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Extent, duration and speed of the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake imaged by the Hi-Net array
Miaki Ishii1, Peter M Shearer, Heidi Houston
1Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, IGPP 0225, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA. mishii@ucsd.edu
Nature
|May 24, 2005
Summary
Scientists developed a new method to image earthquake rupture progression in near real-time. This analysis revealed the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake
Area of Science:
- Earthquake seismology
- Geophysics
- Tectonics
Background:
- The 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake was a major seismic event with significant destructive potential.
- Accurate estimation of earthquake magnitude and rupture characteristics is crucial for understanding seismic hazards.
- Previous magnitude estimates for this event varied, highlighting the need for improved analysis techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel method for direct earthquake rupture imaging.
- To determine the spatiotemporal evolution of the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake rupture.
- To refine the moment magnitude estimate and rupture characteristics of this major earthquake.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Hi-Net seismic array in Japan as a large-aperture antenna.
- Employed first-arriving compressional waves to monitor high-frequency radiation direction.
- Developed a technique for direct imaging of earthquake rupture progression within 30 minutes of initiation.
Main Results:
- The rupture propagated northward across the entire 1,300-km aftershock zone.
- Rupture velocity was determined to be approximately 2.8 km/s over an 8-minute duration.
- Confirmed a moment magnitude of approximately 9.3 for the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake.
- Identified the rupture as the longest ever recorded in both duration and extent.
Conclusions:
- The new imaging method provides rapid and detailed insights into earthquake rupture dynamics.
- The Sumatra-Andaman earthquake's rupture characteristics align with a moment magnitude of 9.3.
- This event represents an unprecedented scale of rupture in recorded seismic history.
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