Measuring ground deformations caused by 2015 Mw7.8 Nepal earthquake using high-rate GPS data

• Main Authors: Yong Huang, Shaomin Yang, Xuejun Qiao, Mu Lin, Bin Zhao, Kai Tan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2017-07-01
• Series: Geodesy and Geodynamics
• Subjects: High-rate GPS; Mw7.8 Nepal earthquake; Dynamic ground motion; Permanent coseismic displacements; P-wave arrival detection
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674984716300945

The April 25, 2015 Mw7.8 Nepal earthquake was successfully recorded by Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) and Nepal Geodetic Array (NGA). We processed the high-rate GPS data (1 Hz and 5 Hz) by using relative kinematic positioning and derived dynamic ground motions caused by this large earthquake. The dynamic displacements time series clearly indicated the displacement amplitude of each station was related to the rupture directivity. The stations which located in the direction of rupture propagation had larger displacement amplitudes than others. Also dynamic ground displacement exceeding 5 cm was detected by the GPS station that was 2000 km away from the epicenter. Permanent coseismic displacements were resolved from the near-field high-rate GPS stations with wavelet decomposition-reconstruction method and P-wave arrivals were also detected with S transform method. The results of this study can be used for earthquake rupture process and Earthquake Early Warning studies.