Fault slip models of the 2010-2011 Canterbury, New Zealand, earthquakes from geodetic data and observations of postseismic ground deformation

We present source models derived from geodetic data for the four major Canterbury earthquakes of 2010-2011. The September 2010 Darfield earthquake was largely right-lateral, but with several other fault segments active. The February 2011 Christchurch earthquake was mixed right-lateral and reverse with a left-stepping offset interrupting an ENE-striking rupture. The June 2011 earthquake included left-lateral slip on a NNW-striking fault. The December 2011 earthquakes were characterised by offshore reverse slip on an ENE-striking plane. Displacements of GPS sites define small but clearly detectable postseismic deformation east of the September 2010 earthquake, near the February 2011 earthquake and following the June 2011 earthquake. There has been no major moment release in a 15-km-long region between the eastern end of the September 2010 faulting and the western end of the February 2011 faulting. We recommend careful monitoring of this region for the next several years.