Frictional Behavior of Oceanic Transform Faults and Influence on Earthquake Characteristics

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Predicting earthquakes and mitigating earthquake hazards requires understanding how faults work; for example what controls or limits the size of earthquakes and the recurrence time of earthquakes on a particular fault. Most of the slip on continental strike-slip faults such as the San Andreas occurs during earthquakes, while most of the slip on mid-ocean ridge transform faults (RTFs) is accomplished by aseismic creep not related to earthquakes, and the largest events on RTFs are comparatively small, magnitude 6-7. This study will be the first to model the behavior of oceanic transform faults using laboratory-derived rate and state friction laws that have been successfully applied to continental faults. Models will be constrained by seismicity on the faults recorded by ocean bottom seismographs. Among the broader impacts of this study are improved understanding of earthquakes and earthquake mechanisms, and support for a graduate student.