Temporal and spatial evolution of hypocentres and anisotropy from the Darfield aftershock sequence: Implications for fault geometry and age

Abstract

The first four months of aftershocks of the Darfield earthquake have been studied using data from temporary and permanent seismic stations to investigate the fault geometry, stress field and evolution of seismicity and seismic properties. Earthquake relocations illuminate fault segments and show that the majority of aftershocks occurred beyond the areas of highest slip during the Darfield earthquake. Seismic anisotropy shows a mixture of fast directions parallel to the maximum horizontal stress and fault-parallel fast directions. This, combined with the lack of observable growth of seismicity along fault segments, suggests that the Greendale Fault broke a pre-existing fault plane. © 2012 The Royal Society of New Zealand.