Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/97779
Title: Active deformation near the Nicoya Peninsula, northwestern Costa Rica, between 1996 and 2010 : Interseismic megathrust coupling
Authors: Newman, Andrew V.
Dixon, Timothy H.
Feng, Lujia
Protti, Marino
González, Víctor
Jiang, Yan
Keywords: DRNTU::Social sciences::Geography::Natural disasters
Issue Date: 2012
Source: Feng, L., Newman, A. V., Protti, M., González, V., Jiang, Y., & Dixon, T. H. (2012). Active deformation near the Nicoya Peninsula, northwestern Costa Rica, between 1996 and 2010 : Interseismic megathrust coupling. Journal of geophysical research, 117(B6), 1-23.
Series/Report no.: Journal of geophysical research
Abstract: We use campaign and continuous GPS measurements at 49 sites between 1996 and 2010 to describe the long-term active deformation in and near the Nicoya Peninsula, northwestern Costa Rica. The observed deformation reveals partial partitioning of the Cocos-Caribbean oblique convergence into trench-parallel forearc sliver motion and less oblique thrusting on the subduction interface. The northern Costa Rican forearc translates northwestward as a whole ridge block at 11 ± 1 mm/yr relative to the stable Caribbean. The transition from the forearc to the stable Caribbean occurs in a narrow deforming zone of ∼16 km wide. Subduction thrust earthquakes take 2/3 of the trench-parallel component of the plate convergence; however, surface deformation caused by interseismic megathrust coupling is primarily trench-normal. Two fully coupled patches, one located offshore Nicoya centered at ∼15 km depth and the other located inland centered at ∼24 km depth, are identified in Nicoya with the potential to generate an Mw 7.8 1950-type earthquake. Another fully coupled patch SE of Nicoya coincides with the rupture region of the 1990 Nicoya Gulf earthquake. Interface microearthquakes, non-volcanic tremor, low-frequency earthquakes, and transient slow-slip events generally occur in the intermediately to weakly coupled regions.
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/97779
http://hdl.handle.net/10220/18091
DOI: 10.1029/2012JB009230
Research Centres: Earth Observatory of Singapore 
Rights: © 2012 American Geophysical Union. This paper was published in Journal of geophysical research : solid Earth and is made available as an electronic reprint (preprint) with permission of American Geophysical Union. The paper can be found at the following official DOI: [http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2012JB009230]. 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.
Fulltext Permission: open
Fulltext Availability: With Fulltext
Appears in Collections:EOS Journal Articles

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
Active deformation near the Nicoya Peninsula, northwestern Costa.pdf5.22 MBAdobe PDFThumbnail
View/Open

SCOPUSTM   
Citations 5

69
Updated on Mar 14, 2024

Web of ScienceTM
Citations 5

62
Updated on Oct 25, 2023

Page view(s) 10

887
Updated on Mar 18, 2024

Download(s) 10

400
Updated on Mar 18, 2024

Google ScholarTM

Check

Altmetric


Plumx

Items in DR-NTU are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.