Detecting Hidden Aftershocks of the 2015 Mw 7.8 Gorkha Earthquake Using Multiple Global Seismic Arrays

Abstract:

Spatio-temporal evolution of aftershocks is important for the study of rupture extent [McCann et al., 1979], stress transfer [King et al., 1994], postseismic deformation [Hsu et al., 2006; Sladen et al., 2010], hazard assessment and forecasting of future seismicity [e.g., Cocco et al., 2010]. However, many aftershocks remain undetected by the global network due to the limitation of the density and distribution of seismic instruments. In this study, we use the back-projection method with multiple global seismic arrays to detect the hidden earthquakes (not recorded by current standard global earthquake catalog) following the 2015 Mw 7.8 Gorkha earthquake. There are 140 aftershocks in the global catalog within 10 days since the mainshock. Using array methods, we are able to detect about twice as many events near the mainshock. According to the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) comprehensive earthquake catalog, the first aftershock happened 4 minutes after the mainshock. We detect aftershocks even before that event. This shows that back-projection can be used to detect early aftershocks in global scale, which usually remain undetected by the arrival of various seismic phases immediately following a large earthquake [Lengline et al., 2012]. Detection of these hidden aftershocks provides a more complete picture of the spatiotemporal distribution of aftershock activity and helps improve the completeness of the global standard aftershock catalog. Our improved aftershock catalog shows east-west aftershocks distribution (Figure 1), similar to the ANSS catalog. In addition, we detect significant number of aftershocks north, south, and within the coseismic rupture area. The improved aftershock catalog using existing global seismic arrays enables us to better study aftershocks dynamics, stress evolution and earthquake characteristics.