%0 Journal Article
%A Canora Catalán, Carolina
%A Villamor Pérez, María Pilar
%A Martínez Díaz, José Jesús
%A Berryman, K.R.
%A Álvarez Gómez, José Antonio
%A Capote Del Villar, Ramón
%A Hernández, Walter
%T Paleoseismic analysis of the San Vicente segment of theEl Salvador Fault Zone, El Salvador, Central America
%D 2012
%@ 1695-6133
%U https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/44263
%X The El Salvador earthquake of February 13th 2001 (Mw 6.6) was associated with the tectonic rupture of the ElSalvador Fault Zone. Paleoseismic studies of the El Salvador Fault Zone undertaken after this earthquake providea basis for examining the longer history of surface rupturing earthquakes on the fault. Trenching at five sitesalong the San Vicente segment, a 21km-long and up to 2km-wide central section of the El Salvador Fault Zone,shows that surface fault rupture has occurred at least seven times during the past 8ka. Single-event displacementsidentified at each trench vary from several decimetres to at least 3.7m. Fault trace mapping, geomorphic analysis,and paleoseismic studies indicate a maximum magnitude for the El Salvador Fault Zone is c. Mw 7.6, with arecurrence interval of around 800yr. Earthquakes of Mw 6.6 or smaller, such as the February 2001 event are unlikelyto be identified in the paleoseismic trenches, so our observations represent the minimum number of moderate tolarge earthquakes that have occurred on this part of the El Salvador Fault Zone. We observe significant variabilityin single-event displacement in the trenches, which we interpret as possible cascade rupture of several segmentsof the El Salvador Fault Zone. Combining displacements of river courses and the timing of events revealed in thetrenches, we calculate a slip rate of c. 4mm/yr for El Salvador Fault Zone, identifying the fault zone as a majortectonic feature of the region, and a major source of seismic hazard and risk in El Salvador.
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