What the study found
The study found that near-field ground-motion stopping phases can show when rupture propagation in large strike-slip earthquakes ends abruptly. A transient overshoot in fault-parallel ground-surface displacement was identified as a robust sign of this abrupt stop.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that these observations help explain where and when earthquake rupture stops, which they note is important because earthquake magnitude is controlled by rupture arrest. They also suggest the findings indicate large strike-slip earthquakes may rupture in segments, with abrupt stops and restarts at internal fault-segment boundaries.
What the researchers tested
The researchers analyzed near-field seismic records from 12 global large strike-slip earthquakes. They also used dynamic rupture simulations to examine how shallow low-wavespeed rocks affect near-field ground motions and surface displacement overshoot.
What worked and what didn't
The analysis found that displacement overshoot was a consistent diagnostic signature of abrupt rupture termination in the events studied. The simulations showed that low-wavespeed rocks at shallow depth strongly amplify near-field ground motions and increase the overshoot recorded at the surface. The stopping phases were observed at near-fault locations far from mapped rupture termini, which the authors interpret as evidence of segmented rupture behavior.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe limitations in detail beyond the scope of the 12 events studied and the simulations used. The interpretation about segmented rupture is based on the observed stopping phases and the authors' analysis.
Key points
- Near-field stopping phases were observed in 12 global large strike-slip earthquakes.
- A transient overshoot in fault-parallel ground-surface displacement was identified as a diagnostic sign of abrupt rupture arrest.
- Dynamic simulations showed that shallow low-wavespeed rocks amplify near-field ground motions and displacement overshoot.
- Stopping phases appeared at near-fault locations far from mapped rupture termini.
- The authors suggest large strike-slip earthquakes may rupture in segments, with stops and restarts at internal boundaries.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Near-field stopping phases mark abrupt arrest in large strike-slip earthquakes
- Authors:
- Jesse Kearse, Yoshihiro Kaneko
- Institutions:
- Kyoto University, Kyoto University, Victoria University of Wellington
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-23
- OpenAlex record:
- View
- Image credit:
- John Wiley User:Jw4nvc – Santa Barbara, California, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
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