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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Index Terms

  • Geodesy and Gravity: Crustal movements—interplate
  • Seismology: Seismicity and seismotectonics
  • Tectonophysics: Continental neotectonics
  • Tectonophysics: Plate boundary—general

Abstract

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 31, L19605, 4 PP., 2004
doi:10.1029/2004GL020466

Coastal uplift and thrust faulting associated with the Mw = 6.8 Zemmouri (Algeria) earthquake of 21 May, 2003

M. Meghraoui

UMR 7516, Institut de Physique du Globe, Strasbourg, France

S. Maouche

Centre de Recherche en Astrophysique et Géophysique, Algiers, Algeria

B. Chemaa

Institut National de Cartographie et de Télédétection, Alger, Algeria

Z. Cakir

UMR 7516, Institut de Physique du Globe, Strasbourg, France

A. Aoudia

Abdus Salem International Center for Theoretical Physics, SAND Group, Trieste, Italy

A. Harbi

Centre de Recherche en Astrophysique et Géophysique, Algiers, Algeria

Abdus Salem International Center for Theoretical Physics, SAND Group, Trieste, Italy

P.-J. Alasset

UMR 7516, Institut de Physique du Globe, Strasbourg, France

A. Ayadi

Centre de Recherche en Astrophysique et Géophysique, Algiers, Algeria

Abdus Salem International Center for Theoretical Physics, SAND Group, Trieste, Italy

Y. Bouhadad

Centre du Génie Parasismique, Algiers, Algeria

F. Benhamouda

Institut National de Cartographie et de Télédétection, Alger, Algeria

A shoreline uplift marked by a continuous white band visible at rocky headlands occurred during the 21 May 2003 earthquake (Mw 6.8) in northern Algeria. We measured the amount of coastal uplift on a white band (emerged algae) and harbors quays between Boumerdes and Dellys. Most of measured points were collected using tape and differential GPS on rocky headlands with σ ± 0.15 m error bar (tidal prism). Leveling lines running parallel and orthogonal to the coast also provide the precise amount of uplift in the epicentral area. The uplift distribution shows an average 0.55 m along the shoreline with a maximum 0.75 m east of Boumerdes and a minimum close to 0 near Cap Djinet. The active deformation related to a thrust fault is modeled along the ∼55 km coastline. The dislocation model predicts surface slip on a N 54°E trending reverse fault, dipping 50° SE in agreement with CMT solution and coastal uplift. The faulting characteristics imply a fault geometry with possible sea bottom ruptures between 5 to 10 km offshore.

Received 6 May 2004; accepted 1 September 2004; published 8 October 2004.

Citation: Meghraoui, M., S. Maouche, B. Chemaa, Z. Cakir, A. Aoudia, A. Harbi, P.-J. Alasset, A. Ayadi, Y. Bouhadad, and F. Benhamouda (2004), Coastal uplift and thrust faulting associated with the Mw = 6.8 Zemmouri (Algeria) earthquake of 21 May, 2003, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L19605, doi:10.1029/2004GL020466.

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