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Science 18 September 1992:
Vol. 257. no. 5077, pp. 1666 - 1669
DOI: 10.1126/science.257.5077.1666
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Articles

Rapid Intraplate Strain Accumulation in the New Madrid Seismic Zone

Lanbo Liu 1, Mark D. Zoback 1, and Paul Segall 1

1 Department of Geophysics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305

Remeasurement of a triangulation network in the southern part of the New Madrid seismic zone with the Global Positioning System has revealed rapid crustal strain accumulation since the 1950s. This area experienced three large (moment magnitudes >8) earthquakes in 1811 to 1812. The orientation and sense of shear is consistent with right-lateral strike slip motion along a northeast-trending fault zone (as indicated by current seismicity). Detection of crustal strain accumulation may be a useful discriminant for identifying areas where potentially damaging intraplate earthquakes may occur despite the absence of large earthquakes during historic time.

Submitted on March 17, 1992
Accepted on July 15, 1992


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