Chris Binter
Chris Binter

Relocation of earthquakes in the Eastern Greater Caucasus region and its tectonic implications

Christopher Binter
B.S. Candidate
Department of Geological Sciences
San Diego State University
Advisor Dr. Robert Mellors

May 12th, 2010
CSL 422, 1:40pm

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ABSTRACT pdf
The Caucasus-Caspian region is an  area of high seismicity.  This is due to  the collision of the Arabian and Eurasian plates that produce constant  earthquakes throughout the region.   Accurate determination of earthquake hypocenters is important to  understanding the tectonics of the area.   This research focuses on earthquakes collected by a new digital seismic  network in Azerbaijan.  Examining  earthquake seismicity in the region suggests that the majority of active  shortening is occurring along the southern edge of the Greater Caucasus.  Seismicity also suggests that the eastern  Greater Caucasus is undergoing higher strain than the western end which is  consistent with available GPS data. Relocation of an aftershock cluster using a  relative location method shows a clear south-dipping fault which indicates  active back-thrusting. The location of the presumed fault is close to  south-dipping faults on geologic maps.