High-pressure fluid at hypocentral depths in the L'Aquila region inferred from earthquake focal mechanisms

Research Article| November 01, 2010 High-pressure fluid at hypocentral depths in the L'Aquila region inferred from earthquake focal mechanisms Toshiko Terakawa; Toshiko Terakawa * Geodynamics/Geophysics, Steinmann-Institute, University of Bonn, Nußallee 8, D-53115 Bonn, Germany *Current address: Research Center for Seismology, Volcanology and Disaster Mitigation, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Anna Zoporowski; Anna Zoporowski Geodynamics/Geophysics, Steinmann-Institute, University of Bonn, Nußallee 8, D-53115 Bonn, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Boris Galvan; Boris Galvan Geodynamics/Geophysics, Steinmann-Institute, University of Bonn, Nußallee 8, D-53115 Bonn, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stephen A. Miller Stephen A. Miller Geodynamics/Geophysics, Steinmann-Institute, University of Bonn, Nußallee 8, D-53115 Bonn, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Toshiko Terakawa * Geodynamics/Geophysics, Steinmann-Institute, University of Bonn, Nußallee 8, D-53115 Bonn, Germany Anna Zoporowski Geodynamics/Geophysics, Steinmann-Institute, University of Bonn, Nußallee 8, D-53115 Bonn, Germany Boris Galvan Geodynamics/Geophysics, Steinmann-Institute, University of Bonn, Nußallee 8, D-53115 Bonn, Germany Stephen A. Miller Geodynamics/Geophysics, Steinmann-Institute, University of Bonn, Nußallee 8, D-53115 Bonn, Germany *Current address: Research Center for Seismology, Volcanology and Disaster Mitigation, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 08 Jun 2010 Accepted: 15 Jun 2010 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2010 Geological Society of America Geology (2010) 38 (11): 995–998. https://doi.org/10.1130/G31457.1 Article history Received: 08 Jun 2010 Accepted: 15 Jun 2010 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Toshiko Terakawa, Anna Zoporowski, Boris Galvan, Stephen A. Miller; High-pressure fluid at hypocentral depths in the L'Aquila region inferred from earthquake focal mechanisms. Geology 2010;; 38 (11): 995–998. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G31457.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract We apply a new analysis technique using earthquake focal mechanisms to infer the 3-D fluid pressure field at depth in the source region of the A.D. 2009 L'Aquila earthquake/aftershock sequence. The technique, termed focal mechanism tomography, inverts for fluid pressure by examining the fault orientation relative to the regional tectonic stress pattern. We identify three large-scale pockets of high fluid pressure (up to 50 MPa above hydrostatic pressure) at depths of 7–10 km that strongly correlates with an independent data set of well-located foreshocks and aftershocks. The shape of overpressured regions and the evolution of seismicity indicate a plausible scenario that this sequence is being driven in part by the poro-elastic response of trapped reservoirs of high-pressure fluid, presumably CO2, and postseismic fluid flow initiated by the main shock. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.