Gerardo J. Soto

A brittle failure model for long‐period seismic events recorded at Turrialba Volcano, Costa Rica

A temporary seismic network, consisting of 23 broadband and six short-period stations, was installed in a dense network at Turrialba Volcano, Costa Rica, between 8 March and 4 May 2011. During this time 513 long-period (LP) events were observed. Due to their pulse-like waveforms, the hypothesis that the events are generated by a slow-failure mechanism, based on a recent new model by Bean et al. (2014), is tested. A significant number (107) of the LPs are jointly inverted for their source locations and mechanisms, using full-waveform moment tensor inversion. The locations are mostly shallow, with depths < 800 m below the active Southwest Crater. The results of the decompositions of the obtained moment tensor solutions show complex source mechanisms, composed of high proportions of isotropic and low, but seemingly significant, proportions of compensated linear vector dipole and double-couple components. It is demonstrated that this can be explained as mode I tensile fracturing with a strong shear component. The source mechanism is further investigated by exploring scaling laws within the data. The LPs recorded follow relationships very similar to those of conventional earthquakes, exhibiting frequency-magnitude and corner frequency versus magnitude relationships that can be explained by brittle failure. All of these observations indicate that a slow-failure source model can successfully describe the generation of short-duration LP events at Turrialba Volcano.

El sismo de Capellades del 2016 y su secuencia sísmica: Manifestación de fallamiento de rumbo en el arco volcánico de Costa Rica

espanolEl 30 de noviembre del 2016 a las 18:25 (00:25 UTC del 1 de diciembre) ocurrio un sismo de Mw 5,5 a una profundidad de 2,7 km, 4 km al norte de Capellades de Alvarado, Costa Rica. Fue el evento principal de una secuencia con precursores y replicas, localizada a 5 km de los volcanes activos Irazu y Turrialba. Este sismo es el mas reciente de una lista de terremotos originados en las fallas que cortan la Cordillera Volcanica Central, la cual representa el limite norte del area mas poblada del pais. Usando principalmente los registros instrumentales de la Red Sismologica Nacional (RSN), en este trabajo se presenta un analisis sismologico de la secuencia y se determinan la ubicacion y las caracteristicas de la falla que origino esta sismicidad. Adicionalmente, se describe el entorno geologico-tectonico de su origen y sus efectos. La secuencia de sismos muestra un claro alineamiento de 8 km de longitud y rumbo nor-noroeste, entre los volcanes Irazu y Turrialba. La interpretacion conjunta de la relocalizacion de la secuencia, el tensor de momento del sismo principal y los mecanismos focales de 17 eventos permitio determinar que la falla de origen es casi vertical y de tipo de desplazamiento de rumbo dextral, lo cual es congruente con los sistemas de fallamiento activo de la zona. Esta falla no habia sido reconocida previamente y se ha denominado Liebres en este estudio. El sismo principal fue sentido en casi todo el pais, con una intensidad maxima de VI+. Este sismo ha sido el de mayor magnitud en el sector oriental de la Cordillera Volcanica Central desde el terremoto de Patillos de 1952 (Ms 5,9) y el primer sismo de Mw > 5,0 registrado por la RSN en el edifiio volcanico del Turrialba. A pesar de la cercania con ese volcan, que ha presentado erupciones periodicas desde el 2010, no se observaron efectos eruptivos inmediatos. EnglishOn 30 November 2016 at 18:25 (1 st December at 00:25, UTC time) a Mw 5 5 earthquake occurred at 2.7 km depth, 4 km north of the town Capellades de Alvarado, Costa Rica. It was the main shock of an earthquake sequence including foreshocks and aftershocks, located 5 km from the active Irazu and Turrialba volcanoes. This is the most recent of a series of damaging earthquakes originated in the faults crossing the Central Volcanic Range, which constitutes the northern boundary of the most populated area of the country. Using mainly the seismic records from the National Seismological Network (RSN), we present in this study a seismological analysis of the earthquake sequence and the location and characteristics of the fault that originated this seismicity. Additionally, we describe the geotectonic context of the fault and the Capellades earthquake effects. The earthquake sequence shows a clear 8-km long alignment striking nor-northwest between Irazu and Turrialba volcanoes. The joint interpretation of the earthquake relocation, the main-shock moment tensor solution, and the focal mechanisms of 17 events allows for determining the source in a nearly vertical strike-slip fault, in agreement with regional active fault systems. This structure had not been recognized previously and has been named Liebres Fault in this study. The main shock was felt in most of the country, with a maximum intensity of VI+. This earthquake has been the largest in the eastern part of the Central Volcanic Range since the 1952 Patillos earthquake (Ms 5.9) and the fist Mw > 5.0 earthquake recorded by the RSN in the Turrialba volcano edifie. Despite the proximity to this active volcano, which has been erupting periodically since 2010, there were no immediate eruptive effects.

Geomorphological Insights on Human-Volcano Interactions and Use of Volcanic Materials in Pre-Hispanic Cultures of Costa Rica through the Holocene

Critical Zones in tropical environments, especially near active volcanoes, are rich in resources such as water, food and construction materials. In Central America, people have lived near volcanic centers for thousands of years and learned to take advantage of these resources. Understanding how pre-Hispanic societies lived in this type of Critical Zones and interacted with volcanoes, provides us with insights on how to reduce the negative impact derived from volcanic activity in modern cities. In this multidisciplinary approach we focus on two case studies in Costa Rica near Poas and Turrialba volcanoes, which are currently active, in order to obtain a comprehensive view of human-volcano interactions through time. We use a methodology based on historical accounts, geological and archaeological fieldwork, geomorphological characterization based on remote sensing techniques and past (pre-Hispanic), and present land use analysis. The northern Poas region represents a case of a poorly developed pre-Hispanic society, which subsisted mainly on hunting and gathering activities, had no permanent settlements and was probably affected by the activity of the Hule and Rio Cuarto maars. In spite of their vulnerability and lack of infrastructure, they used geomorphology to their advantage, achieving natural protection. Conversely, the Guayabo National Monument near Turrialba Volcano represents a cultural peak in pre-Hispanic societies in Costa Rica. Archaeological remains and structures at this site indicate that this society had a good understanding of physical and geological processes and was therefore able to take advantage of natural resources for water and food supply, construction, and protection as well as hazard prevention and mitigation. The use of new technologies, some accessible and low-cost such as Google Earth and others with restricted access and higher costs such as LiDAR, allowed us to complete a rapid and efficient characterization of land use and geomorphological features of the study area. This study helps to establish how some locations near volcanic edifices are more prone the effects of volcanic hazards than others and why this data should be included in volcanic risk assessment and land planning processes.