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Published November 15, 2007 | Submitted
Journal Article Open

Re-evaluation of the surface ruptures of the November 1951 earthquake series in eastern Taiwan, and its neotectonic implications

Abstract

The earthquakes of November 1951 constitute the most destructive seismic episode in the recorded history of the Longitudinal Valley, eastern Taiwan. However, information about their source parameters is sparse. To understand the relationship between the 1951 ruptures and new interpretations of the regional neotectonic architecture of the Longitudinal Valley, we re-evaluated the November 1951 ruptures by analyzing old documents, reports and photographs, and by interviewing local residents who experienced the earthquake. As a result, we have revised significantly the rupture map previously published. We divide the surface ruptures from south to north into the Chihshang, Yuli, and Rueisuei sections. The first shock of the 1951 series probably resulted from the Chihshang rupture, and the second shock probably resulted from the Yuli and Rueisuei ruptures. The lengths of these ruptures indicate that the two shocks had similar magnitudes. The Chihshang and Rueisuei ruptures are along segments of the Longitudinal Valley fault, a left-lateral oblique fault along which the Coastal Range thrusts westward over the Longitudinal Valley. The Yuli rupture, on the other hand, appears to be part of a separate, left-lateral strike-slip Yuli fault, which traverses the middle of the Longitudinal Valley. The complex behavior of these structures and interaction between them are important in understanding the future seismic hazard of the area.

Additional Information

© 2006 Elsevier Ltd. Received 9 November 2004; revised 14 November 2005; accepted 27 July 2006. Available online 22 January 2007. We thank T.-C. Lin and Y. Wang for their assistance with the Weld work. We are also grateful for valuable discussions with J.-P. Avouac, W.-S. Chen, J.-C. Hu, J.-C. Lin, M.-S. Lin, and Y.-M. Wu. The comments and suggestions of reviewers H.-T. Chu, T.E. Fumal, L. Kirstein, and K. Mueller helped us improve this manuscript significantly. Many old photographs and documents were kindly provided by T.L. Hsu, M.-S. Lin, and S.-N. Cheng. The help of many local residents in eastern Taiwan, especially S.-H. Chang, K.-C. Chiang, L.-P. Tseng, and C.-S. Chang, are greatly appreciated. This work was supported by both the National Science Foundation and the National Science Council. This research was also supported in part by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. This is Caltech Tectonics Observatory Contribution #2.

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August 22, 2023
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