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Seismotectonics and Spatio-temporal Variations in Seismicity Rates along Andaman Trench

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Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

The earthquake Frequency Magnitude Distribution (FMD) or b values have been meticulously used in the last two decades as a deterministic earthquake precursor or indicator, in earthquake forecasting or probabilistic seismic hazard assessment studies, in a variety of tectonic and stress regimes. In the present study, temporal fluctuations of b values were analysed by means of 185 well located (Mw ≥ 5) earthquakes, in the region of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (N10° to 14°) for a time period of ∼100 years (1918 to 2018). Variation in b value rates before and after the 2004 great Sumatra-Andaman earthquake (Mw 9.3) was analysed, preceded by a comprehensive geodynamic and seismotectonic- crustal deformation overview along the Andaman trench section. The analysis suggest a precursory drop in b values from 1.05 ± 0.05 (1918 to 2004) to 0.90 ± 0.05 post 2004 earthquake (2004 to 2018) reflecting a greater slip deficit and strain localization, that exceeds considerably the pattern of energy release in this region. Further, the region of Andaman and Nicobar Islands have witnessed a poor slip distribution (on-fault reactivation) from the great earthquakes that nucleated near the Sumatra segment, and have ruptured few large earthquakes, with no accounts of great earthquake (>Mw 8) during the last century. This emphasizes that, strain accumulation has been concentrated over a long period of time, and can contribute a destructive deformation event in near future.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Disaster Management, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, 190 018, India

    Gulam Rasool Bhat

  2. Department of Disaster Management, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, Andaman, 744 103, India

    Vazeem Iqbal

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Hazratbal, Srinagar, 190 018, India

    Maqbool Yousuf

  4. Department of Disaster Management, Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, 190 006, India

    Suhail Wani

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  1. Gulam Rasool Bhat
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  2. Vazeem Iqbal
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Correspondence to Gulam Rasool Bhat.

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Bhat, G.R., Iqbal, V., Yousuf, M. et al. Seismotectonics and Spatio-temporal Variations in Seismicity Rates along Andaman Trench. J Geol Soc India 97, 249–254 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-021-1674-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-021-1674-6

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