New seismogenic source and deep structures revealed by the 1999 Chia-yi earthquake sequence in southwestern Taiwan |
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| Authors: | Yue-Gau Chen Yu-Ting Kuo Yih-Min Wu Hsiung-Lin Chen Chien-Hsin Chang Ron-Yu Chen Po-Wen Lo Kuo-En Ching Jian-Cheng Lee |
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| Institution: | Department of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, No. 1;, Section 4th, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan. E-mail: Central Weather Bureau, Taipei 100;, Taiwan Department of Earth Sciences, National Cheng-Kun University, Tainan 701;, Taiwan Institute of Earth Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115;, Taiwan |
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| Abstract: | In a tectonically active setting large earthquakes are always threats; however, they may also be useful in elucidating the subsurface geology. Instrumentally recorded seismicity is, therefore, widely utilized to extend our knowledge into the deeper crust, especially where basement is involved. It is because the earthquakes are triggered by underground stress changes that usually corresponding to the framework of geological structures. Hidden faults, therefore, can be recognized and their extension as well as orientation can be estimated. Both above are of relevance for assessment on seismic hazard of a region, since the active faults are supposed to be re-activated and cause large earthquakes. In this study, we analysed the 1999 October 22 earthquake sequence that occurred in southwestern Taiwan. Two major seismicity clusters were identified with spatial distribution between depths of 10 and 16 km. One cluster is nearly vertical and striking 032°, corresponding to the strike-slip Meishan fault (MSF) that generated the 1906 surface rupture. Another cluster strikes 190° and dips 64° to the west, which is interpreted as west-vergent reverse fault, in contrast to previous expectation of east vergence. Our analysis of the focal solutions of all the larger earthquakes in the 1999 sequence with the 3-D distribution of all the earthquakes over the period 1990–2004 allows us reinterpret the structural framework and suggest previously unreognized seismogenic sources in this area. We accordingly suggest: (1) multiple detachment faults are present in southwestern Taiwan coastal plain and (2) additional seismogenic sources consist of tear faults and backthrust faults in addition to sources associated with west-vergent fold-and-thrust belt. |
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| Keywords: | Seismicity and tectonics Continental margins: convergent Neotectonics Kinematics of crustal and mantle deformation Crustal structure |
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