Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2017

Abstract

© The Authors 2017. The in situ crustal stress field fundamentally governs, and is affected by, the active tectonic processes of plate boundary regions, yet questions remain about the characteristics of this field and the implications for active faults in the upper crust. We estimate the magnitude of differential stress at seismogenic depth in southern California by balancing in situ orientation indicated by earthquake focal mechanisms against the stress imposed by topography, which tends to resist the motion of strike-slip faults. Our results indicate that most regions require differential stress of at least 20 MPa at seismogenic depth. In the areas of most rugged topography along the San Andreas Fault System, differential stress at seismogenic depth must exceed 62 MPa consistent with differential stress estimates from complimentary methods. This furthermore suggests pore pressure must be less than lithostatic and that coefficient of friction cannot be very low (i.e. coefficient of static friction > 0.3).

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Geophysical Journal International

First Page

472

Last Page

482

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