High-Resolution Satellite Imagery Mapping of the Surface Rupture and Slip Distribution of the Mw 7.8, 14 November 2001 Kokoxili Earthquake, Kunlun Fault, Northern Tibet, China

• DOI: 10.1785/0120040233
• Publication Date: 2005-10-12T23:03:11Z
• Authors: Y. Klinger
• Keywords: Epicenter; Surface rupture; Earthquake rupture; Echelon formation

The Mw 7.8 Kokoxili earthquake of 14 November 2001, which ruptured a 450-km-long stretch the sinistral Kunlun strike-slip fault, at northeastern edge Tibet plateau, China, ranks as largest event ever recorded instrumentally in Asia. Newly available high-resolution satellite HRS images (pixel size 1 m) acquired months following proved powerful tool to complement field investigations and produce most accurate map date coseismic displacements along central Kusai Hu segment rupture. rupture geometry south west Buka Daban Feng, near epicenter, was also investigated detail. Along segment, slip parti- tioning is for first time observed occur simultaneously during single event, with two parallel strands, 2 km apart, localizing almost pure normal faulting. In all, 83 new offset measurements, some calibrated by work, show large, well-constrained variations (100%) function over distances only25 km. Tension cracks opening ahead shear dislocation later upward propagating were observed, dem- onstrating that front propagated faster depth than surface. triple junction between Pass where ended, Xidatan-Dongdatan could be next fail main acted strong barrier, implying direct triggering on Kokoxili-type earthquakes may not rule.