The May 15, 2020 M 6.5 Monte Cristo Range, Nevada, earthquake: eyes in the sky, boots on the ground, and a chance for students to learn

Abstract

The M 6.5 earthquake that occurred in the Monte Cristo Range near Mina, Nevada on 15 May 2020 was exceptionally well-recorded with both seismic and geodetic instrumentation. The arid nature of the region also facilitated detailed ground mapping of the surface rupture. Here we integrate several independent data sets to illustrate the educational and research opportunities afforded by these rich data sets. We construct a series of models for slip at depth that are consistent with the satellite-derived geodetic data, the distribution of aftershocks, and the mapped surface rupture. We also show that the modelled depth of maximum slip is in good agreement with heat flow and laboratory data on quartz rheology defining the depth of the brittle-ductile transition. The Monte Cristo Range earthquake also suggests new approaches to seismic hazard assessment may be required for earthquakes in rapidly evolving tectonic regions such as the Walker Lane and Eastern California shear zone.