2008 National Seismic Hazard Maps

2008 National Seismic Hazard Maps-Fault parameters

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Fault Name	State
Alamogordo fault	New Mexico

GEOMETRY
Dip (degrees)	50/60/40
Dip direction	W
Sense of slip	normal
Rupture top (km)	0
Rupture bottom (km)	15
Rake (degrees)	-90
Length (km)	121

MODEL VALUES
Probability of activity	1
Minimum magnitude	6.5
Maximum magnitude	7.50
b-value	0.8

Assigned Dip	Fault-Parallel Slip Rate	Width	Annual Rate	a-value	Branch Weight
40	0.17	23.3	7.26e-05	1.262	0.2
50	0.14	19.6	5.11e-05	1.110	0.6
60	0.13	17.3	4.00e-05	1.003	0.2

Comments
The preferred vertical slip rate is from Salyards (1991) based on data presented by Machette (1987), which is supported by more recent studies by Koning (1999) and Koning and Pazzaglia (2002). The characteristic magnitude for this fault is fixed at M7.5 even though the length of the fault would permit a larger earthquake. Dip of fault changed to 50? based on redefined regional default value (Lund, 2006).

Comments

The preferred vertical slip rate is from Salyards (1991) based on data presented by Machette (1987), which is supported by more recent studies by Koning (1999) and Koning and Pazzaglia (2002). The characteristic magnitude for this fault is fixed at M7.5 even though the length of the fault would permit a larger earthquake. Dip of fault changed to 50? based on redefined regional default value (Lund, 2006).

Selected References
Salyards, S.L., 1991, A preliminary assessment of the seismic hazard of the southern Rio Grande rift, New Mexico, in Barker, J.M., Kues, B.S., Austin, G.S., and Lucas, S.G., eds., Geology of the Sierra Blanca, Sacramento and Capitan Ranges, New Mexico: New Mexico Geological Society, 42nd Field Conference, October 9-12, 1991, Guidebook, p. 199-202. Koning, D.J., 1999, Fault segmentation and paleoseismicity of the southern Alamogordo fault, southern Rio Grande rift, New Mexico: Albuquerque, University of New Mexico, unpublished M.S. thesis, 286 p., 2 pls., scale 1:24,000. Lund, W.R., ed., 2006, Basin and Range Province Earthquake Working Group seismic-hazard recommendations to the U.S. Geological Survey National Seismic Hazard Mapping Program: Utah Geological Survey Open-File Report 477, 23 p, ugspub.nr.utah.gov/publications/open_file_reports/OFR-477.pdf. Koning, D.J., and Pazzaglia, F.J., 2002, Paleoseismicity of the Alamogordo fault along the Sacramento Mountains, southern Rio Grande rift, New Mexico, in Lueth, V.W., Giles, K.A., Lucas, S.G., Kues, B.S., Myers, R., and Ulmer-Scholle, D.S., eds., New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook, 53rd Field Conference, Geology of White Sands: Socorro, New Mexico, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, p. 107-119, https://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/downloads/53/53_p0107_p0119.pdf. Machette, M.N., 1987, Preliminary assessment of paleoseismicity at White Sands Missile Range, southern New Mexico—Evidence for recency of faulting, fault segmentation, and repeat intervals for major earthquakes in the region: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 87-444, 46 p.

Selected References

Salyards, S.L., 1991, A preliminary assessment of the seismic hazard of the southern Rio Grande rift, New Mexico, in Barker, J.M., Kues, B.S., Austin, G.S., and Lucas, S.G., eds., Geology of the Sierra Blanca, Sacramento and Capitan Ranges, New Mexico: New Mexico Geological Society, 42nd Field Conference, October 9-12, 1991, Guidebook, p. 199-202.
Koning, D.J., 1999, Fault segmentation and paleoseismicity of the southern Alamogordo fault, southern Rio Grande rift, New Mexico: Albuquerque, University of New Mexico, unpublished M.S. thesis, 286 p., 2 pls., scale 1:24,000.
Lund, W.R., ed., 2006, Basin and Range Province Earthquake Working Group seismic-hazard recommendations to the U.S. Geological Survey National Seismic Hazard Mapping Program: Utah Geological Survey Open-File Report 477, 23 p, ugspub.nr.utah.gov/publications/open_file_reports/OFR-477.pdf.
Koning, D.J., and Pazzaglia, F.J., 2002, Paleoseismicity of the Alamogordo fault along the Sacramento Mountains, southern Rio Grande rift, New Mexico, in Lueth, V.W., Giles, K.A., Lucas, S.G., Kues, B.S., Myers, R., and Ulmer-Scholle, D.S., eds., New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook, 53rd Field Conference, Geology of White Sands: Socorro, New Mexico, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, p. 107-119, https://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/downloads/53/53_p0107_p0119.pdf.
Machette, M.N., 1987, Preliminary assessment of paleoseismicity at White Sands Missile Range, southern New Mexico—Evidence for recency of faulting, fault segmentation, and repeat intervals for major earthquakes in the region: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 87-444, 46 p.