Global Positioning System constraints on fault slip rates in the Death Valley region, California and Nevada

R. A. Bennett; B. P. Wernicke; J. L. Davis; P. Elósegui; J. K. Snow; M. J. Abolins; M. A. House; G. L. Stirewalt; D. A. Ferrill

doi:10.1029/97GL02951

Global Positioning System constraints on fault slip rates in the Death Valley region, California and Nevada

R. A. Bennett, B. P. Wernicke, J. L. Davis, P. Elósegui, J. K. Snow, M. J. Abolins, M. A. House, G. L. Stirewalt, D. A. Ferrill

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

We estimated horizontal velocities at 15 locations in the vicinity of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, from Global Positioning System surveys conducted between 1991 and 1996. We used these velocity estimates to infer slip rates on two major Quaternary faults within the eastern California shear zone (ECSZ), the Hunter Mountain and Death Valley faults. The sum of slip rates across the two faults is well determined at 5 ± 1 mm/yr (1-σ). Between 3 to 5 mm/yr of this motion appears to be accommodated along the Death Valley fault, implying 30-50 m of strain accumulation over the next 10,000 yr. If so, there is potential for 5 to 10 M_w 6.5-7.5 earthquakes during this period, a finding consistent with paleoseismological studies of the fault zone. Yucca Mountain, which lies 50 km east of the ECSZ, is the proposed location for the disposal of high-level nuclear waste in the United States.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	97GL02951
Pages (from-to)	3073-3076
Number of pages	4
Journal	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume	24
Issue number	23
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/97GL02951
State	Published - 1997
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geophysics
General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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10.1029/97GL02951

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@article{2296ca03b9e24394a8304049caa9ee16,

title = "Global Positioning System constraints on fault slip rates in the Death Valley region, California and Nevada",

abstract = "We estimated horizontal velocities at 15 locations in the vicinity of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, from Global Positioning System surveys conducted between 1991 and 1996. We used these velocity estimates to infer slip rates on two major Quaternary faults within the eastern California shear zone (ECSZ), the Hunter Mountain and Death Valley faults. The sum of slip rates across the two faults is well determined at 5 ± 1 mm/yr (1-σ). Between 3 to 5 mm/yr of this motion appears to be accommodated along the Death Valley fault, implying 30-50 m of strain accumulation over the next 10,000 yr. If so, there is potential for 5 to 10 Mw 6.5-7.5 earthquakes during this period, a finding consistent with paleoseismological studies of the fault zone. Yucca Mountain, which lies 50 km east of the ECSZ, is the proposed location for the disposal of high-level nuclear waste in the United States.",

author = "Bennett, {R. A.} and Wernicke, {B. P.} and Davis, {J. L.} and P. El{\'o}segui and Snow, {J. K.} and Abolins, {M. J.} and House, {M. A.} and Stirewalt, {G. L.} and Ferrill, {D. A.}",

year = "1997",

doi = "10.1029/97GL02951",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "24",

pages = "3073--3076",

journal = "Geophysical Research Letters",

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T1 - Global Positioning System constraints on fault slip rates in the Death Valley region, California and Nevada

AU - Bennett, R. A.

AU - Wernicke, B. P.

AU - Davis, J. L.

AU - Elósegui, P.

AU - Snow, J. K.

AU - Abolins, M. J.

AU - House, M. A.

AU - Stirewalt, G. L.

AU - Ferrill, D. A.

PY - 1997

Y1 - 1997

N2 - We estimated horizontal velocities at 15 locations in the vicinity of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, from Global Positioning System surveys conducted between 1991 and 1996. We used these velocity estimates to infer slip rates on two major Quaternary faults within the eastern California shear zone (ECSZ), the Hunter Mountain and Death Valley faults. The sum of slip rates across the two faults is well determined at 5 ± 1 mm/yr (1-σ). Between 3 to 5 mm/yr of this motion appears to be accommodated along the Death Valley fault, implying 30-50 m of strain accumulation over the next 10,000 yr. If so, there is potential for 5 to 10 Mw 6.5-7.5 earthquakes during this period, a finding consistent with paleoseismological studies of the fault zone. Yucca Mountain, which lies 50 km east of the ECSZ, is the proposed location for the disposal of high-level nuclear waste in the United States.

AB - We estimated horizontal velocities at 15 locations in the vicinity of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, from Global Positioning System surveys conducted between 1991 and 1996. We used these velocity estimates to infer slip rates on two major Quaternary faults within the eastern California shear zone (ECSZ), the Hunter Mountain and Death Valley faults. The sum of slip rates across the two faults is well determined at 5 ± 1 mm/yr (1-σ). Between 3 to 5 mm/yr of this motion appears to be accommodated along the Death Valley fault, implying 30-50 m of strain accumulation over the next 10,000 yr. If so, there is potential for 5 to 10 Mw 6.5-7.5 earthquakes during this period, a finding consistent with paleoseismological studies of the fault zone. Yucca Mountain, which lies 50 km east of the ECSZ, is the proposed location for the disposal of high-level nuclear waste in the United States.

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M1 - 97GL02951

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Global Positioning System constraints on fault slip rates in the Death Valley region, California and Nevada

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