It’s worth noting that the M7.5 aftershock did not lower the chance that another large earthquake could still occur. Aftershocks don’t always occur on the same fault as the mainshock, they only need to be close to its epicenter and occur after to be considered an aftershock. That was the case in Turkey, with the M7.8 mainshock being followed by a M7.5 aftershock about 60 miles away just nine hours later. Was the M7.5 earthquake an aftershock or a different main quake?Ībout one in every 20 large-magnitude earthquakes will have a similar-sized aftershock near it within the first week. Although the M7.5 aftershock was large, it was not out of line with what has happened in past earthquake sequences. Typically, the largest aftershock is about a magnitude smaller than the mainshock with most aftershocks being a few orders of magnitude less. Most aftershocks will, however, cluster close to the mainshock fault rupture. It still remains impossible to predict the exact size, location, and timing of individual earthquakes.Īftershocks are not always restricted to the same fault system as the mainshock, as large quakes can sometimes trigger aftershocks further away. These statements, which sometimes take the form of forecasts, are not predictions, but rather provide a tool that can be used to emphasize likely scenarios describing the number and magnitude of earthquakes that might happen next in the months following the mainshock. Because aftershocks are common and follow a typical pattern, scientists can provide information regarding how they might impact areas that have recently experienced a large earthquake. These fault ruptures are visible in satellite and radar imagery.Īn aftershock is an earthquake that occurs following, and near the epicenter of, the main large-magnitude earthquake. Parts of the North Anatolian Fault shifted as much as 10 feet, while segments of the East Anatolian Fault slid over 30 feet. Last week's earthquake sequence displaced numerous fault segments within the East Anatolian Fault zone, with early estimates indicating around 185 miles of fault length ruptured. Surface rupture is a phenomenon that occurs during earthquakes when the ground surface breaks and shifts due to the movement of a fault. The Inset image shows an aerial view of fault and surface displacement. Background colors are ground movement estimated from radar. Preliminary observations surface fault rupture of the Kahramanmaraş (Türkiye) Earthquake Sequence.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |