Relative motions of the Pacific, Rivera, North American, and Cocos plates since 0.78 Ma

DeMets, Charles; Wilson, Douglas S.

doi:10.1029/96jb03170

Cited by 87 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 54 publications

(47 reference statements)

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“…It has been suggested that a slab-tear exists along the eastern projection of the Orozco Fracture Zone as has been previously suggested (DeMets & Wilson 1997;Dougherty et al 2012;Stubailo et al 2012). If this is the case, then slab rollback (Gómez-Tuena et al 2007) should induce toroidal flow through such a tear.…”

Section: Upper Mantlementioning

confidence: 96%

Crust and upper-mantle seismic anisotropy variations from the coast to inland in central and Southern Mexico

Ramírez‐Castellanos

Pérez‐Campos²,

Valenzuela³

et al. 2017

Geophysical Journal International

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S U M M A R YSubduction zones are among the most dynamic tectonic environments on Earth. Deformation mechanisms of various scales produce networks of oriented structures and faulting systems that result in a highly anisotropic medium for seismic wave propagation. In this study, we combine shear wave splitting inferred from receiver functions and the results from a previous SKS-wave study to quantify and constrain the vertically averaged shear wave splitting at different depths along the 100-station MesoAmerican Subduction Experiment array. This produces a transect that runs perpendicular to the trench across the flat slab portion of the subduction zone below central and southern Mexico. Strong anisotropy in the continental crust is found below the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) and above the source region of slow-slip events. We interpret this as the result of fluid/melt ascent. The upper oceanic crust and the overlying lowvelocity zone exhibit highly complex anisotropy, while the oceanic lower crust is relatively homogeneous. Regions of strong oceanic crust anisotropy correlate with previously found low V p /V s regions, indicating that the relatively high V s is an anisotropic effect. Upper-mantle anisotropy in the southern part of the array is in trench-perpendicular direction, consistent with the alignment of type-A olivine and with entrained subslab flow. The fast polarization direction of mantle anisotropy changes to N-S in the north, likely reflecting mantle wedge corner flow perpendicular to the TMVB.

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Section: Upper Mantlementioning

confidence: 96%

Crust and upper-mantle seismic anisotropy variations from the coast to inland in central and Southern Mexico

Ramírez‐Castellanos

Pérez‐Campos²,

Valenzuela³

et al. 2017

Geophysical Journal International

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“…The Cocos-North America subduction zone has a convergence rate of approximately 37 mm/year near the triple junction (DEMETS and WILSON, 1997). The rate of Rivera-North America subduction near the triple junction is considered to be less than this, but the exact value, as well as the degree of obliquity, is still debated (see discussion by KOSTOGLODOV and BANDY, 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Double-difference Relocation of the Aftershocks of the Tecomán, Colima, Mexico Earthquake of 22 January 2003

Andrews

Stock

Vázquez

et al. 2010

Pure Appl. Geophys.

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Abstract-On 22 January 2003, the M w = 7.6 Tecomán earthquake struck offshore of the state of Colima, Mexico, near the diffuse triple junction between the Cocos, Rivera, and North American plates. Three-hundred and fifty aftershocks of the Tecomán earthquake with magnitudes between 2.6 and 5.8, each recorded by at least 7 stations, are relocated using the double difference method. Initial locations are determined using P and S readings from the Red Sismológica Telemétrica del Estado de Colima (RESCO) and a 1-D velocity model. Because only eight RESCO stations were operating immediately following the Tecomán earthquake, uncertainties in the initial locations and depths are fairly large, with average uncertainties of 8.0 km in depth and 1.4 km in the north-south and east-west directions. Events occurring between 24 January and 31 January were located using not only RESCO phase readings but also additional P and S readings from 11 temporary stations. Average uncertainties decrease to 0.8 km in depth, 0.3 km in the east-west direction, and 0.7 km in the north-south direction for events occurring while the temporary stations were deployed. While some preliminary studies of the early aftershocks suggested that they were dominated by shallow events above the plate interface, our results place the majority of aftershocks along the plate interface, for a slab dipping between approximately 20°and 30°. This is consistent with the slab positions inferred from geodetic studies. We do see some upper plate aftershocks that may correspond to forearc fault zones, and faults inland in the upper plate, particularly among events occurring more than 3 months after the mainshock.

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“…More recently, ALVAREZ and YUTSIS (2015) also place the boundary beneath the southern Colima rift. In contrast, DEMETS and WILSON (1997) placed the boundary north of the El Gordo graben/southern Colima rift (Fig. 1).…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Several proposals exist as to the nature of this boundary. These include a hinge fault (i.e., pure vertical motion between the plates, NIXON 1982), a southwest propagating divergent boundary (BANDY 1992), and a diffuse left-lateral transform boundary (DEMETS and WILSON 1997). The location of this boundary beneath NA is also being 3576 R. Bartolome et al Pure Appl.…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Rivera plate began to separate from the Cocos plate at about 10 Ma (DEMETS and TRAYLEN 2000) as evidenced by spreading velocities along the East Pacific Rise and Mathematician Ridge. Several models exist for the Rivera-North America Euler vector (e.g., MINSTER and JORDAN 1979;BANDY and PARDO 1994;DEMETS et al 1994DEMETS et al , 2010LONSDALE 1995;DEMETS and WILSON 1997;BANDY et al 1997;ARGUS et al 2010;SUÁ REZ et al 2013). These models differ somewhat, however, almost all indicate that the convergence rate between the Rivera and North American plate decreases northward along the MAT [averaging about 2-3 cm/year, which is slower than the adjacent Cocos plate (5-8 cm/year)] and becomes highly oblique north of 20°N (see discussion by KOSTOGLODOV and BANDY 1995).…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multichannel Seismic Imaging of the Rivera Plate Subduction at the Seismogenic Jalisco Block Area (Western Mexican Margin)

Bartolomé

Gorriz

Dañobeitia

et al. 2016

Pure Appl. Geophys.

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Abstract-During the TSUJAL marine geophysical survey, conducted in February and March 2014, Spanish, Mexican and British scientists and technicians explored the western margin of Mexico, considered one of the most active seismic zones in America. This work aims to characterize the internal structure of the subduction zone of the Rivera plate beneath the North American plate in the offshore part of the Jalisco Block, to link the geodynamic and the recent tectonic deformation occurring there with the possible generation of tsunamis and earthquakes. For this purpose, it has been carried out acquisition, processing and geological interpretation of a multichannel seismic reflection profile running perpendicular to the margin. Crustal images show an oceanic domain, dominated by subduction-accretion along the lower slope of the margin with a subparallel sediment thickness of up to 1.6 s two-way travel time (approx. 2 km) in the Middle American Trench. Further, from these data the region appears to be prone to giant earthquake production. The top of the oceanic crust (intraplate reflector) is very well imaged. It is almost continuous along the profile with a gentle dip (\10°); however, it is disrupted by normal faulting resulting from the bending of the plate during subduction. The continental crust presents a well-developed accretionary prism consisting of highly deformed sediments with prominent slumping towards the trench that may be the result of past tsunamis. Also, a bottom simulating reflector (BSR) is identified in the first half a second (twtt) of the section. High amplitude reflections at around 7-8 s twtt clearly image a discontinuous Moho, defining a very gentle dipping subduction plane.

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Relative motions of the Pacific, Rivera, North American, and Cocos plates since 0.78 Ma

Cited by 87 publications

References 54 publications

Crust and upper-mantle seismic anisotropy variations from the coast to inland in central and Southern Mexico

Crust and upper-mantle seismic anisotropy variations from the coast to inland in central and Southern Mexico

Double-difference Relocation of the Aftershocks of the Tecomán, Colima, Mexico Earthquake of 22 January 2003

Multichannel Seismic Imaging of the Rivera Plate Subduction at the Seismogenic Jalisco Block Area (Western Mexican Margin)

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