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Scaling Relations of Strike-Slip Earthquakes with Different Slip-Rate-Dependent Properties at Depth

Institute for Crustal Studies, Girvetz Hall 1140, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106-1100 gregor{at}crustal.ucsb.edu

S. G. Wesnousky

Center for Neotectonic Studies, Mail Stop 169, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557 stevew{at}seismo.unr.edu

Empirical observations suggest that earthquake stress drop is generally constant. To investigate the effect of rupture width on earthquake scaling relations, we analyze synthetic seismicity produced by a 3D vertical strike-slip fault model using two different profiles of frictional slip-rate behavior below the seismogenic zone. Within the rate-and-state framework, a relatively abrupt transition of the a–b profile from velocity weakening to strengthening at the base of the seismogenic crust produces increasing slip and stress drop with increasing event size. Choosing a smoother transition allows large earthquakes to propagate deeper, leading to similar slip-length scaling but constant stress-drop scaling. Our numerical experiments support the idea that the maintenance of constant stress drop across the entire range of observed earthquake magnitudes may be achieved by allowing coseismic slip to rupture to depths below the seismogenic layer.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. E. Shaw and S. G. Wesnousky Slip-Length Scaling in Large Earthquakes: The Role of Deep-Penetrating Slip below the Seismogenic Layer Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, August 1, 2008; 98(4): 1633 - 1641. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]