Coseismic Ground Deformation Reproduced through Numerical Modeling: A Parameter Sensitivity Analysis
Publication Date
2019
Journal or Book Title
Geosciences
Abstract
Coseismic ground displacements detected through remote sensing surveys are often used to invert the coseismic slip distribution on geologically reliable fault planes. We analyze a well-known case study (2009 L’Aquila earthquake) to investigate how three-dimensional (3D) slip configuration affects coseismic ground surface deformation. Different coseismic slip surface configurations reconstructed using aftershocks distribution and coseismic cracks, were tested using 3D boundary element method numerical models. The models include two with slip patches that reach the surface and three models of blind normal-slip surfaces with different configurations of slip along shallowly-dipping secondary faults. We test the sensitivity of surface deformation to variations in stress drop and rock stiffness. We compare numerical models’ results with line of sight (LOS) surface deformation detected from differential SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) interferometry (DInSAR). The variations in fault configuration, rock stiffness and stress drop associated with the earthquake considerably impact the pattern of surface subsidence. In particular, the models with a coseismic slip patch that does not reach the surface have a better match to the line of sight coseismic surface deformation, as well as better match to the aftershock pattern, than models with rupture that reaches the surface. The coseismic slip along shallowly dipping secondary faults seems to provide a minor contribution toward surface deformation.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences9090370
Volume
9
Special Issue
Seismic Sequence in Mediterranean Region
Issue
9
License
UMass Amherst Open Access Policy
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Panara, Yuri; Toscani, Giovanni; Cooke, Michele L.; Seno, Silvio; and Perotti, Cesare, "Coseismic Ground Deformation Reproduced through Numerical Modeling: A Parameter Sensitivity Analysis" (2019). Geosciences. 17.
https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences9090370