Active fault characterization and seismotectonic zoning of the Hispaniola island

Abstract

Designing a seismic source model based on the most complete description of potentially active faults and on the kinematics of their latest movements is an essential requirement in seismic hazard studies, at regional and local scales. A study to characterize active faults in the Hispaniola island (today’s Haiti and Dominican Republic) has been conducted in the framework of the probabilistic seismic hazard assessment for Santo Domingo (capital of the Dominican Republic). In this work, we present a seismotectonic map of Hispaniola and its surroundings, based on a compilation and synthesis of geological, geophysical, geodetic and seismological data. Based on these data, distinct seismic zone sources are proposed and classified as either intercrustal domains, major active faults or subduction zones. Each seismic source is described according to several parameters, including its mechanism and current rate of deformation, the associated seismicity and its estimated maximal magnitude. These results constitute an essential database for a homogeneous evaluation of the seismic hazards of Hispaniola.

Active Tectonics, Quaternary Stress Regime Evolution and Seismotectonic Faults in Southern Central Hispaniola: Implications for the Quantitative Seismic Hazard Assessment

“…The characterization of seismotectonic structures has been previously carried out in some sectors of Hispaniola Island (Bertil et al., 2015; Escuder‐Viruete et al., 2020; Frankel et al., 2011; Terrier‐Sedan & Bertil, 2021). Used criteria in the definition were: geodynamic situation; geological, stratigraphic and/or tectonic evidence of recent activity; kinematic type of fault and rate of displacement; and associated historical and/or instrumental seismicity.…”

“…Compilation of an earthquake catalog allowed us to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of earthquakes, their relationships with the main active fault zones, and the characterization of the seismotectonic structures in terms of their seismic parameters. For southern central Hispaniola, the catalog was compiled by collecting and analyzing historical data (Bakun et al., 2012; Bertil et al., 2010; Flores et al., 2011; McCann et al., 2011; SISFRANCE‐Antilles, 2009; ten Brink et al., 2011; and references herein) and instrumental/experimental data (Alvarez et al., 1999; Russo & Villaseñor, 1995; Tanner & Shepherd, 1997; Terrier‐Sedan & Bertil, 2021; ISC 2014; RSPR‐Puerto Rico catalogue, and USGC‐NEIC catalogue). Access the local network, constituted by the Instituto Sismológico de la Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (ISU; http://uasd.edu.do/), the Observatorio Sismológico Politécnico Loyola (OSPL; http://www.ospl.ipl.edu.do/) and the Projet Ayiti‐Seismes performed by Laboratoire Mixte International CARIBACT (https://ayiti.unice.fr/ayiti-seismes/m; BME, UEH/FDS/URGéo, ENS, and Géoazur partnership), enabled information on earthquakes in ghost areas of the global seismic network to be obtained.…”

Present‐Day Caribbean‐North American Oblique Convergence Through the Ocoa‐Bonao‐La Guacara Fault Zone, Southern Central Hispaniola: A Transition Zone Between Oceanic Subduction and Arc‐Oceanic Plateau Collision

“… Catalog of earthquakes and focal mechanisms compiled for southern central Hispaniola. White symbols are historical and instrumental earthquakes of Mw > 3.0 from 1564 to 2020 A.D. Due to the high uncertainty related to the magnitude and location of historical earthquakes, they are classified into three groups following Terrier‐Sedan & Bertil (2021): historical data before 1750 of unreliable magnitude and location; historical data between 1750 and 1960 of intermediate quality; and instrumental data after 1960 generally of high quality. More than 12 epicenters of earthquakes of magnitude at least Mw 6.0 are located in the study area, or the immediate surroundings They include the earthquakes of 1562 (destroyed La Vega and Santiago de los Caballeros), 1615 (destroyed Santo Domingo), 1684 (affected Azua and Santo Domingo), 1691 (destroyed Azua, affected Santo Domingo), 1751 (destroyed Azua) and 1911 (affected San Juan).…”

Earthquake Magnitude Distributions on Northern Caribbean Faults From Combinatorial Optimization Models

“…Several fault compilations have recently been published (Styron et al, 2020;Terrier-Sedan & Bertil, 2021).…”

“…Several fault compilations have recently been published (Styron et al., 2020; Terrier‐Sedan & Bertil, 2021). For this work, we compiled fault parameters based on our research and that of others as detailed below.…”