Seismotectonic Context Update and Tsunami Numerical Modeling for the Ne Region of the Caribbean Plate, Puerto Rico; Insights From Seismic Reflection and Seismicity.
Description:
According to the NGDC/WDS Global Tsunami Database, the Caribbean Sea has experienced more than 100 historical tsunamis in the last 200 years. The most recent tsunamis observed in the Caribbean Basin were caused by the 2019 Puerto Rico- Guanica earthquake with 6.7 Mw and 2020 Haiti earthquake with a 7.0 Mw. In addition, Puerto Rico has been shaken by large earthquakes that have generated several tsunamis that directly affected the coasts of the island in historical times, the 1867-EQ and 1918-EQ. Therefore, there is a high probability that a future event of this type could affect the coasts of Puerto Rico. Due to this potential threat, different tsunami hazard studies have been carried out, based mainly on instrumental and historical seismicity. The pioneering works in the area describe the parameters of the main structures based on historical records, without considering subsurface structures or long periods of recurrence.
The incomplete knowledge about seismic sources in the region has direct repercussions within tsunami modeling due to: (i) the strike and dip of a fault are directly related to the run-up and the inundation area and (ii) the active faults with long recurrence periods are not included in these studies. Integrating seismicity with the structural data is key to address tsunamigenic scenarios in the area. This integration involves seismotectonic zoning, which characterizes features along the strike of structures. These features are usually associated with fault plane geometry variations or rheological controls and are responsible for variations in local stress fields that control deformation styles. The aim of this work is to propose a structural model to study tsunamigenic scenarios in the island of Puerto Rico, based on a seismotectonic zonification which includes both long periods rupture and geometric parameters of the different fault segments developed in marine settings around the island.
Session: 2025 Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands National Seismic Hazard Model Update [Poster]
Type: Poster
Date: 4/18/2023
Presentation Time: 08:00 AM (local time)
Presenting Author: Hernan Porras
Student Presenter: Yes
Invited Presentation:
Authors
Hernan Porras Presenting Author Corresponding Author hernan.porras@upr.edu University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez |
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Seismotectonic Context Update and Tsunami Numerical Modeling for the Ne Region of the Caribbean Plate, Puerto Rico; Insights From Seismic Reflection and Seismicity.
Category
2025 Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands National Seismic Hazard Model Update