Earthquake dynamics are strongly affected by fault zone structure and fault surface geometry. Here we investigate the interplay of bulk deformation and surface topography using detailed structural analysis of a fault zone near Klamath Falls, Oregon combined with LiDAR measurements of the fault surface. We find that the fault zone has a layered damage architecture. Slip primarily occurs inside a...

[1] The Uganik Thrust is a fossil out-of-sequence thrust fault which was active over a period of 3 Ma during the early Tertiary until activity ceased with the subduction of the Kula-Farallon spreading ridge at 57 Ma. During this period the fault experienced at least 1 km of throw and developed a strongly asymmetric damage zone. The brittle damage zone in the footwall of the fault acted as a con...

The evolution of fault slip through time may yield insight into the geodynamics of deforming lithosphere. Precise determination of temporal variations in fault slip is often hindered, however, by a dearth of markers of varying age from which to reconstruct fault slip. Here we determine slip rates across the White Mountain Fault Zone over the past ca. 0.8 Ma from displaced alluvial deposits pres...

[1] We used dense linear seismic arrays across and along the San Andreas Fault (SAF) at Parkfield, California to record fault zone trapped waves generated by explosions and microearthquakes in 2002. Prominent trapped waves appeared at stations close to the SAF main fault trace while some energy was trapped in the north strand at the array site. Observations and 3-D finitedifference simulations ...

Damage to fault-zone rocks during fault slip results in the formation of a channel of low seismic-wave velocities. Within such channels guided seismic waves, denoted by Fg, can propagate. Here we show with core samples, well logs and Fg-waves that such a channel is crossed by the SAFOD (San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth) borehole at a depth of 2.7 km near Parkfield, California, USA. This l...

Physical limits on ground-motion parameters can be estimated from spontaneous-rupture earthquake models but are subject to uncertainties in model parameters. We investigate physical limits at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, and assess sensitivities due to uncertainties in fault geometry, off-fault rock strength, the seismogenic depth, fault zone structure, and undrained poroelastic response of the flui...

[1] We examine how frictional heating drives the evolution of temperature, strength, and fracture energy during earthquake slip. For small slip distances, heat and pore fluid are unable to escape the shearing fault core, and the behavior is well approximated by simple analytical models that neglect any transport. Following large slip distances, the finite width of the shear zone is small compar...

the presence of radon in drinking water causes health risks associated with exposure from both inhalation and ingestion. since the studies show that faults near the water resources have a critical effect on the concentration of radon, kouhbanan active fault zone, to find water resources  with high radon concentration was chosen for the following investigation. water samples were taken from all ...

Unique attributes in sequences of recurring, similar microearthquakes at Parkfield, California, provide a means for inferring slip rate at depth throughout the active fault surface from the time intervals between sequence events. Application of the method using an 11-year microseismicity record revealed systematic spatial and temporal changes in the slip rate that were synchronous with earthqua...