Artículos científicos

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Seismogenic zone structure of the southern Middle America Trench, Costa Rica
(Journal of Geophysical Research, 2003-10) DeShon, H.R.; Schwartz, S.Y.; Bilek, S.L.; Dorman, LeRoy; González, Victor; Protti, Marino; Flueh, E.R.; Dixon, T.H.
The shallow seismogenic portion of subduction zones generates damaging large and great earthquakes. This study provides structural constraints on the seismogenic zone of the Middle America Trench offshore central Costa Rica and insights into the physical and mechanical characteristics controlling seismogenesis. We have located 300 events that occurred following the MW 6.9, 20 August 1999, Quepos, Costa Rica, underthrusting earthquake using a three-dimensional velocity model and arrival time data recorded by a temporary local network of land and ocean bottom seismometers. We use aftershock locations to define the geometry and characteristics of the seismogenic zone in this region. These events define a plane dipping at 19 that marks the interface between the Cocos Plate and the Panama Block. The majority of aftershocks occur below 10 km and above 30 km depth below sea level, corresponding to 30–35 km and 95 km from the trench axis, respectively. Relative event relocation produces a seismicity pattern similar to that obtained using absolute locations, increasing confidence in the geometry of the seismogenic zone. The aftershock locations spatially correlate with the downdip extension of the oceanic Quepos Plateau and reflect the structure of the main shock rupture asperity. This strengthens an earlier argument that the 1999 Quepos earthquake ruptured specific bathymetric highs on the downgoing plate. We believe that subduction of this highly disrupted seafloor has established a set of conditions which presently limit the seismogenic zone to be between 10 and 35 km below sea level.
Seafloor structural observations, Costa Rica accretionary prism
(1996-04-15) McAdoo, Brian G.; Orange, Daniel L.; Silver, Eli; McIntosh, Kirk; Abbott, Lon; Galewsky, Joseph; Kahn, Leslie; Protti, Marino
By studying seafloor morphology we can make associations between near surface defornation, fluid flow and the overakk structural framework of accretionary prisms. In February, 1994 a DS/RV ALVIN program to the Costa Rica accretionary prism investigated the relationship of fluid seepage and sediment deformation by using the distribution of chemosynthetic communities and heat flow anormalies as indicators of fluid flow. The active normal faults that cut the hemipelagic section on the Cocos plate may provide conduits for fluids that cause the regional heat flow to be extremely low. These normal faults intersect the toe of the prism at an oblique angle, creating localized regions of increased deformation. Positive heat flow anormalies observed at the deformation. Positive heat flow anormalies observed at the deformation front indicate of flow, however, we discovered ni seep communities indicative of focused flow. The seaward-most seep communities discovered are in a region of active out-of-sequence thrusts that cut a sediment apron which covers the complex to within 3 km of the prism toe. Vents occur consistently at the base of the fault scarps. Dives in a mud diapir show extensive seep communities, pock marks, and authigenic carbonates. Evidence of a fluid release is on the crest which implies a low viscosity fluid migrating upward in the center of the structure. Normal faults on the upper slope can be seen in cross- section in the walls of a submarine canyon. The faults cut the slope apron and displace the seafloor, actively maintaining the critical taper of the prism.
The March 25, 1990 (Mw=7.0 Ml=6.8) earthquake at the entrance of the Nicoya Gulf, Costa Rica: its prior activity, foreshocks, aftershocks and triggered seismicity
(1995-10-10) Protti, Marino; McNally, Karen; Pacheco, Javier; González, Victor; Montero, Carlos; Segura, Juan; Brenes, Jorge; Barboza, Vilma; Malavassi, Eduardo; Güendel, Federico; Simila, Gerald; Rojas, Daniel; Velasco, Aaron; Mata, Antonio; Schillinger, Walter
On March 25, 1990 a large earthquake( Mw=7.0, ML=6.8) occurreda t the entranceo f the Nicoya Gulf, CostaR ica, at 1322:55.6U TC, producingc onsiderabled amagei n centralC osta Rica andg eneratingm uchi nteresta boutw hethero r not the Nicoya seismicg ap (Nishenko,1 989) had broken.T he local country-wides eismographince tworkr ecorded6 yearso f activityp rior to thisl argee arthquake1, 6 hourso f foreshockst,h e mainshocka, ndi ts aftershocksT.h is networki s operatedjo intly by the CostaR ica Volcanologicala nd SeismologicaOl bservatorya t the National University( OVSICORI-UNA), andt he CharlesF . RichterS eismologicaLl aboratorya t the Universityo f California,S antaC ruz (CFRSL-UCSC).W e obtainedh igh resolutionlo cations from thisn etworka ndl ocatedt hem ainshocka t 9ø38.5'N,8 4ø55.6'W( depthi s 20.0 km) andt he largestf oreshock(M w=6.0,M arch2 5, 1990,a t 1316:05.8U TC) at 9ø36.4'N,8 4ø57.1'W( depth is 22.4 km). We find that the aftershockz one abutst he southeasbt oundaryo f the Nicoya seismic gap, suggestingth at the seismicg ap did not rupture.S incet he installationo f the local networki n April 1984 to March 24, 1990, nearly 1900 earthquakews ith magnitudesfr om 1.7 to 4.8 (318 with magnitude3 .0 or larger)h aveb eenl ocateda t the entranceo f the Nicoya Gulf, one of the mosta ctiver egionsi n CostaR ica. The March 25 earthquakeo ccurreda t the northweste dgeo f this region,w herea sequencoe f foreshockbs egan1 6 hoursp rior to the mainshockT. he spatialtemporadl istributiono f aftershockasn dd irectivitya nalysiso f the mainshockru pturep rocess usingt eleseismicre cordsb othi ndicatea southeasptr opagatingru pture.T he mainshockru ptured ana speriotyf approximat6e0ly0k m2 ofa reaw, itht hisa reae xpanditnog4 000k m2 afte7r days. We presenet videnceth ats uggesttsh att her uptureda sperityis producedb y the subductioonf a seamountI.n versiono f teleseismicb roadbanda ndl ong-periodP and SH wavesy ieldsa thrust faultingm echanismw ith the shallowp lanes triking2 92ø , dipping2 6ø , andw ith a rakeo f 88ø , in agreemenwt ith the subductiono f the Cocosp lateu ndert he Caribbeanp late.L ocal first motions for the largestf oreshocka ndt he mainshocka greew ith thiss olutionW. e alsop resente vidence suggestintgh at the March 25, 1990,e arthquaketr iggereda ndr eactivateds everals eismics warmsin centralC ostaR ica andt emporallyd ecreasedth e activityi n the epicentraal reao f the July 3, 1983 (Ms=6.2), P6rez Zeled6n earthquake.
Correlation between the age of the subducting Cocos Plate and the geometry of the Wadati-Benioff zone under Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 1995) Protti, Marino; Güendel, Federico; McNally, Karen
High- resolution seismicity data from Costa Rica and southern Nicaragua have been used to image the geometry of the Wadati-Benioff zone under southern Central America. The data include 9,514 events with computed horizontal and vertical errors smaller than 4 and 5 km respectively. We found that under the Nicaragua- Costa Rica border the Wadati- Benioff zone contorts (from steep to shallow dip angles, northwest to southeast) but does not show evidence of a brittle tear, as postulated by others. Further to the southeast-northeast from Puerto Caldera- the Wadati-Benioff zone does, however, show a tear (the Quesada Sharp Contortion) at intermediate depths (h >70 km). Overall the dip angle of the Wadati-Benioff zone decreases from 84° under Nicaragua to 60° under central Costa Rica. The maximum depth of interaplate Wadati-Benioff zone earthquakes also decreases from northwest (-200 km under Nicaragua) to southeast (-125 km under central Costa Rica). In southern Costa Rica, east of 83°55 W, we find no evidence of the Wadati-Benioff zone below 50 km. This geometry of the Wadati-Benioff zone and other tectonic features related to the subduction of the Cocos plate beneath the Caribbean plate have been integrated into a model that correlates them with along- trench variations in age of the subducted Cocos plate. These tectonic featuresare (1) the shallowing of the Middle America Trech bathymetry from northwest to southeast, (2) differences in coupling between Cocos and Caribbean plates, (3) the termination of the Central America Volcanic Chain in central Costa Rica, and (4) distinct stress field variations on the overriding Caribbean plate. The subduction of the Cocos Ridge under southern Costa Rica is partially responsible for somo of these features (shallowing of the Middle America Trench in southern Costa Rica) and for the high uplift rates of the outer arc, However, since the presence of the Panama Fracture Zone limits the subducted extension of the Cocos Ridge to less that 100 km from the trench, we propose that the overall geometry of the Wadati- Benioff zone is controlled by abrupt along trench changes in the age of the subducted Cocos plate.
Interpretación preliminar de la secuencia sísmica de potrero grande (marzo 1988) y su relación con la secuencia sísmica de sierpe (marzo de 1987)
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 1992) Protti, Marino; Guendel, Federico; Montero, Carlos; Brenes, Jorge
El sismo de magnitud 5.3 grados en la escala de Ritcher se convierte en el más importante después de los terremotos de abril y junio de 1983, dado que es el primero que se registra en la recién instalada Red Sismográfica Nacional, operada por el OVSICORI-UNA. Este documento realiza una interpretación preliminar sobre las características epicentrales e ipocentrales del sismo. Así como el estudio de las intensidades del evento principal. Se presenta el mapa de intensidades según la escala de Mercalli, combinando la información del mapa con una gira efectuada a la zona de mayores intensidades. En la gira a la zona sur del país se utilizó un cuestionario de intensidades suministrado por los reporteros sísmicos del OVSICORI-UNA, como parte del proyecto de investigación "Sistematización de reportes de intensidad sísmica (UNA-CONICIT)". Durante el trabajo de campo se utilizó una encuesta para determinar la intensidad máxima alcanzada por el sismo en los lugares visitados.
Regional characteristics of observable foreshocks
(Seismological Society of America (SSA), 2022) Wetzler, Nadav; Brodsky, Emily; Chaves, Esteban; Goebel, Thomas H.W.; Lay, Thorne
Measures of foreshock occurrence are systematically examined using earthquake catalogs for eight regions (Italy, southern California, northern California, Costa Rica, Onshore Japan, Alaska, Turkey, and Greece) after imposing a magnitude ≥ 3.0 completeness level. Foreshocks are identified using three approaches: a magnitude-dependent space + fixed-time windowing method, a nearest-neighbor clustering method, and a modified magnitude-dependent space + variable-time windowing method. The method with fixed-time windows systematically yields higher counts of foreshocks than the other two clustering methods. We find similar counts of foreshocks across the three methods when the magnitude aperture is equalized by including only earthquakes in the magnitude range M*−2≤ M< M*, in which M* is the mainshock magnitude. For most of the catalogs (excluding Italy and southern California), the measured b-values of the foreshocks of all region-specific mainshocks are lower by 0.1–0.2 than b-values of respective aftershocks. Allowing for variable-time windows results in relatively high probabilities of having at least one foreshock in Italy ( ∼ 43%–56%), compared to other regional catalogs. Foreshock probabilities decrease to 14%–41% for regions such as Turkey, Greece, and Costa Rica. Similar trends are found when requiring at least five foreshocks in a sequence to be considered. Estimates of foreshock probabilities for each mainshock are method dependent; however, consistent regional trends exist regardless of method, with regions such as Italy and southern California producing more observable foreshocks than Turkey and Greece. Some regions with relatively high background seismicity have comparatively low probabilities of detectable foreshock activity when using methods that account for variable background, possibly due to depletion of near-failure fault conditions by background activity.
The 27 February 2022 Lop Nor earthquake: detectability, location, and discrimination
(Seismological Society of America (SSA), 2022) Gibbons, Steven J.; Chaves, Esteban; Fisk, Mark
A seismic event with mb 4.8 (Mw 4.2) was detected close to the Chinese Lop Nor nuclear test site on 27 February 2022. Waveforms recorded at regional and far regional distances in central Asia indicate greater likeness with previous earthquakes in the region than with historical nuclear tests. We investigate signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at regional and global stations, and find the best signals in central Asia and Alaska. Lower SNR at stations in China, Europe, and Australia is likely related to the radiation pattern. A joint probabilistic location of the 2022 event and well-constrained historical nuclear tests indicates an epicenter near 41.88° N and 88.10° E, about 25 km northwest of the tunnel portion of the test site. A moment tensor inversion using high-quality regional signals indicates a nearly deviatoric source with a 72% double couple and a reverse fault mechanism. The centroid depth is 20–25 km, consistent with depth phases recorded in Alaska. The observed faulting geometry and source composition for the 2022 Lop Nor event is consistent with previous earthquakes in the region and the spatial alignment of local geomorphological features, indicating tectonic and not anthropogenic origin.
Yield estimates for the six North Korean nuclear tests from teleseismic P wave modeling and intercorrelation of P and Pn recordings
(AGU Advancing Earth and Space Sciences, 2019) Voytan, Dimitri; Lay, Thorne; Chaves, Esteban; Ohman, John T.
The yields of the six declared underground nuclear tests at the North Korean test site are estimated using high-frequency teleseismic P wave amplitude modeling and waveform equalization of short-period teleseismic P waves and regional Pn signals. Average amplitudes of the first cycle of high-frequency (>4 Hz) filtered P wave displacements for each event, adjusted for station sampling relative to the 3 September 2017 event, are modeled using Mueller-Murphy explosion source models for granite and a constant-Q attenuation operator with t* = 0.78 ± 0.03 s. The yield estimates range from 2.6 to 230 kt. Intercorrelation, a waveform equalization procedure that accounts for source function and depth-phase variations between events, is applied to large sets of filtered (>0.8 Hz) teleseismic P and regional Pn seismograms. Searching over yield and burial depth for both events gives optimal parameters by simultaneous waveform equalization of multiple stations. Using specified burial depths spanning from 430 to 710 m for all events based on estimated locations in the source topography assuming tunneling with 4% grade, along with allowing for reduction in source region velocity due to weathering, rock layering, and damage zones, gives yield estimates ranging from 1.4 to 250 kt. Comparison of predicted and observed spectral ratios of Pn phases at station MDJ establishes that these source models are reasonable. Using the preferred yield estimates from intercorrelation, WIC, a yield-calibrated relation of mbNEIC = 0.9 log10WIC + 4.13 is determined for the North Korean test site.
Repeating earthquakes record fault weakening and healing in areas of megathrust postseismic slip
(American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS), 2020) Chaves, Esteban; Schwartz, Susan; Abercrombie, Rachel
Repeating earthquakes (REs) rupture the same fault patches at different times allowing temporal variations in the mechanical behavior of specific areas of the fault to be interrogated over the earthquake cycle. We study REs that reveal fault weakening after a large megathrust earthquake in Costa Rica, followed by fault recovery. We find shorter RE recurrence intervals and larger slip areas immediately following the mainshock that both gradually return to pre-earthquake values. RE seismic moments remain nearly constant throughout the earthquake cycle. This implies a balance between fault weakening (reducing slip) and transient embrittlement (increasing rupture area by converting regions from aseismic to seismic slip), induced by the increased loading rate following the mainshock. This interpretation is consistent with positive, negative, and constant moment versus RE recurrence interval trends reported in other studies following large earthquakes and with experimental work showing slip amplitudes and stress drop decrease with loading rate.
Yield estimate (230 kt) for a Mueller-Murphy model of the 3 september 2017, North Korean nuclear test (mbNEIC = 6.3) from teleseismic broadband P waves assuming extensive near-source damage
(AGU Advancing Earth and Space Sciences, 2018) Chaves, Esteban; Lay, Thorne; Voytan, Dimitri
The 3 September 2017 underground nuclear test (mbNEIC= 6.3) is the largest of six announced North Korean explosions. The event generated many P wave seismograms at global broadband seismic stations with good signal-to-noise ratio for periods less than ~5 s. Instrument deconvolution provides 435 stable broadband P wave ground displacement records in the period range 0.1 to 5.0 s. These are stacked in 26 azimuth/distance windows to average path and receiver effects. Waveform stacks and average amplitude of 4-Hz ground displacements are modeled assuming a Mueller-Murphy explosion source modelfor a granite source medium. Nonelastic pP delays consistent with burial depths in the mountainous source topography are considered, and explosion yield and an average constant-Q attenuation operator areestimated by fitting the waveforms. For a source depth of 750 m in heavily damaged environment, the estimated yield = 230 ± 50 kt andt*= 0.78 ± 0.03 s.
Aftershocks of the 2012 Mw 7.6 Nicoya, Costa Rica, earthquake and mechanics of the plate interface
(Seismological Society of America (SSA), 2017-05-02) Chaves, Esteban; Duboeuf, Laure; Schwartz, Susan; Lay, Thorne; Kintner, Jonas
Subduction of the Cocos plate beneath the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica, generates large underthrusting earthquakes with a recurrence interval of about 50 yrs. The most recent of these events occurred on 5 September 2012 (Mw 7.6). A vigorous sequence of more than 6400 aftershocks was recorded by a local seismic network within the first four months after the mainshock. We determine locations and focal mechanisms for as many aftershocks as possible with M ≥1:5 occurring within the first nine days of the mainshock, all aftershocks with M ≥3 through the end of 2012, and all events with M ≥4 through the end of 2015. We determine faulting geometries using regional full waveform moment tensor (MT) inversion for the largest events (M ≥4) and P-wave first-motion polarities for smaller events, producing a mechanism catalog with 347 earthquakes. Sixty percent of these events are identified as underthrusting, and their locations are compared with spatial distributions of mainshock slip, afterslip, prior interplate seismicity, and slow-slip phenomena to better understand the mechanical behavior of the plate interface. Most of the aftershocks on the megathrust occur up-dip of the coseismic slip, where afterslip is large, and between coseismic slip and shallow slow-slip patches. The pattern of interplate seismicity during the interseismic period is similar to that for the aftershocks but does not extend to as great a depth. The coseismic slip extends even deeper than the interplate aftershocks, suggesting that the mainshock ruptured a strongly locked patch driving down-dip slip into the conditionally stable part of the deep plate interface that also hosts slow slip. About 80% of the aftershocks have one nodal plane oriented favorably to promote failure from static stress changes following the mainshock and early afterslip, whereas most others occur in regions of large afterslip.
Monitoring transient changes within overpressured regions of subduction zones using ambient seismic noise
(American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS), 2016) Chaves, Esteban; Schwartz, Susan
In subduction zones, elevated pore fluid pressure, generally linked to metamorphic dehydration reactions, has a profound influence on the mechanical behavior of the plate interface and forearc crust through its control on effective stress. We use seismic noise–based monitoring to characterize seismic velocity variations following the 2012 Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica earthquake [Mw (moment magnitude) 7.6] that we attribute to the presence of pressurized pore fluids. Our study reveals a strong velocity reduction (~0.6%) in a region where previous work identified high forearc pore fluid pressure. The depth of this velocity reduction is constrained to be below 5 km and therefore not the result of near-surface damage due to strong ground motions; rather, we posit that it is caused by fracturing of the fluid-pressurized weakened crust due to dynamic stresses. Although pressurized fluids have been implicated in causing coseismic velocity reductions beneath the Japanese volcanic arc, this is the first report of a similar phenomenon in a subduction zone setting. It demonstrates the potential to identify pressurized fluids in subduction zones using temporal variations of seismic velocity inferred from ambient seismic noise correlations.
Crustal Velocity Anomalies in Costa Rica from Ambient Noise Tomography
(Springer Nature, 2019-08-24) Nuñez Alpízar, Evelyn; Schimmel, M.; Stich, D.; Iglesias, A.
We derive group velocity maps for crustal Rayleigh waves across Costa Rica and corresponding 3-D shear-wave velocity structure from ambient noise cross-correlations between 56 seismic broadband stations. The daily inter-station cross-correlations for the period 2010–2015 of 56 seismic broadband stations are stacked and analysed to warrant a robust extraction of empirical Green’s functions which then are used to measure fundamental mode Rayleigh wave group velocities. Rayleigh wave dispersion curves show consistent patterns within the different geological domains in Costa Rica. Dispersion curves were evaluated in the microseism band from 5- to 17-s period and inverted for group velocity maps using iterative nonlinear travel time tomography. The group velocities at each grid point were inverted for 1-D profiles using a non-linear simulated annealing approach, and transformed into the 3-D velocity structure. The final tomographic model shows clearly the main velocity anomalies associated with tectonic and volcanic activity in Costa Rica. Three localized negative velocity anomalies are seen at all periods (5–17 s) consistent with deep-routed crustal-scale magmatic systems located beneath the Rincón de la Vieja-Miravalles, Arenal-Poás and Turrialba-Irazú volcanic systems, that showed activity over the last 100 years. High velocities can be found beneath the Talamanca arc in southeastern Costa Rica, where active volcanism stopped in the late Miocene. Significant along-strike variations in the morphology of the subducting Cocos plate are imaged consistently by velocity variations in the forearc.
Intensidades macrosísmicas del sismo de Capellades del 30 de noviembre de 2016 (Mw = 5,4) y el contexto sísmico de la región central de Costa Rica
(Universidad Industrial de Santander, 2020-01) Campos - Durán, Daniela; Quintero, Ronnie
El 30 de noviembre del 2016, a las 18:25 hora local, se generó un sismo que se localizó a 4,4 km al noroeste de Capellades de Alvarado, Cartago, Costa Rica; con una magnitud de Mw = 5,4. De acuerdo con la Escala de Intensidades de Mercalli Modificada (IMM), este evento generó intensidades sísmicas desde III hasta VII. La región central del país presentó las mayores afectaciones, desde deslizamientos puntuales hasta daños en viviendas, caminos y servicios básicos, como agua potable y electricidad. Históricamente esta región ha sido afectada por importantes sismos, ocurridos entre 1841-1851, 1910-1912 y 1951-1955. Desde 1950 los eventos de mayor afectación son el terremoto de Patillos del 30 de diciembre de 1952, Ms= 5,9, el terremoto de Piedras Negras del 22 de diciembre de 1990, Mw=6,0 y el terremoto de Cinchona del 08 de enero de 2009, Mw=6,1. Esta investigación muestra un análisis de las intensidades macrosísmicas y la distribución espacio-temporal de los últimos cuatro eventos importantes localizados en la región central de Costa Rica; haciendo énfasis en el de Capellades, por ser el más reciente.
Along-strike variability in the seismogenic zone below Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
(American Geophysical Union, 2002) Newman, Andrew V.; Schwartz, Susan; González Salas, Victor; Deshon, Heather R.; Protti, Marino; Dorman, LeRoy
At the subduction zone in northwestern Costa Rica, the seismogenic zone lies directly beneath the Nicoya Peninsula, allowing for near source seismic studies of earthquake activity. We located 650 earthquakes along the seismogenic plate interface using a dense seismic network in the vicinity of the Nicoya Peninsula. Using these data we constrained the updip limit of the seismogenic zone there and found a transition in depth, 10 km in the south to 20 km in the north, that occurs where the subducting oceanic crust changes from warmer Cocos-Nazca Spreading center (CNS) origin to colder East Pacific Rise (EPR) origin. We argue that the temperature of the incoming oceanic crust controls the seismogenic updip limit beneath Nicoya, Costa Rica; subducting colder oceanic crust deepens the seismogenic updip limit.
The March 25, 1990 (Mw=7.0, ML=6.8), earthquake at the entrance of the Nicoya Gulf, Costa Rica: Its prior activity, foreshocks, aftershocks, and triggered seismicity
(American Geophysical Union, 1995-10-10) Protti, Marino; McNally, Karen; González, Victor; Montero, Carlos; Velasco, Aaron; Segura, Juan; Brenes, Jorge; Barboza, Vilma; Malavassi, Eduardo; Gündel, Federico; Simila, Gerald; Rojas, Daniel; Mata, Antonio; Schillinger, Walter; Pacheco, Javier Francisco
On March 25, 1990 a large earthquake (Mw = 7.0, ML = 6.8) occurred at the entrance of the Nicoya Gulf, Costa Rica, at 1322:55.6 UTC, producing considerable damage in central Costa Rica and generating much interest about whether or not the Nicoya seismic gap (Nishenko, 1989) had broken. The local country-wide seismographic network recorded 6 years of activity prior to this large earthquake, 16 hours of foreshocks, the mainshock, and its aftershocks. This network is operated jointly by the Costa Rica Volcanological and Seismological Observatory at the National University (OVSICORI-UNA), and the Charles F. Richter Seismological Laboratory at the University of California, Santa Cruz (CFRSL-UCSC). We obtained high resolution locations from this network and located the mainshock at 9°38.5′N, 84°55.6′W (depth is 20.0 km) and the largest foreshock (Mw = 6.0, March 25, 1990, at 1316:05.8 UTC) at 9°36.4′N, 84°57.1′W (depth is 22.4 km). We find that the aftershock zone abuts the southeast boundary of the Nicoya seismic gap, suggesting that the seismic gap did not rupture. Since the installation of the local network in April 1984 to March 24, 1990, nearly 1900 earthquakes with magnitudes from 1.7 to 4.8 (318 with magnitude 3.0 or larger) have been located at the entrance of the Nicoya Gulf, one of the most active regions in Costa Rica. The March 25 earthquake occurred at the northwest edge of this region, where a sequence of foreshocks began 16 hours prior to the mainshock. The spatial-temporal distribution of aftershocks and directivity analysis of the mainshock rupture process using teleseismic records both indicate a southeast propagating rupture. The mainshock ruptured an asperity of approximately 600 km2 of area, with this area expanding to 4000 km2 after 7 days. We present evidence that suggests that the ruptured asperity is produced by the subduction of a seamount. Inversion of teleseismic broadband and long-period P and SH waves yields a thrust faulting mechanism with the shallow plane striking 292°, dipping 26°, and with a rake of 88°, in agreement with the subduction of the Cocos plate under the Caribbean plate. Local first motions for the largest foreshock and the mainshock agree with this solution. We also present evidence suggesting that the March 25, 1990, earthquake triggered and reactivated several seismic swarms in central Costa Rica and temporally decreased the activity in the epicentral area of the July 3, 1983 (Ms = 6.2), Pérez Zeledón earth
The geometry of the Wadati-Benioff zone under southern Central America and its tectonic significance: results from a high-resolution local seismographic network
(Elsevier, 1994) Protti, Marino; Gündel, Federico; McNally, Karen
We present here a detailed geometry of the Wadati—Benioff zone under Costa Rica, obtained from seismicity recorded by a dense local seismographic network jointly operated by the Costa Rica Volcanological and Seismological Observatory, National University, and the Charles F. Richter Seismological Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz. Underneath the Nicaragua—Costa Rica border the Wadati—Benioff zone smoothly contorts (from steep to shallow dip angles, NW to SE), but does not show evidence of a brittle tear, as postulated by others. However, further to the SE, NE of Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, the Wadati—Benioff zone does show a segmentation (the Quesada Sharp Contortion) at intermediate depths (h > 70 km). NWof this sharp contortion the deepest portion of the seismically active slab dips at about 800 and reaches maximum depths ranging from 200 km, near the Nicaragua—Costa Rica border, to 135 km under Ciudad Quesada. To the SE the deeper portion of the Wadati—Benioff zone dips at about 60°and the seismicity does not extend below depths ranging from 125 km, behind the volcanic arc, to 50 km, east of Quepos. In southern Costa Rica, east of 83°55’W, we find no evidence of the Wadati—Benioff zone deeper than 50 km. The obtained geometry and other known tectonic features related to the subduction of the Cocos plate under the Caribbean plate along the southern terminus of the Middle America Trench (Nicaragua and Costa Rica) correlate well with along-trench variations in age of the subducted Cocos plate. Some of these tectonic features are: (1) the shallowing of Middle America Trench bathymetry from NW to SE; (2) variations in the energy release within the subducted slab; (3) differences in coupling between Cocos and Caribbean plates; (4) the termination of the Central America Volcanic Chain in central Costa Rica; (5) distinct stress field variations on the overriding Caribbean plate. The subduction of the Cocos Ridge under southern Costa Rica is partially responsible for some of these features (shallowing of the Middle America Trench in southern Costa Rica) and for the high uplift rates of the outer arc. However, as the presence of the Panama Fracture Zone limits the subducted extension of the Cocos Ridge to less than 100 km from the trench, we propose that the overall geometry of the Wadati—Benioff zone is controlled by abrupt along-trench changes in the age of the subducted Cocos plate.
Base computarizada de datos sobre Tectónica y Geología estructural de Centroamerica y el Caribe (Tectobase)
(Universidad de Costa Rica, 1985) Aguilar D., Álvaro; Alvarado V., Fernando; Obando A., Luis; Protti, Marino
Presentación de proyecto de banco computarizado sobre la bibliografía publicada sobre sobre Tectónica y Geología Estructural de Centroamérica y el Caribe (TECTOBASE)
Insights Into the Mechanisms of Phreatic Eruptions From Continuous High Frequency Volcanic Gas Monitoring: Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, Costa Rica
(Frontiers Media, 2019-01-11) Battaglia, Angelo; de Moor, Joost Maarten; AIUPPA, Alessandro; Avard, Geoffroy; Bakkar, Henriette; BITETTO, Marcello; Mora Fernández, Mauricio Manuel; Kelly, Peter; Giudice, Gaetano; Delle Donne, Dario; Villalobos, Hairo
Understanding the trigger mechanisms of phreatic eruptions is key to mitigating the effects of these hazardous but poorly forecastable volcanic events. It has recently been established that high-rate volcanic gas observations are potentially very suitable to identifying the source processes driving phreatic eruptions, and to eventually detecting precursory changes prior to individual phreatic blasts. In February-May 2017, we deployed a Multi-GAS instrument to continuously monitor gas concentrations in the crater lake plume of Rincón de la Vieja, a remote and poorly monitored active volcano in Costa Rica, site of frequent phreatic/phreatomagmatic eruptions. Forty-two phreatic/phreatomagmatic eruptions were seismically recorded during our investigated period, 9 of which were also recorded for gas by the Multi-GAS. To the best of our knowledge, these represent the first instrumentally measured gas compositions during individual phreatic/phreatomagmatic explosions at an active volcano. Our results show that during background quiescent degassing the Rincón de la Vieja crater lake plume was characterized by high CO2/SO2 ratios of 64±59 and H2S/SO2 ratios of 0.57±0.20. This composition is interpreted as reflecting hydrothermal (re)processing of magma-sourced gas in the sub-limnic environment. Phreatic blasts were recorded by the Multi-GAS as brief (1–2min long) pulses of elevated gas mixing ratios (up to ∼52 ppmv SO2 and >3,000 ppmv CO2), or more than an order of magnitude higher than during background degassing (∼1 ppmv SO2 and ∼450 ppmv CO2). During the phreatic eruption(s), the H2S/SO2 ratio was systematically lower (<0.18) than during background degassing, but the CO2/SO2 ratio remained high (and variable), ranging from 37 to 390. These S-poor compositions for the eruptive gas imply extensive processing of the source magmatic gas during pre-eruptive hydrothermal storage, likely by deposition of native S and/or sulfate. Our gas results are thus overall consistent with amechanismof phreatic eruptions triggered by accumulation of magmatic-hydrothermal gases beneath a hydrothermal seal. We claim that real-time Multi-GAS monitoring is urgently needed at other crater lake-hosting volcanoes (e.g., Ruapehu, Aso), where phreatic eruptions may similarly be preceded by phases of reduced S degassing at the surface.
Implementation of electrochemical, optical and denuder-based sensors and sampling techniques on UAV for volcanic gas measurements: examples from Masaya, Turrialba and Stromboli volcanoes
(European Geosciences Union, 2018-04-26) Rüdiger, Julian; Tirpitz, Jan-Lukas; de Moor, Joost Maarten; Bobrowski, Nicole; Gutmann, Alexandra; Liuzzo, Marco; Ibarra, Martha; Hoffmann, Thorsten
Volcanoes are a natural source of several reactive gases (e.g., sulfur and halogen containing species) and nonreactive gases (e.g., carbon dioxide) to the atmosphere. The relative abundance of carbon and sulfur in volcanic gas as well as the total sulfur dioxide emission rate from a volcanic vent are established parameters in current volcano-monitoring strategies, and they oftentimes allow insights into subsurface processes. However, chemical reactions involving halogens are thought to have local to regional impact on the atmospheric chemistry around passively degassing volcanoes. In this study we demonstrate the successful deployment of a multirotor UAV (quadcopter) system with custom-made lightweight payloads for the compositional analysis and gas flux estimation of volcanic plumes. The various applications and their potential are presented and discussed in example studies at three volcanoes encompassing flight heights of 450 to 3300 m and various states of volcanic activity. Field applications were performed at Stromboli volcano (Italy), Turrialba volcano (Costa Rica) and Masaya volcano (Nicaragua). Two in situ gas-measuring systems adapted for autonomous airborne measurements, based on electrochemical and optical detection principles, as well as an airborne sampling unit, are introduced. We show volcanic gas composition results including abundances of CO2, SO2 and halogen species. The new instrumental setups were compared with established instruments during ground-based measurements at Masaya volcano, which resulted in CO2 ∕ SO2 ratios of 3.6 ± 0.4. For total SO2 flux estimations a small differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) system measured SO2 column amounts on transversal flights below the plume at Turrialba volcano, giving 1776 ± 1108 T d−1 and 1616 ± 1007 T d−1 of SO2 during two traverses. At Stromboli volcano, elevated CO2 ∕ SO2 ratios were observed at spatial and temporal proximity to explosions by airborne in situ measurements. Reactive bromine to sulfur ratios of 0.19 × 10−4 to 9.8 × 10−4 were measured in situ in the plume of Stromboli volcano, downwind of the vent.

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