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Multiscale variations of the crustal stress field throughout North America

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  • Jens-Erik Lundstern

    (Stanford University, 397 Panama Mall
    U.S. Geological Survey)

  • Mark D. Zoback

    (Stanford University, 397 Panama Mall)

Abstract

The Earth’s crustal stress field controls active deformation and reflects the processes driving plate tectonics. Here we present the first quantitative synthesis of relative principal stress magnitudes throughout North America together with hundreds of new horizontal stress orientations, revealing coherent stress fields at various scales. A continent-scale transition from compression (strike-slip and/or reverse faulting) in eastern North America to strike-slip faulting in the mid-continent to predominantly extension in western intraplate North America is likely due (at least in part) to drag at the base of the lithosphere. Published geodynamic models, incorporating gravitational potential energy and tractions from plate motions or relative mantle flow, successfully predict most large-wavelength stress rotations but not the shorter-wavelength (

Suggested Citation

  • Jens-Erik Lundstern & Mark D. Zoback, 2020. "Multiscale variations of the crustal stress field throughout North America," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-15841-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15841-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Amir H. Haghi & Richard Chalaturnyk, 2022. "Experimental Characterization of Hydrodynamic Properties of a Deformable Rock Fracture," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-15, September.
    2. Lu Jin & Andrew K. Wojtanowicz & Jun Ge, 2022. "Prediction of Pressure Increase during Waste Water Injection to Prevent Seismic Events," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-22, March.

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