Replies

Seismotectonics of South America (Nazca Plate Region)

The South American arc extends over 7,000 km, from the Chilean margin triple junction offshore of southern Chile to its intersection with the Panama fracture zone, offshore of the southern coast of Panama in Central America. It marks the plate boundary between the subducting Nazca plate and the South America plate, where the oceanic crust and lithosphere of the Nazca plate begin their descent into the mantle beneath South America. The convergence associated with this subduction process is responsible for the uplift of the Andes Mountains, and for the active volcanic chain present along much of this deformation front. Relative to a fixed South America plate, the Nazca plate moves slightly north of eastwards at a rate varying from approximately 80 mm/yr in the south to approximately 65 mm/yr in the north. Although the rate of subduction varies little along the entire arc, there are complex changes in the geologic processes along the subduction zone that dramatically influence volcanic activity, crustal deformation, earthquake generation and occurrence all along the western edge of South America.

1 posted on 04/01/2014 4:59:28 PM PDT by Errant

To: winoneforthegipper; machogirl; The Cajun

2 posted on 04/01/2014 5:00:24 PM PDT by Errant (Surround yourself with intelligent and industrious people who help and support each other.)

4 posted on 04/01/2014 5:02:06 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Being deceived can be cured.)

An 8? Dang, that is big!

5 posted on 04/01/2014 5:03:55 PM PDT by Repeal The 17th (We have met the enemy and he is us.)

Apparently 8s are common there and do produce tsunamis, but in the past not very newsworthy ones I guess.

9 posted on 04/01/2014 5:06:35 PM PDT by rwfromkansas ("Carve your name on hearts, not marble." - C.H. Spurgeon)

M 7.7 Earthquake
83km NW of Iquique, Chile
15 min ago — U.S. Geological Survey

10 posted on 04/01/2014 5:06:40 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)

19 posted on 04/01/2014 5:11:05 PM PDT by Sub-Driver (Proud member of the Republican wing of the Republican Party)

Wonder if this is going to set up a tsunamis warning for Hawaii?

23 posted on 04/01/2014 5:15:04 PM PDT by The Cajun (tea party!!!, Sarah Palin, Mark Levin, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Louie Gohmert......Nuff said.)

24 posted on 04/01/2014 5:15:13 PM PDT by Straight Vermonter (Posting from deep behind the Maple Curtain)

29 posted on 04/01/2014 5:17:57 PM PDT by null and void ( Everything evil in the world may not be Islamic but everything Islamic is evil.)

43 posted on 04/01/2014 5:31:44 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (Play the 'Knockout Game' with someone owning a 9mm and you get what you deserve)

That is a major quake. I hope there is ample warning to all concerned if a tsunami forms.

46 posted on 04/01/2014 5:33:04 PM PDT by PghBaldy (12/14 - 930am -rampage begins... 12/15 - 1030am - Obama's advance team scouts photo-op locations.)

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