
1944-8007
DOI
10.1029/93GL01661
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The role of high fluid pressure as a seismogenic agent has been the subject of intense study (Hubert and Rubey, 1959; Hanshaw and Bredehoeft, 1968; Healy and Rubey, 1968; Simpson, 1976; Walder and Nur, 1984; Sibson, 1990). Of particular interest is the so‐called fault‐valve mechanism (Sibson, 1976; Sibson, 1990) a hypothesis whereby fluid pressure rises (as a result of tectonic compression and pore volume reduction) until crustal failure occurs, triggering seismic activity and upward fluid discharge. Sealing and healing of the rock matrix (Richter and Simmons, 1977; Sprunt and Nur, 1979; Angevine et al, 1982) following coseismic stress drop facilitates reaccumulation of fluid pressure, initiating another loading cycle. The fault‐valve mechanism is entertained as a plausible explanation for present‐day seismic activity in the western Transverse Ranges of California. We provide a quantitative test of the fault‐valve hypothesis that uses geologic data and rates of active tectonics for a cross‐section through an active fold‐and‐thrust belt on the flank of a developing mountain range. Rates of fluid pressure buildup and average recurrence times of large earthquakes in the fold‐and‐thrust belt are estimated to be on the order of 104Pa/yrand hundreds of years, respectively.

Journal

Geophysical Research Letters – Wiley

Published: Aug 20, 1993

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