Deep Crustal Earthquakes in the Beaufort Sea, Western Canadian Arctic, from Teleseismic Depth Phase Analysis

Research Article| May 09, 2018 Deep Crustal Earthquakes in the Beaufort Sea, Western Canadian Arctic, from Teleseismic Depth Phase Analysis Pascal Audet; Pascal Audet aDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Ottawa, 120 University Private, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 6N5, pascal.audet@uottawa.ca Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Shutian Ma Shutian Ma aDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Ottawa, 120 University Private, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 6N5, pascal.audet@uottawa.ca Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Pascal Audet aDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Ottawa, 120 University Private, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 6N5, pascal.audet@uottawa.ca Shutian Ma aDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Ottawa, 120 University Private, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 6N5, pascal.audet@uottawa.ca Publisher: Seismological Society of America First Online: 09 May 2018 Online Issn: 1938-2057 Print Issn: 0895-0695 © Seismological Society of America Seismological Research Letters (2018) 89 (4): 1379–1384. https://doi.org/10.1785/0220180047 Article history First Online: 09 May 2018 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Pascal Audet, Shutian Ma; Deep Crustal Earthquakes in the Beaufort Sea, Western Canadian Arctic, from Teleseismic Depth Phase Analysis. Seismological Research Letters 2018;; 89 (4): 1379–1384. doi: https://doi.org/10.1785/0220180047 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 SocietySeismological Research Letters Search Advanced Search ABSTRACT The Beaufort Sea seismic cluster in the western Canadian Arctic is an active seismic zone characterized by approximately one magnitude ≥4 intraplate earthquake per year. Determining the tectonic source of seismicity requires accurate hypocenter information, which is severely hampered by the scarcity of the regional and global seismograph networks in this area. We determine the focal depth of earthquakes with magnitude ≥4 that occurred in the Beaufort Sea cluster since 1995 by analyzing the teleseismic P‐wave coda containing a visible depth phase (pP and/or sP) observed at stations of the Global Seismic Network. Instead of identifying and picking the direct and depth phases, we calculate the envelope of the autocorrelation of vertical‐component seismograms and stack them along either pP‐P or sP‐P delay time curves. Our results indicate that all moderate‐size earthquakes have a focal depth between 18 and 40 km, with an uncertainty of 0.1–5 km. These depths likely correspond to the base of the crust and possibly subcrustal and favor a model of reactivation on high‐dip fossil normal faults due to sediment loading at the Mackenzie delta. These deep earthquakes may potentially trigger submarine slope failure on the continental slope or shelf and could represent a source of hazard for the coastal communities. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.