Temporal Seismic Velocity Variations: Recovery Following From the 2019 Mw 7.1 Ridgecrest, California Earthquake

We investigated seismic velocity changes (dv/v) associated with the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence with high-frequency autocorrelations of ambient seismic noise data. Daily autocorrelation functions were computed for the entirety of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020 for broadband stations within the region, including the temporary broadband stations installed during the aftershock deployment. Travel time shifts in the daily autocorrelation functions, relative to the mean autocorrelation waveform, were computed to produce dv/v time series, which are sensitive to the evolving material properties of the shallow crust surrounding the Ridgecrest fault zone (RFZ). A short-term velocity drop follows the M-w 7.1 earthquake at stations in the vicinity of the rupture surface, while those greater than 50 km away showed no such drop. The maximum, absolute changes in seismic velocity are proportional to the logarithm of distance from the fault rupture and to the peak dynamic strain experienced during the earthquake. Near the areas of the highest coseismic slip within the RFZ, seismic velocities recovered over 3 months. However, in the vicinity of the nearby Garlock fault, where triggered slip manifested, and north of the RFZ, seismic velocities recovered within a month. We interpret the seismic velocity changes and their recovery to be largely due to changes in the physical properties of the shallow crust, such as fault zone damage recovery caused by the earthquake rupture process and in response to the large dynamic stresses of passing seismic waves from the mainshock.

Automated summary

This study investigates seismic velocity changes associated with the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence using high-frequency autocorrelations of ambient seismic noise data. The results show that seismic velocity changes are largely due to fault zone damage recovery caused by the earthquake rupture process and in response to the large dynamic stresses of passing seismic waves from the mainshock. The absolute changes in seismic velocity are proportional to the logarithm of distance from the fault rupture, with stations further away experiencing smaller changes.