S. M. Azhari; M. Rezapour; A. A. Mottaghi
Abstract
Northeastern part of Iran islocated in the Kopeh Dagh seismotectonic province. This province is part of the Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belt. In the last two decades, a number of earthquakes occurred in this region. Therefore, investigating and relocating these earthquakes with adequate precise play a ...
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Northeastern part of Iran islocated in the Kopeh Dagh seismotectonic province. This province is part of the Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belt. In the last two decades, a number of earthquakes occurred in this region. Therefore, investigating and relocating these earthquakes with adequate precise play a great role in seismicity research of the study area. Adequate crustal structure velocity has a key role in relocating the earthquakes. Since the earthquakes in this region are shallow earthquakes, the upper part of crustal structure can be acquired. So in this study, Mashhad and Quchan seismological networks data were used to determine the crustal structure velocity. In order to determine the velocity structure, Vp/Vs was first determined using the methods of Wadati and travel time of1.72 .Then by applying various filters and selection of several earthquakes 1D velocity structure of the arrival times was determined. Results reveal two velocity discontinuities approximately at 4 and 14 km depths. The resulting model consists of a 4-km-thick layer with VP = 5.9 kms−1 overlying a 10-km-thick layer with VP = 6.17 kms−1. Then the initial 1D velocity model was used to determine the three-dimensional velocity structure using LOTOS code. The results show significant changes in the vicinity of Mashhad. Two zones with higher velocity are observed in the north and south of Mashhad due to Kashaf Roud and Binaloud Faults. In the north of Mashhad, a change in velocity is observed, which might be due to the Tous fault. In the south of Mashhad, a sharp velocity discontinuity at the depth of 4 km is probably due to an alluvium cover above a bedrock of varying thickness. Also, the tomography results indicate that the area of Shandiz fault system in the south of Mashhad is associated with a lower velocity zone compared to its adjacent areas.
M. Tatar; A. M. Farahbod
Abstract
A moderate earthquake (Ms=6.3) struck the coastal region of north of Iran and the central Alborz on 28 May, 2004 was responsible of several damages and about 35 casualties. The mainshock was followed by a large number of aftershocks, the largest ...
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A moderate earthquake (Ms=6.3) struck the coastal region of north of Iran and the central Alborz on 28 May, 2004 was responsible of several damages and about 35 casualties. The mainshock was followed by a large number of aftershocks, the largest one reaching Ml=4.8, based on the analysis of local waveforms. We study the mainshock, first major aftershock, and about 240 aftershocks recorded by Iranian National Seismic Network (INSN), Tehran Telemetry Seismic Network (Institute of Geophysics, Tehran University), and our temporary local seismological stations, which were installed on 30 May, around the epicentral area of this earthquake. Using waveforms of all permanent stations, the coordinates of the mainshock was determined as 36.30 °N for latitude and 51.60 °E for longitude. The analysis of aftershocks indicates that the seismic activity migrate from east where the mainshock occurred toward west close to the location of the largest aftershock (36.36 ° N, 51.45 ° E). 140 selected aftershocks recorded at a minimum of 6 stations, having rms less than 0.15 sec and uncertainties less than 2 km, were used to infer a precise geometry of the fault region. The aftershocks distribution has 30 km long and trends NW-SE parallel to the North Alborz and Khazar faults. The focal depths comprised between 10 and 28 km, unusually deep for Iran. Distribution of aftershocks cluster on cross-section defines a fault plane which dips at 40-50 degree south-westward. Its upward continuation can be related to either North Alborz or Khazar faults. Most of the focal mechanisms are consistent with reverse faulting on NW-SE trending faults, parallel to the main active structures of the region. Well constraint focal mechanisms which dip gently at a rate of 25-40ْ indicate the activity of the second mentioned faults during the Firozabad-Kojour earthquake. Existence of focal depths up to 28 km indicates an unusual brittle lower crystalline crust in this part of central Alborz.
