Evidence for the release of long‐term tectonic strain stored in continental interiors through intraplate earthquakes

T. J. Craig; E. Calais; L. Fleitout; L. Bollinger; O. Scotti

doi:10.1002/2016gl069359

journal article Jul 04, 2016

Evidence for the release of long‐term tectonic strain stored in continental interiors through intraplate earthquakes

T. J. Craig E. Calais L. Fleitout L. Bollinger O. Scotti

Geophysical Research Letters Vol. 43 No. 13 pp. 6826-6836 · American Geophysical Union (AGU)

View at Publisher Save 10.1002/2016gl069359

Abstract

AbstractThe occurrence of large earthquakes in stable continental interiors challenges the applicability of the classical steady state “seismic cycle” model to such regions. Here we shed new light onto this issue using as a case study the cluster of large reverse faulting earthquakes that occurred in Fennoscandia at 11–9 ka, triggered by the removal of the ice load during the final phase of regional deglaciation. We show that these reverse‐faulting earthquakes occurred at a time when the horizontal strain rate field was extensional, which implies that these events did not release horizontal strain that was building up at the time but compressional strain that had been accumulated and stored elastically in the lithosphere over timescales similar to or longer than a glacial cycle. We argue that the tectonically stable continental lithosphere can store elastic strain on long timescales, the release of which may be triggered by rapid, local transient stress changes caused by surface mass redistribution, resulting in the occurrence of intermittent intraplate earthquakes.

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59

Citations

58

References

Details

Published: Jul 04, 2016
Vol/Issue: 43(13)
Pages: 6826-6836
License: View

Authors

T

T. J. Craig

Ecole normale supérieure, Department of Geosciences PSL Research University Paris France; Institute of Geophysics and Tectonics, School of Earth and Environment University of Leeds Leeds UK

E

E. Calais

Ecole normale supérieure, Department of Geosciences PSL Research University Paris France

L

L. Fleitout

Ecole normale supérieure, Department of Geosciences PSL Research University Paris France

L

L. Bollinger

CEA, DAM, DIF Arpajon France

O

O. Scotti

IRSN/PRP‐DGE/SCAN/BERSSIN Fontenay‐aux‐Roses France

Funding

the Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique (CEA/DASE/LDG)

the Institut de Radioprotection et Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN)

Cite This Article

T. J. Craig, E. Calais, L. Fleitout, et al. (2016). Evidence for the release of long‐term tectonic strain stored in continental interiors through intraplate earthquakes. Geophysical Research Letters, 43(13), 6826-6836. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016gl069359

Evidence for the release of long‐term tectonic strain stored in continental interiors through intraplate earthquakes

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