The discovery of an unusual deep slide caused by the Moroccan earthquake in 2023

The discovery of an unusual deep slide caused by the Moroccan earthquake in 2023

A study of the 2023 Morocco earthquake indicates that the tremors detonated at a depth of approximately 25 kilometers below the surface, which is deeper than would normally be expected in this region.

In their quick description of the Moroccan earthquake, called the Al Haouz earthquake, the Ighil earthquake, or the Marrakesh-Safi earthquake, which struck the Al Haouz region in the Marrakesh-Safi region in Morocco with a magnitude of 6.8, researchers from the National Earthquake Information Center of the US Geological Survey (NEIC) indicated that the earthquake occurred on Approximately 25 kilometers below the surface.

The USGS source model, published in The Seismic Record, shows a compact source for the earthquake with slip occurring 15 to 35 kilometers deep, deeper than would normally be expected for earthquakes in this region.

However, the September 8 earthquake occurred in an area with very few recorded earthquakes historically. “The region does not have a high rate of seismic activity, so we don't have a good idea of ​​the 'common' characteristics of large earthquakes in the Atlas Mountains,” said William Yeak, a seismologist with the USGS.

Seismologists use information about the depth of seismic slip to help understand the seismic hazard in a particular area.

Yik noted that the faulting of the Al Haouz earthquake did not break the surface and only a few aftershocks were recorded, both of which make it difficult to confirm the level of faults that caused the earthquake.

The earthquake was named after the region of Morocco most affected by the tremors, as violent tremors occurred near its epicenter and very strong tremors in the city of Marrakesh.

Nearly 3,000 people were reported killed and 5,500 injured, in addition to widespread damage to buildings, in the weeks following the earthquake.

USGS researchers relied on seismic data (seismic wave data collected from stations around the world) in their analysis.

The nearest seismic station is located 100 km from the epicenter, and there are only three other stations within 500 km with openly available, real-time data.

The researchers combined seismic data with InSAR satellite data, which captures changes in ground deformation, to create several models of the earthquake's source.

“We use a lot of tools to characterize these earthquakes, and each of them gives us specific constraints,” Yick explained. “Waveform modeling gives us the best estimate of the seismic midpoint, i.e. the deep rupture, while InSAR can give us the exact location at the surface. Combining the datasets "This is what gives us the most complete picture of the earthquake."

Modeling shows that the earthquake occurred in the lower crust, about 25 km beneath the Western High Atlas Mountains in Morocco, and was a “buried surface rupture” or “blind rupture,” meaning it did not reach the surface.

Only five aftershocks were captured in the US Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center database. “To understand the faults in the area, you have to have a clear picture of the aftershocks, because then you can actually image the faults that slipped,” Yick noted. “But there is still some ambiguity about where the slip occurred without those aftershocks.”



German journalist: Western equipment is not suitable for long-term war

Journalist Julian Ripke from the German newspaper Bild announced that the weapons delivered by the West to Ukraine showed their ineffectiveness in the area of ​​armed conflict.
The journalist said that the Ukrainian army is sounding the alarm about Western howitzers that are malfunctioning as a result of their incompatibility with the conditions of war in Ukraine.

He said on his page on the social network .

He added that it became clear that Western artillery systems were no longer ready for long-term armed conflict and were only suitable for carrying out short operations.

It is noteworthy that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu previously pointed out that Western military equipment, which propaganda claimed was excellent, is in fact far from ideal, and this can be confirmed by examining the exhibits of the War Spoils Museum.

As for the Russian military analyst, Viktor Baranets, he said that Russian engineers and soldiers have dispelled the myth of the ability of Western weapons, and the Americans revealed themselves that there are gaps and weaknesses in their air defense systems, which demonstrated their inability to confront modern Russian missiles.

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