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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 16, 2026

Kinematic History of a Salient-recess Junction Explored through a Combined Approach of Field Data and Analog Sandbox Modeling

Kinematic History of a Salient-recess Junction Explored through a Combined Approach of Field Data and Analog Sandbox Modeling

Published on: August 5, 2016

Predictable seismic cycles result from structural rupture barriers on oceanic transform faults.

Jianhua Gong¹, Wenyuan Fan², Jeffrey J McGuire^3,4

¹Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|May 14, 2026

Summary

Oceanic transform fault earthquakes are regulated by barriers that halt rupture. These barriers, characterized by microseismicity and specific fault structures, control earthquake recurrence patterns.

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Area of Science:

Geophysics
Tectonics
Seismology

Background:

Earthquakes on oceanic transform faults (OTFs) often rupture specific segments quasiperiodically.
These ruptures are arrested by barriers, but the underlying physical mechanisms are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the physical processes governing the behavior of earthquake barriers on OTFs.
To analyze the characteristics of barriers that arrest earthquake ruptures.

Main Methods:

Analysis of ocean bottom seismometer data from the Gofar transform fault.
Examination of fault structures associated with earthquake barriers.

Main Results:

Two barriers on the Gofar transform fault arrested approximately 15 magnitude 6 earthquakes over 30 years.
Barriers exhibited intense microseismicity preceding mainshocks.
Barrier structures include multistrand faults and transtensional stepovers with significant lateral offset.

Conclusions:

The observed barrier characteristics challenge existing models based on velocity-strengthening friction or large geometric steps.
Damage-enhanced porosity and dilatancy-strengthening mechanisms are proposed as governing processes.
These barriers play a crucial role in segmenting ruptures and regulating the quasiperiodic recurrence of OTF earthquakes.