2023 Turkey-Syria Earthquake has a ShakeMap similar to this event [1]; We often think of the epicenter as a single point in earth where the energy then radiates outward. In reality, a fault is more similar to line [2]. The energy radiates outward around the entire fault line.
(Note: since earthquake magnitude is correlated with the amount of area moved, it is safe to assume that larger earthquake will have larger fault rupture)
Interesting, the idea that a fault is a more of a line source makes sense it is hard for me to think of a way to have a single point source slip with enough energy. I guess I've thought in subduction faults the depth of the slip might explain why there is a point source. For example in the Pacific Northwest the earthquake from the Juan de Fuca plate look to be substantially deeper than this one. (50km vs 10km) Of course I expect the depth from today to be preliminary and be adjusted later, I can see the extent of red region in the shakemap changed to be longer from when I looked at it an hour or two ago.
Do you know if the line source model comes from having more and better seismographs or has there been a change in how people think about the motion of a fault in an earthquake?
Do you know if the line source model comes from having more and better seismographs or has there been a change in how people think about the motion of a fault in an earthquake?