Complex multifault rupture during the 2016Mw7.8 Kaikōura earthquake, New Zealand.
On 14 November 2016, northeastern South Island of New Zealand was struck by a major moment magnitude (Mw) 7.8 earthquake. Field observations, in conjunction with interferometric synthetic aperture radar, Global Positioning System, and seismology data, reveal this to be one of the most complex earthquakes ever recorded. The rupture propagated northward for more than 170 kilometers along both mapped and unmapped faults before continuing offshore at the island's northeastern extent. Geodetic and field observations reveal surface ruptures along at least 12 major faults, including possible slip along the southern Hikurangi subduction interface; extensive uplift along much of the coastline; and widespread anelastic deformation, including the ~8-meter uplift of a fault-bounded block. This complex earthquake defies many conventional assumptions about the degree to which earthquake ruptures are controlled by fault segmentation and should motivate reevaluation of these issues in seismic hazard models.
GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand. i.hamling@gns.cri.nz.
Ian J
0000-0003-4324-274X
IJ
Hamling
GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Sigrún
0000-0003-0143-1251
S
Hreinsdóttir
GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Kate
0000-0003-0726-9005
K
Clark
Centre for the Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Tectonics (COMET), School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
John
0000-0003-2957-4596
J
Elliott
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA.
Cunren
C
Liang
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA.
Eric
0000-0002-6648-8067
E
Fielding
GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Nicola
0000-0002-2053-3176
N
Litchfield
GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Pilar
0000-0002-9541-290X
P
Villamor
GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.|University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, Austin, TX 78758, USA.
Laura
0000-0003-2070-0891
L
Wallace
Centre for the Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Tectonics (COMET), School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Tim J
0000-0001-8338-5935
TJ
Wright
GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Elisabetta
0000-0003-3043-8604
E
D'Anastasio
GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Stephen
0000-0002-2125-0506
S
Bannister
GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
David
0000-0003-1636-5031
D
Burbidge
School of Surveying, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Paul
0000-0002-1427-9538
P
Denys
Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), Wellington, New Zealand.
Paula
0000-0002-9128-1113
P
Gentle
GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Jamie
0000-0003-3515-9196
J
Howarth
GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Christof
C
Mueller
GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Neville
0000-0002-0516-8254
N
Palmer
School of Surveying, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Chris
C
Pearson
GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
William
W
Power
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Wellington, New Zealand.
Philip
P
Barnes
GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
David J A
0000-0001-5116-7714
DJ
Barrell
GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Russ
0000-0001-8224-7573
R
Van Dissen
GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Robert
0000-0002-5092-0468
R
Langridge
School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
Tim
T
Little
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Andrew
A
Nicol
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Jarg
J
Pettinga
School of Environment, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Julie
J
Rowland
Geology Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Mark
0000-0002-2562-4675
M
Stirling