NASA NTRS1989
A particularly detailed set of observations in the vicinity of an intraplate, thrust earthquake (M 7.4) in Argentina, indicate a cyclic pattern of deformation very similar to that reported previously for interplate earthquakes. This deformation cycle, which may be characteristic of many seismically active areas, consists of: (1) steady strain accumulation, possibly punctuated by strain reversals; (2) coseismic strain release; (3) a period of continued strain release due to afterslip (persisting for perhaps a year or so); and (4) rapid postseismic strain accumulation which decreases exponentially and grades into steady strain accumulation. Deformation associated with three earthquakes in the U.S. (1940, M7.1 Imperial Valley California; 1964, M8.4 Alaska; 1959, M7.5 Hebgen Lake, Montana) are interpreted in light of this general earthquake cycle and are used to investigate the mechanics of strain release for these events. These examples indicate that large postseismic movements can occur for strike-slip, thrust, and normal fault events, and both viscoelastic relaxation and postseismic after-slip must be incorporated in models of earthquake related deformation. The mechanics of the strain release process revealed by these examples has implications for estimating earthquake repeat times from geodetic observations near active faults.