IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/nathaz/v121y2025i1d10.1007_s11069-024-06832-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The potential seismic hazard of the Tarímbaro-Álvaro Obregón fault, a major structure of the Morelia-Acambay fault system in central México

Author

Listed:
  • Martha Gabriela Gómez-Vasconcelos

    (Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo)

  • Denis Ramón Avellán

    (CONAHCYT-Instituto de Geofísica Unidad Michoacán, UNAM campus Morelia)

  • Jesús Avila García

    (Ciudad Universitaria)

  • Pierre Lacan

    (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)

  • Isabel Israde-Alcántara

    (Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo)

  • Oscar García

    (Xochipala Gold)

  • Jélime Aray Castellano

    (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)

  • Laurence Audin

    (Institut des Sciences de la Terre, ISTerre, IRD, Université Grenoble Alpes)

Abstract

Seismic hazard assessment in central México is essential considering the numerous crustal active faults crossing densely populated cities. The Morelia-Acambay Fault System in central México comprises at least thirty active E-W normal fault zones that affect Miocene to Holocene rocks and are responsible for several devastating earthquakes. However, most of these faults are unstudied; their behavior and seismogenic potential are unknown. The ENE-striking ~ 40-km-long Tarímbaro-Álvaro Obregón (TAO) fault is one of these major tectonic structures. It is located on the northern border of the Morelia Metropolitan area, where ca. one million inhabitants live within 10 km of the fault. We studied this normal fault through a detailed and multidisciplinary characterization due to its large surface expression and the current anthropization, which makes using classical techniques difficult. This study integrates geological, geophysical, and quantitative geomorphology, providing data for a better seismic hazard assessment. The TAO fault zone comprises three right-stepping en échelon segments separated by relay zones. This study reveals a mean vertical slip rate of 0.04 ± 0.08 mm/yr and 1.3 m of single-event vertical displacement. The TAO fault can produce earthquakes of magnitude 6.2 to 7.2, representing a significant potential seismic source in central México.

Suggested Citation

  • Martha Gabriela Gómez-Vasconcelos & Denis Ramón Avellán & Jesús Avila García & Pierre Lacan & Isabel Israde-Alcántara & Oscar García & Jélime Aray Castellano & Laurence Audin, 2025. "The potential seismic hazard of the Tarímbaro-Álvaro Obregón fault, a major structure of the Morelia-Acambay fault system in central México," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 121(1), pages 109-133, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:121:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s11069-024-06832-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-024-06832-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11069-024-06832-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11069-024-06832-6?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:121:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s11069-024-06832-6. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.