Title

Geodetic Source Modeling of the 2019 Mw 6.3 Durrës, Albania, Earthquake: Partial Rupture of a Blind Reverse Fault

Date of this Version

11-28-2020

Document Type

Article

Abstract

We address geometric and kinematic properties of the Mw 6.3 26 November 2019 Durrës earthquake, the strongest earthquake in Albania in the past 40 years. Using coseismic surface displacements from Sentinel-1 Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) and nearby Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS) stations, we invert for the geometry and slip of the causative fault. We find that both a steep SW-dipping fault (dip 71°) and a shallow NE-dipping fault (dip 15°) can fit the data equally well. However, the slip on the SW-dipping fault occurs at depths 11–23 km, similar to the depths of the mainshock and aftershock seismicity, and thus, we prefer that model. The location of our preferred fault plane correlates with the mapped SW-dipping backthrust, the Vore fault. The fault rupture did not reach the surface, which implies that an updip stress propagation onto the unruptured shallow portion of the Vore fault and its secondary structures pose an increased seismic hazard for cities in Albania, including the capital, Tirana.

COinS
 

Rights Statement

Rights Statement

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).