• Login
    About WHOAS
    View Item 
    •   WHOAS Home
    • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
    • Academic Programs
    • WHOI Theses
    • View Item
    •   WHOAS Home
    • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
    • Academic Programs
    • WHOI Theses
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Browse

    All of WHOASCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesKeywordsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesKeywords

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Earthquake behavior and structure of oceanic transform faults

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Roland_thesis.pdf (183.0Mb)
    Date
    2012-02
    Author
    Roland, Emily C.  Concept link
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citable URI
    https://hdl.handle.net/1912/5011
    Location
    East Pacific Rise
    DOI
    10.1575/1912/5011
    Keyword
     Faults; Thermal analysis 
    Abstract
    Oceanic transform faults that accommodate strain at mid-ocean ridge offsets represent a unique environment for studying fault mechanics. Here, I use seismic observations and models to explore how fault structure affects mechanisms of slip at oceanic transforms. Using teleseismic data, I find that seismic swarms on East Pacific Rise (EPR) transforms exhibit characteristics consistent with the rupture propagation velocity of shallow aseismic creep transients. I also develop new thermal models for the ridge-transform fault environment to estimate the spatial distribution of earthquakes at transforms. Assuming a temperature-dependent rheology, thermal models indicated that a significant amount of slip within the predicted temperature-dependent seismogenic area occurs without producing large-magnitude earthquakes. Using a set of local seismic observations, I consider how along-fault variation in the mechanical behavior may be linked to material properties and fault structure. I use wide-angle refraction data from the Gofar and Quebrada faults on the equatorial EPR to determine the seismic velocity structure, and image wide low-velocity zones at both faults. Evidence for fractured fault zone rocks throughout the crust suggests that unique friction characteristics may influence earthquake behavior. Together, earthquake observations and fault structure provide new information about the controls on fault slip at oceanic transform faults.
    Description
    Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution February 2012
    Collections
    • Geology and Geophysics (G&G)
    • WHOI Theses
    Suggested Citation
    Thesis: Roland, Emily C., "Earthquake behavior and structure of oceanic transform faults", 2012-02, DOI:10.1575/1912/5011, https://hdl.handle.net/1912/5011
     

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Thumbnail

      The dynamics of oceanic transform faults : constraints from geophysical, geochemical, and geodynamical modeling 

      Gregg, Patricia M. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 2008-06)
      Segmentation and crustal accretion at oceanic transform fault systems are investigated through a combination of geophysical data analysis and geodynamical and geochemical modeling. Chapter 1 examines the effect of fault ...
    • Thumbnail

      Slip on ridge transform faults : insights from earthquakes and laboratory experiments 

      Boettcher, Margaret S. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 2005-06)
      The relatively simple tectonic environment of mid-ocean ridge transform fault (RTF) seismicity provides a unique opportunity for investigation of earthquake and faulting processes. We develop a scaling model that is ...
    • Thumbnail

      Tectonics of the East Pacific rise : studies of faulting characteristics and magnetic and gravity anomalies 

      Lee, Sang-Mook (Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1995-02)
      The global mid-ocean ridge system is one of the most striking geological features on the surface of the Earth. In this system, the East Pacific Rise (EPR) is the fastest spreading ridge and is thus considered as the most ...
    All Items in WHOAS are protected by original copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. WHOAS also supports the use of the Creative Commons licenses for original content.
    A service of the MBLWHOI Library | About WHOAS
    Contact Us | Send Feedback | Privacy Policy
    Core Trust Logo