Source Characteristics of Earthquake 24 Sep 2019 and Their Consequences

  • Shahzada Khurram
  • Perveiz Khalid
Keywords: Syntaxial bend, Focal mechanism, Seismicity distribution, Annual rate of exceedance, Peak ground acceleration

Abstract

Seismogenic forces have very intense behavior in and around Pakistan. Northwest Himalayan Fold and Thrust Belt Pakistan produced due to these forces. A sequence of these stresses accumulates due to the collision of two continental plates in and around the Pakistan since 35 Ma. To explore this region and their seismotectonic activity, I have studied recently happened an unexpectedly seismic event near Jhelum Fault with epicenter 73.760E 33.100N of Mw 5.6 at focal depth 10 km. Seismotectonic map, seismicity map and focal mechanism of the study area (320–350), (720–750) was drawn. Remaining source parameters such as radiated seismic energy (E), seismic moment, P and S wave arrival time, velocity of seismic wave and surface wave magnitude were also evaluated. Intensity scale of the area was also drawn. Jhelum Fault is a strike slip fault which is almost 80 km away from epicentral location but according to source geometry of focal planes, there is no evidence for this event about strike slip fault. It seems this may be happened due to plane of weakness or stresses accumulated inside the plate due to overburden pressures, compacted and cemented rock or any due to ancient fault. So, research proclaimed that it was an intra plate earthquake with normal faulting. Additionally, peak ground acceleration of this event was also determined for further enhancement in this area i-e at 10% probability for exceedance is 2.53 m/s2 for 50 years for return period is 475 years.

References

Ahmed, N., Ghazi, S., Khalid, P., 2016. On the variation of b-value for Karachi region, Pakistan through Gumbel’s extreme distribution method. Acta Geodaetica et Geophysica 51, 227-235.

Aki, K., 1966. Generation and Propagation of G-Waves from the Niigata Earthquake of June 16, 1964. Part 2. Estimation of Earthquake Moment, Released Energy, and Stress-Strain Drop from the G-Wave Spectrum, Bulletin of earthquake Research Institute, Tokyo University 44, 73-88.

Aki, K., 1972. Earthquake mechanism, Proceeding of the Final UMP Symposium. Ed. R. Ritsema, Moscow.

Calkins, J.A., Offield, T.W., Abdullah, S.K.T., Ali, S.T., 1975. Geology of southern Himalaya in Hazara, Pakistan and adjacent areas. USGS Publications Warehouse, Professional Paper 716-C, C1-29. Carey, S.W., 1958. The tectonic approach to continental drift. In Symp Continental Drift. Geology Department, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia, 177-335.

Desio, A., 1976. Some geotectonic problems of the Kashmir-Himalaya-Karakorum-Hindukush and Pamir area. Atti dei Convegni Lincei 21, 115-129.

DeJong, A., Subhani, A.M., 1979. Notes on Bela ophiolites with special reference to the Kanar area. In: A. Farah and K.A. DeJong (Editors), Geodynamics of Pakistan. Geological Survey of Pakistan, Quetta, 263-270.

Gansser, A., 1964. Geology of the Himalayas. Wiley, New York, 289. Gansser, A., 1981. The geodynamic history of the Himalaya. In Gupta HK, Delany FM (eds) Zagros, Hindu Kush, Himalaya geodynamic evolution. AGU, Washington. Pp. 111-121.

Greco, A., 1991. Stratigraphy, metamorphism and tectonics of the Hazara-Kashmir Syntaxis area. Kashmir Journal of Geology 9, 39-65.

Gutenberg, B., Richter, C.F., 1956. Earthquake magnitude, intensity, energy, and acceleration. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 46 (2), 105-145.

Giardini, D., Grünthal, G., Shedlock, K.M., Zhang, P., 1999. The GSHAP Global Seismic Hazard Map. Annali di Geofisica 42 (6), 1225-1228.

Giardini, D., Grünthal, G., Shedlock, K.M., Zhang, P., 2003. The GSHAP Global Seismic Hazard Map. Lee, W., Kanamori, H., Jennings, P. and Kisslinger, C. (eds.): International Handbook of Earthquake & Engineering Seismology, International Geophysics Series 81 B, Academic Press, Amsterdam, 1233-1239.

Hanks, T.C., Kanamori, H., 1979. A moment magnitude scale. Journal of Geophysical Research 84 (5), 2348-2350.

Kazmi, A.H., 1979. Active fault systems in Pakistan. In: Farah, A.& De Jong K.A. (eds.) Geodynamics of Pakistan. Geological Survey of Pakistan, Quetta, 285-294.

Khalid, P., Bajwa, A., Naeem, M., Din, Z., 2016. Seismicity distribution and focal mechanism solution of major earthquakes of northern Pakistan. Acta Geodaetica et Geophysica 51, 347-357.

Kazmi, A.H., Jan, M.Q., 1997. Geology and tectonics of Pakistan. Graphics Publishers, Karachi. Kazmi, A.H., Rana, R.A., 1982. Tectonic map of Pakistan. Scale 1:2000000, first edn. Geological Survey of Pakistan, Quetta.

Kanamori, H., Anderson, D.L., 1975. Theoretical basis of some empirical relations in seismology. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 65 (5), 1073-1096. Lawrence, R.D., Shroder, J.F., 1985. Tectonic geomorphology between Thakot and Mansehra, Northern Pakistan. Geol. Bull. Univ.

Peshawar 18, 153-161. Orowan, E., 1960. Mechanism of seismic faulting. Geological Society of America Memoirs 79, 323-346.

Treloar, P.J., Mathew, P.W., Coward, M.P., 1989. Metamporphism and crustal stacking in the North Indian Plate, North Pakistan. Tectonophysics 165, 167-184. USGS, 2020. M 5.4-7 km SSE of New Mirpur, Pakistan. Available: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us60005mqp/dyfi/intensity.

Wadia, D.N., 1931. The Syntaxis of the north west Himalaya Its rocks, tectonics and orogeny. Records of Geological Survey of India 63 (2), 129-138.

Wandrey, C.J., Law, B.E., Shah, H.A., 2004. Patala-Nammal Composite Total Petroleum System, Kohat-Potwar Geologic Province, Pakistan. U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2208-B, USGS Publication.
Published
2021-07-15
Section
Articles