Postseismic deformation parameters of the 2010 M7.8 Mentawai, Indonesia, earthquake inferred from continuous GPS observations

Abstract

The postseismic deformation parameters of the 2010 Mentawai earthquake using continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) data for period of 26 October, 2010 to 10 April, 2012 were investigated. Analytical solutions of logarithmic and exponential function to evaluate the postseismic deformation characteristics of the 2010 Mentawai earthquake are applied. The results indicate that the GPS time series data fitted well using logarithmic function with decay time of 5.2±0.1 days. The data fit using logarithmic function indicate a smaller misfit of 2.6 mm compare to data fit using exponential function. Our results clearly indicate deformation during long-term period after the 2010 Mentawai earthquake should considered other physical mechanisms.