Crustal Seismicity in the Back-Arc Region of the Southern Central Andes from Historic to Modern Times
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Crustal Seismicity in the Back-Arc Region of the Southern Central Andes from Historic to Modern Times Item Type text; Electronic Dissertation Authors Alvarado, Patricia Monica Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 04/10/2021 04:27:26 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/195537 CRUSTAL SEISMICITY IN THE BACK-ARC REGION OF THE SOUTHERN CENTRAL ANDES FROM HISTORIC TO MODERN TIMES by Patricia Mónica Alvarado ___________________________ Copyright © Patricia Mónica Alvarado 2006 A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF GEOSCIENCES In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 2006 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Dissertation Committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared by PATRICIA MONICA ALVARADO entitled CRUSTAL SEISMICITY IN THE BACK-ARC REGION OF THE SOUTHERN CENTRAL ANDES FROM HISTORIC TO MODERN TIMES and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy _______________________________________________________________________ Date: April 14, 2006 Dr. Susan Beck _______________________________________________________________________ Date: April 14, 2006 Dr. George Zandt _______________________________________________________________________ Date: April 14, 2006 Dr. Clement Chase _______________________________________________________________________ Date: April 14, 2006 Dr. Roy Johnson _______________________________________________________________________ Date: April 14, 2006 Dr. Richard Bennett Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate’s submission of the final copies of the dissertation to the Graduate College. I hereby certify that I have read this dissertation prepared under my direction and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement. ________________________________________________ Date: Date: April 14, 2006 Dissertation Director: Dr. Susan Beck 3 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at the University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this dissertation are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the copyright holder. SIGNED: Patricia M. Alvarado 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank first and foremost my advisor Susan Beck (head of the Geosciences Department) for her support, critical advice, assistance and encouragement to work in the CHARGE Andean project. I would also like to thank George Zandt for his openness for questions and guidance in my scientific project and other professors in my committee, Clem Chase, Roy Johnson and Rick Bennett, for showing interest in my research. Several people offered me help during my studies not only limited to my scientific work. I express my gratitude to my friend Robert Fromm, who unexpectedly passed away in July 2004, for his generosity, open mind and great moments. I also thank Megan Anderson, Arda Ozacar, Hersh Gilbert, Berk Biryol, Keith Koper, Carlos Cintra, Stephen Sorenson, Facundo Fuentes, Lara Wagner, the GSAT (Susan and George’s) group, Randy Richardson, Anne Chase, Robert Butler and Terry Wallace. I acknowledge several Institutions and Awards that made possible this research and the CHARGE project: National Science Foundation, PASSCAL-IRIS, University of Arizona, P.E.O., ChevronTexaco, Galileo Circle, PERISHIP-2004 (U.S.A.); Universidad Nacional de San Juan, Instituto Nacional de Prevención Sísmica, Fundación Antorchas (Argentina); Universidad de Chile (Chile); O.A.S. My special thanks to my husband and daughter for their unconditional support, companion, and above all, for their love. Several friends have contributed to make our staying in Tucson an unforgettable experience. They will be in our memories forever. I apologize for not mentioning everyone that we were fortunate enough to meet. I will cover some of them: Pamela and Wayne Kappel, for making us feel part of their family during this long time studying abroad. Verónica and Fernando Barra and their kids, for their kindness and support, sometimes during difficult times. Eneida Lima, for her friendship, and the contact to meet the soccer group, which made my whole family to enjoy every Sunday morning at the Mitchell park. Lionel Meza and D’Londa Morrison for giving us the privilege of having their kids playing with our daughter every single week since the first day we came to the U.S.A. Pablo Guerenstein and his family for their help, especially at the beginning. Finally, to my family and friends in Argentina and Chile. The long hours spent in e-mails and phone-calls were a tremendous support in the distance. I express particular thanks to Tony Monfret, Brígida and Eduardo Machuca, Alberto Sáez, Mario Pardo, Sergio Barrientos, Diana Comte, Mariana Aguiar, Marcelo Millán, Adriana Valenzuela, Ricardo Uliarte and Jorge Sisterna. 5 DEDICATION To my husband Mauro Sáez, whose patience, optimism and conviction made possible to leave our home in Argentina for coming to the U.S.A. to know more about earth sciences. To our daughter, Antonella, for showing to her that there is no end to a woman’s growth and ... for her future. To the memory of Robert Fromm, whom I dreamed of sharing a bright future in South America ... 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT........................................................................................................................9 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................11 I. Historic Seismicity.................................................................................................13 II. Modern Crustal Seismicity....................................................................................14 III. Crustal Structure....................................................................................................15 PRESENT STUDY............................................................................................................16 REFERENCES..................................................................................................................18 APPENDIX A: Permission for Reproduction from Elsevier ............................................24 Source Characterization of the San Juan (Argentina) Crustal Earthquakes of 15 January 1944 (Mw 7.0) and 11 June 1952 (Mw 6.8). (Reprint).......................................................26 Abstract........................................................................................................................27 1. Introduction and Regional Tectonics.....................................................................27 2. Data and Methods..................................................................................................31 3. Results and Discussion...........................................................................................33 3.1. The 15 January 1944 Earthquake...................................................................33 3.2. The 11 June 1952 Earthquake........................................................................38 4. Conclusions............................................................................................................40 Acknowledgements......................................................................................................41 References....................................................................................................................41 APPENDIX B: Permission for Reproduction from Blackwell..........................................44 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS - Continued Crustal Deformation in the South-Central Andes Backarc Terranes as Viewed from Regional Broad-Band Seismic Waveform Modelling. (Reprint)......................................47 Summary......................................................................................................................48 1 Introduction............................................................................................................48 2 Regional Tectonic Setting......................................................................................49 3 Data and Regional Waveform Modelling..............................................................51 4 Sensitivity to Crustal Models.................................................................................52 5 Results and Discussion...........................................................................................56 5.1 Western Sierras Pampeanas-Sierra Pie de Palo and Valle Fértil Megashear...58 5.2 Eastern Sierras Pampeanas..............................................................................61 5.3 Mendoza...........................................................................................................62 5.4 High Cordillera................................................................................................62