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Solid Earth
Dynamics and rapid migration of the energetic 2008–2009 Yellowstone Lake earthquake swarm
Article first published online: 13 OCT 2010
DOI: 10.1029/2010GL044605
Copyright 2010 by the American Geophysical Union.
Additional Information
How to Cite
, , , , and (2010), Dynamics and rapid migration of the energetic 2008–2009 Yellowstone Lake earthquake swarm, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L19305, doi:10.1029/2010GL044605.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 13 OCT 2010
- Article first published online: 13 OCT 2010
- Manuscript Accepted: 23 AUG 2010
- Manuscript Revised: 17 AUG 2010
- Manuscript Received: 6 JUL 2010
Keywords:
- Yellowstone;
- magma;
- earthquake;
- GPS
[1] Yellowstone National Park experienced an unusual earthquake swarm in December–January, 2008–2009 that included rapid northward migration of the activity at 1 km per day and shallowing of the maximum focal depths from 12 to 2 km beneath northern Yellowstone Lake. The swarm consisted of 811 earthquakes, 0.5 < MW < 4.1, aligned on a N–S 12-km-long vertical plane of hypocenters. The largest earthquake of the swarm had a 50% tensile crack-opening source determined by a full waveform inversion that we interpret as a magmatic expansion component. In addition, GPS data revealed E–W crustal extension coincident with the swarm. Modeling of GPS and seismic data is consistent with E–W opening of ∼10 cm on a N–S striking vertical dike. Our interpretation is that the swarm was induced by magmatic fluid migration or propagation of a poroelastic stress pulse along a pre-existing fracture zone.