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Science 10 July 1981:
Vol. 213. no. 4504, pp. 207 - 209
DOI: 10.1126/science.213.4504.207
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Articles

Lateral P-Velocity Gradients near Major Strike-Slip Faults in California

DONALD J. STIERMAN 1 and STEVE O. ZAPPE 1

1 Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California,Riverside 92521

The P-wave velocity in shallow crystalline rock decreases systematically from a normal value of about 5.5 kilometers per second 20 kilometers or more from the Garlock and San Andreas faults to less than 3 kilometers per second at distances of less than 2 kilometers from these faults. This lateral velocity gradient closely resembles the shear stress profile. It is proposed that the velocity gradient results from increased fracturing nearer these major strike-slip faults and that this fracturing dominates the response of the shallow crust to tectonic stress.

Submitted on April 17, 1981


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Comparing strain events: A case study for the Homestead Valley earthquakes.
N. E. KING, D. C. AGNEW, and F. WYATT (1988)
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 78, 1693-1706
   Abstract »    PDF »
Interpretation of seismic reflection profiling data for the structure of the San Andreas fault zone.
R. FENG and T. V. MCEVILLY (1983)
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 73, 1701-1720
   Abstract »    PDF »


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