Surface deformations of the 6 February 2023 earthquake sequence, eastern Türkiye.

Meng, Jiannan; Kusky, Timothy; Mooney, Walter D; Bozkurt, Erdin; Bodur, Mehmet Nuri; Wang, Lu · Science · 2024

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Two powerful earthquakes struck Türkiye on 6 February 2023. The initial rupture was on the Dead Sea fault zone, yet maximum displacements and energy release [moment magnitude (<i>M</i><sub>w</sub>) 7.8] occurred 24 seconds later when rupture transferred to the East Anatolian fault zone (EAFZ). More than 7 hours later, a <i>M</i><sub>w</sub> 4.5 aftershock at the junction of the EAFZ with the east-west striking Çardak-Sürgü fault was followed 86 minutes later by the second large (<i>M</i><sub>w</sub> 7.5) earthquake, suggesting a causal relationship. We provide quantitative ground and aerial documentation of surface offsets and kinematics from the slipped faults, providing important data on surface deformation during large continental strike-slip earthquakes, rupture propagation mechanisms, and how slip may be transferred between complex fault systems. We also provide insight into how slip along linked fault systems accommodates global plate motions.