Information message about the strong earthquake in Guatemala on November 07, 2012

     The strong earthquake with M=7.4 which caused victims and destructions has occurred in region Offshore Guatemala on November 07, 2012 at 16:35 GMT (20:35 Moscow time).
     Parameters of the earthquake have been determined in the Alert Service (AS) of Information Processing Center (IPC) of Geophysical Survey of RAS in Obninsk with station data obtained from digital and analog seismic stations of Russia, countries of CIS and from abroad. Alert message on this earthquake has been delivered in 20 min after registration to the Ministry of Emergency of the Russian Federation (EMERCOM).
     Preliminary processing has been done with data from 37 stations, accurate processing - with data 49 stations.
     Fig. 1 presents fragments of records obtained from digital stations Bilibino (∆ 81.4º), Seimchan (∆ 88.8º), Petropavlovsk (∆ 90.2º), Tiksi (∆ 90.2º), Magadan (∆ 91.1º). Fig. 2 presents fragments of records obtained from digital stations Vasula (∆ 92.2º), Severo-Kurilsk (∆ 92.6º), Yakutsk (∆ 97.4º), Kiev (∆ 97.5º), Obninsk (∆ 98.5º).

Figure 1
 

Figure 2
 
     IPC GS RAS also has obtained information with parameters of this event from some seismological centers, these data are given in table 1:
Table 1
NN Time in origin h-min-s (GMT) Lat degr. Lon degr. Depth km N s/st Ms/ N mb/ N I0 calc GAP Center
1 16-35-48.2 14.14 -91.84  33  37  7.4/166.5/248.5-9 63 IPC GS RAS (Preliminary)
2 16-35-48.1 14.09 -91.79  33  49  7.4/286.5/298.5-9 63 IPC GS RAS (Accurate)
3 16-35-48.0 14.05 -91.75  30  659  7.3 Mw   28 CSEM
4 16-35-50.3 14.08 -91.91  41.6  586  7.4 Mw 6.6/512  NEIC (Preliminary)
5 16-35-50.0 13.99 -91.97  24.1  635  7.4/5386.6/588 58 NEIC (Accurate)
  • IPC GS RAS - Informational Processing Center, Geophysical Survey, Russian Academy of Sciences
  • CSEM - European - Mediterranean seismological center
  • NEIC - National Earthquakes Information Center of US Geological Service
  • Epicenter
         Fig. 3 presents with red star epicenter of this earthquake which origin was located in region Offshore Guatemala, at the depth of 33 km, 50 km S-S-W of Retalhuleu, 97 km South of San-Marcos and 111 km W-S-W of Escuintla.

    Figure 3
    Aftershock
         GS RAS registered 3 aftershocks with M≥5 within 10 hours after the main shock.
    N Date   &   Time (GMT)
    yy-mm-dd hh:mm:sec
    Lat
    degr.
    Lon
    degr.
    Depth
    km
    N
    station
    Ms/ N mb/ N Io
    calc.
    Region
    201241372012-11-07 17:04:03.014.13-91.743311-5.4/ 74.5 Guatemala
    201241402012-11-07 22:42:47.013.96-923313-5.4/ 54.5 Off coast of Chiapas, Mexico
    201241432012-11-08 02:20:35.014.24-923322-5.0/ 103.5-4 Near coast of Chiapas, Mexico
    Macroseismic manifestations
         In accordance with RIA-Novosti 48 persons were killed as a result of this earthquake. The Department of San-Marcos reported about 39 persons killed in the earthquake’s most affected region, and this number may increase after the proper estimation. The number of injured makes now 155 persons and nearly 100 persons are missing. Dozens of houses were destroyed in settlements of San-Marcos department, including the buildings of local authorities and police. Road links were disrupted. Many towns were left without electricity and telephone. Fig. 4 shared from USGS NEIC, presents the USGS Community Internet Intensity Map by 580 responses in 157 cities.

    Figure 4
    Focal mechanism and seismic moment of the earthquake
         Focal mechanism of the earthquake was obtained in GS RAS with signs of initial arrivals of P-waves at 227 stations (219 – plus signs, 8 – minus signs) and with CMT method in NEIC USGS and Quick CMT Catalog, USA. Focal mechanism solutions in stereographic projection at the lower hemisphere are presented at figures 5-7, elements of the mechanism are presented in table 2. All solutions obtained in various centers are identical. The earthquake has occurred under the action of S-W oriented compression stress. NP1 nodal plane is steeply dipping (DP=61-72º), NP2 plane is more flat (DP=26-30º). Type of motion is reverse fault for NP1 and thrust for NP2. Seismic moment of the earthquake in accordance with USGS NEIC makes Мо=1.3*10**20 N*m, Mw=7.4, in accordance with Quick CMT Мо=1.29*10**20 N*m, Mw=7.3.
    Table 2
    Axes of main strengths Nodal planes Center
    T P N NP1 NP2
    Pl Azm Pl Azm Pl Azm Stk Dp Slip Stk Dp Slip
    596324203 1830112772109260 2646IPC GS RAS
    735816212 73041286198291 3076NEIC
    713319208 12991196492296 2687Quick CMT
  • IPC GS RAS - Informational Processing Center, Geophysical Survey, Russian Academy of Sciences
  • NEIC - National Earthquakes Information Center of US Geological Service
  • Quick CMT - Quick CMT catalog

  • Figure 5

    Figure 6

    Figure 7


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