EMES Colloquium Speaker: Alexis Ault

The 2023 Kahramanmaraş, Turkey, earthquake sequence exploited multi-earthquake cycle fault damage 

How do the mechanical and hydrologic properties of shallow fault rocks promote or arrest earthquake ruptures and control interseismic deformation? Over what timescales do faults heal after large earthquakes? Addressing these questions informs in situ shallow earthquake processes and the controls on local ground shaking. This talk presents new observations from the MW 7.6 Elbistan earthquake surface rupture – the second large magnitude earthquake of the devastating 6 February 2023 Kahramanmaraş, Turkey, earthquake sequence. Data from the rupture interface provide an unprecedented opportunity to address these questions; benchmark near-surface fault properties to uniquely seismic slip rates; characterize the evolution of CO2 flux, a proxy for shallow fault permeability and healing; and provide critical insights to the southern San Andreas fault system, which is likely overdue for a large magnitude earthquake.