7th International Symposium on Andean Geodynamics (ISAG 2008, Nice), Extended Abstracts: 84-87

Seismicity study of the Ecuadorian margin, using combined

inshore-offshore seismological network
Nicole Bthoux1, Bernard Pontoise1, Viviana Alvarez2, Mnica Segovia2, Jean-Yves Collot1,
Philippe Charvis1, Yann Hello1, Kevin Manchuel1, Marc Rgnier1, Yvonne Font1, Jordi Daz3,
Antonio Villaseor3, & Audrey Gailler1
1

Gosciences Azur, Universit Nice-Sophia Antipolis, IRD, Observatoire Cte dAzur, Quai de la Darse, 06235
Villefranche-sur-Mer, France (font@geoazur.obs-vlfr.fr)
2
IG, EPN, Ladron de Guevara E11-2534, Quito, Ecuador (msegovia@igepn.edu.ec)
3
Institut Jaume Almeira, Barcelone, Spain (jdiaz@ija.csic.es)

Introduction
Accurate study of offshore earthquakes is a long-time challenge in the scientific community and this problem
is particularly important in subduction regions (Husen et al, 1999). So far, location of offshore events suffers the
lack of seismological marine stations deployed during a long time on the seafloor. Therefore, earthquakes are
only located using land seismological network, often installed far away from the epicentral area. On another part,
OBS (Ocean Bottom Seismometers) are generally used for wide-angle seismic experiment and installed during a
short time, along 2D profiles. These OBS record not only the marine active shots but also the natural seismicity.
We present here results obtained combining active and passive seismology data and/or passive data recorded
both by OBS and land stations
The region under study is the Ecuadorian margin. There, three surveys were already performed. The first one,
was the campaign SUBLIME, in 1998. 15 OBSs and 10 land stations were deployed during a three week
period in the region of Esmeraldas. The seismic campaign SISTEUR (August - September 2000) took place
offshore Ecuadorian and south Colombian coasts. In the frame of this experiment, a network of 24 OBS was
deployed on the southern flank of the Carnegie ridge (Fig. 1), distributed in a principal axe perpendicular to the
trench and in two branches parallel to the latter. This marine network was complemented with a land network of
20 stations distributed in two lines: one parallel to the margin and the other perpendicular to it. This land-sea
network recorded the wide-angle shots produced by an air gun and the seismicity of the zone during three weeks.
The third one, the project ESMERALDAS was carried on in 2005 from 10 March to 14 June 2005. 26 OBSs
and 33 land stations were deployed during this period.
The scientific objectives of these experiments are included in a international research program, on the
characterization of seismic and gravity hazards of the active subduction margin of Ecuador- Colombia (Collot et
al., 2002). One first aim was to resolve the detailed structure of this convergent margin and to characterize the
interplate contact geometry, mainly by seismic study (Collot et al, 2005; Sage et al., 2007). The objective of the
passive experiment SUBLIME was a first trial to better locate the seismic events of the margin. Thanks to the
data of ESMERALDAS experiment the active deformation of the margin is going to be characterized by a 3D
tomography both active (Garcia et al, this issue) and passive (Manchuel et al., this issue). Complementary
seismological studies can be lead using the waveform of recorded seismic events in order to obtain information
on seismic sources. Use of broad-band seismometers in OBS stations allows innovant study of marine records.
In this paper, we first focus on the results obtained with data from SISTEUR experiment, then we present
some results about ESMERALDAS project. Location of events recorded during SUBLIME and

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7th International Symposium on Andean Geodynamics (ISAG 2008, Nice), Extended Abstracts: 84-87

ESMERALDAS experiments are presented in another study (Manchuel et al., this issue). We present here the
first results about waveform analysis of some seismograms recorded in 2005 by this combined land and marine
network.

SISTEUR results
The high quality of shot data allowed to build constrained velocity models perpendicular to the margin on 200
km length and models parallel to the margin along 130 km length. Details of this work are given in two previous
papers (Graindorge et al., 2003, Gailler et al, 2007). One structural characteristics of this area is the presence of a
low-velocity zone at the bottom of the upperplate corner. The main features of velocity structure are known.
oceanic crust velocity on the upper plate, evidence of the sedimentary Manabi basin and slope of the interplate
channel. In order to better locate the seismic events which occurred near the network, we built a 3D grid
obtained with the projection of the 2D velocity models in perpendicular directions extrapolated onshore from one
part to the other of the main perpendicular profile. However, we took into account the small lateral variations
evidenced thanks to the profiles parallel to the margin
Despite realistic velocity models, the configuration of the network forgives reliable location outside the short
range area defined previously. So, we studied the waveform of available records in order to better constrain the
location of some events. Indeed, at regional distances, the waveform is mainly linked with the hypocentral
parameters, and in a second order to the focal mechanism (Bertil et al., 1988). We built synthetic waveform
using the discrete wave-number method implemented by Bouchon and Aki (1977). We used the code modified
by Coutant (1994) who replaced the computation of wave propagation at the interface obtained with ThompsonHaskell methodology, by a matrix computation of reflection and transmission coefficient at each interface of the
1D velocity model. The so-called AXITRA code computes in the frequency domain the Green solutions,
depending of the hypocentral coordinates, the position of the station respect to this hypocentre, and crustal model
(velocity, density, Q factors and thickness of each layer). These Green solutions are then convolued with the
source function, depending of the focal mechanism and seismic moment M0. Afterwards, The seismogram is
compared with the observed record in the time domain.
In our case study the model is strongly 2D depending of the position in a west-east azimuth. So, in order to
validate a condition of ~1D model between the source and the receptors we limit the computation to ray path
between source and stations, which are roughly parallel to the margin. The crustal model used for this modelling
depends of the position of the ray path respect to the margin.
Even if the period of recorded was very short, some observations can be deduced from these results. The
seismicity is located both in the upperlying plate and in the downgoing margin, with depth increasing from the
trench up to the eastern direction.
Some events are located just at the intraplate boundary, as deduced from the wide-angle modelling. The
minimum depth of these events are ~10km , which can be the upper limit of the ISZ around the latitude of 1.4S .
Then the hypocenters get deeper up to 35 km at a distance of ~100 km of the trench. However the main result is
the presence of a swarm clearly separated in two parts one in the upperlying plate, the second in the downgoing
crust. This swarm location corresponds to the trace of the Jipijapa fault (Daly, 1989, Deniaud 2000). This major
fault is described in all the geological studies of the Ecuadorian margin. It limits the Manabi basin to the west. It
is described in the litterature as a system of faults defined as a srtike-slip duplex, due to the regional

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7th International Symposium on Andean Geodynamics (ISAG 2008, Nice), Extended Abstracts: 84-87

transpressive stress field. We could perform three focal solutions compatible, showing a nodal plane compatible
with a dextral fault oriented N20 up to N30. This study shows that this fault is seismically active, and suggests
that this fault is deeply rooted in the crust and reach the interplate boundary. The swarm located beneath the
fault could be the expression of an asperity due to the decoupling of the upper plate by this fault.
13 focal solutions are proposed. A compressive stress field is evidenced in the downgoing plate with a
compressive axis P orientated E-W. In the upperlying plate, normal solutions correspond to rupture planes
orientated NW-SE. Among them, the two largest magnitude recorded during the experiment are located near
the Bahia fault. The other are located in the Manabi basin. The coexistence of these two types of mechanisms
is coherent with a transtensive stress-field due to the convergence of Nazca and South American plates and
escape of the North-Andin block towards the NNE.

Figure 1. a- Location of the three temporary networks deployed in the Ecuadorian margin. b- Some focal solutions deduced
from polarity readings and waveform analysis for seismic events between Bahia de Caraquez and Manta region. c- Zoom
on the coastal region and other focal solutions for this region.

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7th International Symposium on Andean Geodynamics (ISAG 2008, Nice), Extended Abstracts: 84-87

ESMERALDAS results
The same methodology was used for waveform modeling of some seismograms recorded during
ESMERALDAS experiment, both by broad-band OBS and by land seismological stations. We present here the
study of events located on the margin.
The discrepancy of waveforms recorded in different azimuthal directions allows to constrain the focal
mechanism and source parameters . We also show the influence on the waveform of the different crustal model
around the receivers.

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