Journal Article

Weak, Vertically Stronger Main Himalayan Thrust in the India‐Asia Collision

Schulte‐Pelkum, Vera, Li, Shaoyang, Karplus, Marianne, Oncken, Onno, Barnhart, William D., Chen, Ling

2024

Overview

Megathrusts at convergent plate boundaries generate the largest and some of the most hazardous earthquakes on Earth. However, their physical properties, including those influencing fault slip accumulation and release and earthquake‐related surface displacements, are still poorly constrained at critical depths. Here, we combine seismic imaging and geodetic modeling to investigate the structure and mechanical behavior of the Main Himalayan Thrust fault (MHT) in the center of the 2015 Mw 7.8 Gorkha rupture in Nepal. Our results from two independent observations consistently suggest the presence of a channel associated with the MHT with high compliance (shear modulus as low as ∼4 GPa) and strain anisotropy (stiffer in the vertical orientation than in the horizontal), likely arising from a weak subducting layer with north‐dipping foliation. Such mechanical heterogeneity significantly influences the quantification of short‐term fault kinematics and associated earthquake potential, with implications on across‐scale dynamics of plate boundaries in Himalaya and elsewhere. Plain Language Summary The Main Himalayan Thrust fault marks the boundary where the Indian continent slides beneath the Eurasian plate, causing earthquakes like the 2015 magnitude 7.8 event in Nepal. Subsurface images constructed using seismic waves suggest a weak layer surrounding the fault. However, we show that the seismic signature of this layer changes depending on the direction in which the seismic waves travel through it. We compare this information on the subsurface structure to insights from static surface motions during the earthquake. We find that the fit to the motion is poor when we assume the subsurface rock around the fault has the same strength in both horizontal and vertical orientations. The fit improves when we assume the near‐fault rock is stronger under vertical compression than under horizontal compression. This assumption also helps explain the images constructed using seismic waves. We suggest that a strong oriented rock fabric develops in a channel around the plate boundary. The presence of this fabric may have influenced our estimates of fault slip before, during and after great earthquakes. Accurately describing this behavior is crucial for understanding the earthquake potential of plate boundary faults. Key Points Seismic imaging suggests a Main Himalayan Thrust‐associated low‐velocity channel with north‐dipping anisotropic foliation Modeling of InSAR and GNSS data together suggests a weak channel with anisotropic rigidity whose orientation matches seismic constraints The weak anisotropic plate boundary may be related to S‐C fabrics and influence the margin geodynamics on different time scales

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,Wiley
• Subject: Anisotropy / Boundaries / Compression / Compressive strength / Earthquake construction / Earthquakes / Fault lines / finite‐element modeling / Geological faults / GNSS and InSAR / Heterogeneity / Horizontal orientation / Image compression / Kinematics / Longitudinal waves / low‐velocity zone / Main Himalayan Thrust / Mechanical properties / P-waves / Physical properties / Plate boundaries / Plates / Plates (tectonics) / receiver functions / Rock / Rocks / Seismic activity / Seismic response / Seismic waves / Shear modulus / Strain / Subduction (geology) / Surface motion / Thrust faults / Vertical orientation