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Orogenic-wedge deformation and potential for great earthquakes in the central Andean backarc

Nature Geoscience volume 4, pages 380–383 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

Subduction of the Nazca plate beneath South America has driven the growth of the Andes Mountains. Subduction has routinely generated earthquakes larger than magnitude 8.0 along the western margin of the mountain belt1, but the potential size of less frequent earthquakes in the eastern, backarc margin is unknown. Continued support of the high Andean Plateau at the centre of the Andes can be explained only if deformation of the backarc margin is ongoing2,3,4. Here we present GPS data that record surface motions in the Subandean ranges that are part of the backarc margin. We find that the velocity of surface movement decreases sharply from west to east across the Subandean ranges. We suggest that a subhorizontal fault underlying the ranges slips freely at depth in the west, but is locked for up to 100 km in shallower sections further east. Analysis of fault scarps formed where the subhorizontal fault intersects the surface indicates that the fault has generated repeated large earthquakes. We suggest that rupture of the entire locked section of the fault could generate an earthquake of magnitude 8.7–8.9. We attribute the large seismic potential to the unusual width of the Subandean ranges, and suggest that deformation of the Subandean ranges, at a rate unmatched by erosion, causes the mountain range to widen.

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Figure 1: GPS velocity fields in a South America-fixed reference frame.
Figure 2: Marginal posterior probability distributions (PPDs) for estimated dislocation parameters and a cross-section at 20° S.
Figure 3: Topographic analysis of the Mandeyapecua Thrust Front and estimated maximum earthquake parameters.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Science Foundation (grant EAR-0948615) and by Repsol S.A. We thank R. Giraudo, D. Demurro, and R. Limachi of Repsol for assistance with field logistics. We gratefully acknowledge the many people who helped with field work, including D. Caccamise, R. Tinta, C. Distante, T. Ericksen, D. Raleigh, G. Cabrera, A. Mollericona, R. Jauregui, R. Cavero, M. Zamora and O. Ozcacha. We thank J-P. Avouac for his careful reading and suggestions that significantly improved this manuscript. GMT software was used to prepare the figures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii, 1680 East-West Rd., Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA

    Benjamin A. Brooks & James Foster

  2. School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University, 125 S. Oval Mall, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA

    Michael Bevis & Eric Kendrick

  3. School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, PO Box 871404, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA

    Kelin Whipple & J Ramon Arrowsmith

  4. YPF Services USA, 1330 Lake Robbins Drive, Box 10, The Woodlands, Texas 77380, USA

    Tomas Zapata

  5. Observatorio San Calixto, Calle Indaburo 944, Casilla 12656, La Paz, Bolivia

    Estella Minaya

  6. Instituto Geografico Militar, Av Saavedra 2303, La Paz, Bolivia

    Arturo Echalar & Mario Sandoval

  7. Instituto CEDIAC, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Centro Universitario, Parque General San Martı´n. CC 405—(5500) Mendoza, Argentina

    Mauro Blanco & Pablo Euillades

  8. Center for Earthquake Research and Information, The University of Memphis, 3876 Central Ave., Suite 1, Memphis, Tennessee 38152-3050, USA

    Robert J. Smalley Jr

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  1. Benjamin A. Brooks
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Contributions

B.A.B. designed the study, collected GPS data, processed GPS data, performed all analyses and wrote the paper. M.Bevis contributed to the study design, GPS processing approach and data collection. K.W. and J.R.A. contributed to geomorphic analysis. J.F. contributed to the GPS processing approach. T.Z. contributed to the study design and geological interpretation. E.K. collected GPS data and contributed to the GPS processing approach. E.M. contributed to regional seismological analysis. A.E. contributed to the study design and GPS data collection. M.Blanco, P.E., M.S., and R.J.S. Jr collected GPS data. All authors discussed the results and commented on the paper.

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Correspondence to Benjamin A. Brooks.

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Brooks, B., Bevis, M., Whipple, K. et al. Orogenic-wedge deformation and potential for great earthquakes in the central Andean backarc. Nature Geosci 4, 380–383 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1143

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