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Variability in interseismic strain accumulation rate and style along the Altyn Tagh Fault

Author

Listed:
  • Lin Shen

    (University of Leeds
    Columbia University)

  • Andrew Hooper

    (University of Leeds)

  • John R. Elliott

    (University of Leeds)

  • Tim J. Wright

    (University of Leeds)

Abstract

Major strike-slip faults that develop between strong and weaker regions are thought to focus along narrow shear zones at the rheological boundary. Here we present the InSAR-derived velocity field spanning almost the entire length of one such fault, the 1600 km-long Altyn Tagh Fault (ATF), and analyse the strain distribution. We find that localisation of strain is actually variable, in contrast to other major strike-slip faults that show little variation, with strain concentrated at the fault for some sections and distributed over broad (>100 km) shear zones for others. Slip rate along the ATF is also variable, decreasing along the fault from 11.6 ± 1.6 mm/yr in the west to 7.2 ± 1.4 mm/yr in the central portion, before increasing again to 11.7 ± 0.9 mm/yr over the eastern portion. We show that the variable shear zone width may be linked to geological variability and the influence of heat flow, and the results imply that sub-parallel faults play an important role in the overall deformation field. This demonstrates the significance of accurately characterising strain rates over a broad region when assessing seismic hazard.

Suggested Citation

  • Lin Shen & Andrew Hooper & John R. Elliott & Tim J. Wright, 2024. "Variability in interseismic strain accumulation rate and style along the Altyn Tagh Fault," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-51116-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51116-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ekbal Hussain & Tim J. Wright & Richard J. Walters & David P. S. Bekaert & Ryan Lloyd & Andrew Hooper, 2018. "Constant strain accumulation rate between major earthquakes on the North Anatolian Fault," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Lin Chen & Fabio A. Capitanio & Lijun Liu & Taras V. Gerya, 2017. "Crustal rheology controls on the Tibetan plateau formation during India-Asia convergence," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-8, December.
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