Subduction Zone Characterization of the Northern Papua through the Study of Earthquake History

Abstract

Papua is one of part in Indonesia which is the geology research of that place isn't developed and limited. It causes the seismotectonic of Papua hasn't been known. WinITDB was used to determine the dip angle plate which was on the north part of Papua. The determination of angle was done through seismicity's cross section analysis in the area. To show that seismicity, earthquake history data that ever occurred in the area is needed. The result on the seismicity's cross section of plane A-A', was confluence by two plates with angle 150° against horizontal on the depth up to ±68 km. On the seismicity's cross section of plane B-B' had angle 135° against horizontal on the ±82 km depth. On the plane C-C' seismicity's cross section, was confluence of two plate which located between -1,77°S until -4,97°S subducted until 171 km depth on 1,38°N -4,97°S. It proved that subduction characteristic in the northern Papua which was Australia continent plate subducted to north, followed by collision and the Pacific plate subduction on New Guinea. It is also confirmed by focus mechanism analysis which showed the earthquake activities are controlled by the not really deep active fault.