Rupture Process of the Mw7.0 December 5, 2024 Offshore Cape Mendocino Earthquake

Abstract The Mw7.0 December 5, 2024 Offshore Cape Mendocino earthquake ruptured a ∼60 km long portion of the east‐west trending Mendocino fault zone (MFZ). In order to clarify the rupture process, we assemble three‐component seismograms from regional seismic stations, horizontal coseismic displaceme...

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Main Authors: F. F. Pollitz, K. A. Guns, C. E. Yoon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115613
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author F. F. Pollitz
K. A. Guns
C. E. Yoon
author_facet F. F. Pollitz
K. A. Guns
C. E. Yoon
author_sort F. F. Pollitz
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The Mw7.0 December 5, 2024 Offshore Cape Mendocino earthquake ruptured a ∼60 km long portion of the east‐west trending Mendocino fault zone (MFZ). In order to clarify the rupture process, we assemble three‐component seismograms from regional seismic stations, horizontal coseismic displacement vectors derived from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) time series, and a Sentinel‐1 ascending interferogram. These data are interpreted with a model of slip distributed on two vertical fault planes representative of the eastern MFZ and spanning the ∼70 km length of the aftershock zone. Assuming right‐lateral strike slip, we find that the rupture initiates in the oceanic mantle at 20−30 km depth and proceeds unilaterally updip and toward the east. Early aftershocks locate adjacent to the peak slip areas, tracking the coseismic rupture propagation from oceanic mantle to shallower depth and implying a significant role of static stress transfer in driving aftershocks in an ocean plate environment.
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spelling doaj-art-02259aa49ae949efaf4aad73e99057932025-08-20T02:46:20ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-07-015214n/an/a10.1029/2025GL115613Rupture Process of the Mw7.0 December 5, 2024 Offshore Cape Mendocino EarthquakeF. F. Pollitz0K. A. Guns1C. E. Yoon2Earthquake Science Center U.S. Geological Survey Seattle WA USAEarthquake Science Center U.S. Geological Survey Moffett Field CA USAEarthquake Science Center U.S. Geological Survey Pasadena CA USAAbstract The Mw7.0 December 5, 2024 Offshore Cape Mendocino earthquake ruptured a ∼60 km long portion of the east‐west trending Mendocino fault zone (MFZ). In order to clarify the rupture process, we assemble three‐component seismograms from regional seismic stations, horizontal coseismic displacement vectors derived from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) time series, and a Sentinel‐1 ascending interferogram. These data are interpreted with a model of slip distributed on two vertical fault planes representative of the eastern MFZ and spanning the ∼70 km length of the aftershock zone. Assuming right‐lateral strike slip, we find that the rupture initiates in the oceanic mantle at 20−30 km depth and proceeds unilaterally updip and toward the east. Early aftershocks locate adjacent to the peak slip areas, tracking the coseismic rupture propagation from oceanic mantle to shallower depth and implying a significant role of static stress transfer in driving aftershocks in an ocean plate environment.https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115613seismic sourceoceanic transform faultrupture process
spellingShingle F. F. Pollitz
K. A. Guns
C. E. Yoon
Rupture Process of the Mw7.0 December 5, 2024 Offshore Cape Mendocino Earthquake
Geophysical Research Letters
seismic source
oceanic transform fault
rupture process
title Rupture Process of the Mw7.0 December 5, 2024 Offshore Cape Mendocino Earthquake
title_full Rupture Process of the Mw7.0 December 5, 2024 Offshore Cape Mendocino Earthquake
title_fullStr Rupture Process of the Mw7.0 December 5, 2024 Offshore Cape Mendocino Earthquake
title_full_unstemmed Rupture Process of the Mw7.0 December 5, 2024 Offshore Cape Mendocino Earthquake
title_short Rupture Process of the Mw7.0 December 5, 2024 Offshore Cape Mendocino Earthquake
title_sort rupture process of the mw7 0 december 5 2024 offshore cape mendocino earthquake
topic seismic source
oceanic transform fault
rupture process
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115613
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