Tectonic context of moderate to large historical earthquakes in the lesser Antilles and mechanical coupling with volcanoes

The oblique convergence between North American and Caribbean plates is accommodated in a bookshelf faulting manner by active, oblique-normal faults in the northern part of the Lesser Antilles arc. In the last 20 years, two M > 6 earthquakes occurred along a large, arc parallel, en echelon fault s...

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Main Authors: Feuillet, Nathalie, Beauducel, François, Tapponnier, Paul
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/95658
http://hdl.handle.net/10220/8653
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author Feuillet, Nathalie
Beauducel, François
Tapponnier, Paul
author_facet Feuillet, Nathalie
Beauducel, François
Tapponnier, Paul
author_sort Feuillet, Nathalie
collection NTU
description The oblique convergence between North American and Caribbean plates is accommodated in a bookshelf faulting manner by active, oblique-normal faults in the northern part of the Lesser Antilles arc. In the last 20 years, two M > 6 earthquakes occurred along a large, arc parallel, en echelon fault system, the 16 March 1985 in Redonda and 21 November 2004 in Les Saintes. A better understanding of active faulting in this region permit us to review the location and magnitude of historical earthquakes by using a regional seismic attenuation law. Several others moderate earthquakes may have occurred along the en echelon fault system implying a strong seismic hazard along the arc. These faults control the effusion of volcanic products and some earthquakes seem to be correlated in time with volcanic unrest. Shallow earthquakes on intraplate faults induced normal stress and pressure changes around neighboring volcano and may have triggered volcanic activity. The Redonda earthquake could have initiated the 1995 eruption of Montserrat's Soufrière Hills by compressing its plumbing system. Conversely, pressure changes under the volcano increased Coulomb stress changes and brought some faults closer to failure, promoting seismicity. We also discuss the magnitude of the largest 11 January 1839 and 8 February 1843 megathrust interplate earthquakes. We calculate that they have increased the stress on some overriding intraplate faults and the extensional strain beneath several volcanoes. This may explain an increase of volcanic and seismic activity in the second half of the 19th century culminating with the devastating, 1902 Mount Pelée eruption.
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spelling ntu-10356/956582020-09-26T21:29:58Z Tectonic context of moderate to large historical earthquakes in the lesser Antilles and mechanical coupling with volcanoes Feuillet, Nathalie Beauducel, François Tapponnier, Paul DRNTU::Science::Geology::Volcanoes and earthquakes The oblique convergence between North American and Caribbean plates is accommodated in a bookshelf faulting manner by active, oblique-normal faults in the northern part of the Lesser Antilles arc. In the last 20 years, two M > 6 earthquakes occurred along a large, arc parallel, en echelon fault system, the 16 March 1985 in Redonda and 21 November 2004 in Les Saintes. A better understanding of active faulting in this region permit us to review the location and magnitude of historical earthquakes by using a regional seismic attenuation law. Several others moderate earthquakes may have occurred along the en echelon fault system implying a strong seismic hazard along the arc. These faults control the effusion of volcanic products and some earthquakes seem to be correlated in time with volcanic unrest. Shallow earthquakes on intraplate faults induced normal stress and pressure changes around neighboring volcano and may have triggered volcanic activity. The Redonda earthquake could have initiated the 1995 eruption of Montserrat's Soufrière Hills by compressing its plumbing system. Conversely, pressure changes under the volcano increased Coulomb stress changes and brought some faults closer to failure, promoting seismicity. We also discuss the magnitude of the largest 11 January 1839 and 8 February 1843 megathrust interplate earthquakes. We calculate that they have increased the stress on some overriding intraplate faults and the extensional strain beneath several volcanoes. This may explain an increase of volcanic and seismic activity in the second half of the 19th century culminating with the devastating, 1902 Mount Pelée eruption. Published version 2012-09-27T06:11:17Z 2019-12-06T19:19:10Z 2012-09-27T06:11:17Z 2019-12-06T19:19:10Z 2011 2011 Journal Article Feuillet, N., Beauducel, F., & Tapponnier, P. (2011). Tectonic context of moderate to large historical earthquakes in the lesser Antilles and mechanical coupling with volcanoes. Journal of Geophysical Research, 116. 0148-0227 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/95658 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/8653 10.1029/2011JB008443 en Journal of geophysical research © 2011 American Geophysical Union. This paper was published in Journal of Geophysical Research and is made available as an electronic reprint (preprint) with permission of American Geophysical Union. The paper can be found at the following official URL: [http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2011JB008443].  One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic or multiple reproduction, distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law. application/pdf
spellingShingle DRNTU::Science::Geology::Volcanoes and earthquakes
Feuillet, Nathalie
Beauducel, François
Tapponnier, Paul
Tectonic context of moderate to large historical earthquakes in the lesser Antilles and mechanical coupling with volcanoes
title Tectonic context of moderate to large historical earthquakes in the lesser Antilles and mechanical coupling with volcanoes
title_full Tectonic context of moderate to large historical earthquakes in the lesser Antilles and mechanical coupling with volcanoes
title_fullStr Tectonic context of moderate to large historical earthquakes in the lesser Antilles and mechanical coupling with volcanoes
title_full_unstemmed Tectonic context of moderate to large historical earthquakes in the lesser Antilles and mechanical coupling with volcanoes
title_short Tectonic context of moderate to large historical earthquakes in the lesser Antilles and mechanical coupling with volcanoes
title_sort tectonic context of moderate to large historical earthquakes in the lesser antilles and mechanical coupling with volcanoes
topic DRNTU::Science::Geology::Volcanoes and earthquakes
url https://hdl.handle.net/10356/95658
http://hdl.handle.net/10220/8653
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