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Characterizing Ground Motion Through Multi-fault Dynamic Rupture Simulations in Central New Zealand

Description: 

New Zealand lies at the boundary between the Pacific and Australian plates and is highly vulnerable to multi-fault ruptures involving both subduction and crustal faults. Such a tectonic setting highlights the imperative need to understand how multi-fault ruptures, particularly across different seismogenic regimes, contribute to seismic hazards. The current nationwide probabilistic seismic hazard model largely relies on empirical ground motion models, with significant uncertainties due to the paucity of devastating earthquakes (e.g. Mw8.0+) and limited seismic records at near-source distances.

To address this research gap, we will use physics-based ground motion modeling to investigate fundamental characteristics of regional seismic response to complex multi-fault ruptures, leveraging advances in numerical methods to improve seismic hazard analysis. In this study, we simulate a series of multi-fault rupture scenarios and associated ground motions that account for long-term tectonics, regional rheology, high-resolution topography, shallow basin structures, and fault networks in central New Zealand. We will focus on: (1) establishing a unified numerical workflow for dynamic rupture and modelling ground motions, (2) numerical validation using local intermediate seismic sources and strong motion records in the Wellington basin, 3) evaluation of the impacts of multi-fault ruptures, regional topography, seismic attenuation, and basin non-linearity on the ground motion levels. Our simulated rupture scenarios will advance our knowledge of earthquake physics and fault kinematic source characterization, while also providing theoretical references to improve empirical ground motion models and, consequently, seismic hazard analysis.

Session: Challenges and Opportunities in Constraining Ground-motion Models from Physics-based Ground-motion Simulations - II

Type: Oral

Date: 4/17/2025

Presentation Time: 10:30 AM (local time)

Presenting Author: Duo

Student Presenter: No

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