Near-real-time seismology: rapid analysis of earthquake faulting

Recordings of seismic waves generated during an earthquake contain information about the energy release, fault orientation, and slip distribution on the fault. Recent technological advances in seismology enable immediate access to seismograms recorded at globally distributed seismographic stations. The availability of these data allows rapid determination of earthquake source parameters for significant events anywhere in the world from within a few minutes to a few hours after the event. Using several methods, the ability to determine an earthquake point-source model in near real time is demonstrated for the St. George, Utah, earthquake of Sept. 2, 1992. Availability of quantitative faulting information soon after an event can assist emergency response activities, lend guidance to field deployments following the event, and provide a rapid assessment of the tectonic processes involved and the ensuing hazards posed by future earthquakes. -from Authors