2001/01/10 by G. W. Bawden · 45 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · #earthquake and tectonic studies #High-pressure geophysics and materials #Geological and Geochemical Analysis #Geology #Seismology #Slip (aerodynamics) #Thrust fault #Geodetic datum #Geodesy #Seismic moment #Inversion (geology) #Fault (geology) #Tectonics
paper · pdf · doi:10.1029/2000jb900315
published in Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres 106(B1), 771-785 (American Geophysical Union)
openalex publication_date 2001/01/10 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/27
Coseismic leveling and triangulation observations are used to determine the faulting geometry and slip distribution of the July 21, 1952, M w 7.3 Kern County earthquake on the White Wolf fault. A singular value decomposition inversion is used to assess the ability of the geodetic network to resolve slip along a multisegment fault and shows that the network is sufficient to resolve slip along the surface rupture to a depth of 10 km. Below 10 km, the network can only resolve dip slip near the fault ends. The preferred source model is a two‐segment right‐stepping fault with a strike of 51° and a dip of 75° SW. The epicentral patch has deep (6–27 km) left‐lateral oblique slip, while the northeastern patch has shallow (1–12.5 km) reverse slip. There is nearly uniform reverse slip (epicentral, 1.6 m; northeast, 1.9 m), with 3.6 m of left‐lateral strike slip limited to the epicentral patch. The seismic moment is M 0 = 9.2 ± 0.5 × 10 19 N m ( M w = 7.2). The signal‐to‐noise ratio of the leveling and triangulation data is reduced by 96% and 49%, respectively. The slip distribution from the preferred model matches regional geomorphic features and may provide a driving mechanism for regional shortening across the Comanche thrust and structural continuity with the Scodie seismic lineament to the northeast.