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3D crustal structure and long-period ground motions from a M9.0 megathrust earthquake in the Pacific Northwest region

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Abstract

We have developed a community velocity model for the Pacific Northwest region from northern California to southern Canada and carried out the first 3D simulation of a Mw 9.0 megathrust earthquake rupturing along the Cascadia subduction zone using a parallel supercomputer. A long-period (<0.5 Hz) source model was designed by mapping the inversion results for the December 26, 2004 Sumatra–Andaman earthquake (Han et al., Science 313(5787):658–662, 2006) onto the Cascadia subduction zone. Representative peak ground velocities for the metropolitan centers of the region include 42 cm/s in the Seattle area and 8–20 cm/s in the Tacoma, Olympia, Vancouver, and Portland areas. Combined with an extended duration of the shaking up to 5 min, these long-period ground motions may inflict significant damage on the built environment, in particular on the highrises in downtown Seattle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA, 92182, USA

    Kim B. Olsen

  2. US Geological Survey, 1711 Illinois Street, Golden, CO, 80401, USA

    William J. Stephenson

  3. Ulm University, 89069, Ulm, Germany

    Andreas Geisselmeyer

Authors
  1. Kim B. Olsen
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  2. William J. Stephenson
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  3. Andreas Geisselmeyer
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Correspondence to Kim B. Olsen.

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Olsen, K.B., Stephenson, W.J. & Geisselmeyer, A. 3D crustal structure and long-period ground motions from a M9.0 megathrust earthquake in the Pacific Northwest region. J Seismol 12, 145–159 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-007-9082-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-007-9082-y

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