Résumé : From the PNCR, GAP MPs free to vote conscience on gay rights bill By Johann Earle Stabroek News June 11, 2003 The PNCR will allow its members to vote their conscience on the controversial Constitution (Amendment) Act of 2001 which seeks to prevent discrimination against persons on the basis of their sexual orientation and other grounds. A number of religious organisations are opposed to the passage of the bill because it includes sexual orientation as one of the grounds. They are concerned that it could lead to a legalisation of homosexual relations and demands for recognition of gay marriages among other things. PNCR Member of Parliament (MP) Vincent Alexander told a forum at the National Library on Saturday, that the Bill did not seek to legalise homosexuality, but to ensure that persons would not be discriminated against based on their sexual preferences. He was one of two parliamentarians who showed up - the other being PNCR member, Myrna Peterkin. The forum was organised by Students Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), a group comprising fifteen students from the University of Guyana which was formed about two weeks ago. Alexander expects the vote on the bill to come up before the National Assembly in a matter of months. Paul Hardy, Leader of the Guyana Action Party (GAP), told Stabroek News that his party would not be using the so-called parliamentary whip. He added that GAP took a decision that every member should vote according to his or her own conscience. “We have no right to deny the rights of others based on sexual orientation. [The Bill] will guarantee rights to the homosexual.” GAP is in Parliament as part of an alliance with the Working People’s Alliance. GAP/WPA has two MPs. The bill was met with rejection from some members of the religious community in 2001 and as a result of this, the President did not assent to it. In a statement on Monday, the Central Islamic Organisa-tion of Guyana (CIOG) said that it stood in firm opposition to the Bill. The CIOG says the general purpose of the bill may be commendable and that the organisation’s objection is not based on a willingness to promote discrimination. Rather, the CIOG said, it was based on the fact that specific legal protection on the basis of sexual orientation without definition or qualification gives tacit legitimacy to practices which are considered criminal in Islam. “It is foreseeable that such a legal nod of approval (subtle as it may be) of these practices may pave the way for greater social (or even legal) acceptability in the future which, from the perspective of all Muslims including those in Guyana, is an undesirable and sinful outcome,” the CIOG statement said. At Saturday’s event, Muslim teacher Moulana Mohamed Ali Zenjibari spoke of instances of abuse, discrimination and harsh penalties meted out to gay and lesbian persons in countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia and noted that the Quran did not sanction such punishments for homosexual behaviour. President of the CIOG, Fazeel Ferouz told Stabroek News that a meeting to discuss a strategy with regards to the bill was planned for tomorrow with various religious groups. Stabroek News tried to get a comment on the issue from the PPP/C but to no avail. ROAR leader, Ravi Dev said that his party was now having discussions on the issue. ROAR feels that it is an important question which has to do with morality and should be discussed across the country. He added legislators had to be in tune with their constituents on the issue. SASOD is lobbying for the legislation through the sensitisation of MPs. Keimo Benjamin, a law student at UG, gave a presentation based on the jurisprudential aspects of the discussion on sexual orientation. He argued that morality should not be the only guiding principle on which to base the laws. Sexual activities between two consenting male adults in private could not be equated with a violation of a person’s rights, he said, making the point that the thrust of his presentation was not whether homosexuality was wrong, but whether it violated the rights of others. He said that the attitudes of some towards this subject were based on preconceived notions and prejudices. He cited studies to show that the suppression of certain perceived deviant sexual impulses in persons might do more harm than good. One Harvard University study of teens who said they were gay indicated that those teens were three times more likely to commit suicide. Vidyaratha Kissoon, of Help and Shelter, in his contribution on Saturday, expressed his displeasure at the low turnout at the forum and urged the parliamentarians who showed up to take the message to their colleagues. He noted that because of homophobia, the numerical minority was terrified of speaking out against instances of discrimination. Gays and lesbians in Guyana were subjected to ridicule and abuse, and walk the streets at night not looking for sex necessarily, but for the companionship of persons who empathise with them. During his presentation, Joel Simpson, another member of SASOD, outlined a number of changes made within national jurisdictions that had international implications. One such crucial change was South Africa’s 1996 adoption of a new constitution, making that country the first in the world to expressly include sexual orientation as a prohibited ground of discrimination. It was the first time a developing country had taken the lead with respect to the rights of sexual minorities. He also said that according to Douglas Sanders, a Canadian jurist, the rights of homosexual, bisexual or transsexual men and women had never been officially recognised by the United Nations, despite the fact that international laws on the issue began to emerge at the close of the Second World War. Simpson said that under Article 170 (5), as amended by Section 8 of the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 4) Act 2000, the President is required to assent to any bill which is returned by the National Assembly unaltered after a two-thirds majority within 90 days of its presentation to him. To the parliamentarians present, Simpson stressed that the onus was now on them to adequately represent their constituents which include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual Guyanese. http://www.landofsixpeoples.com/news301/ns306115.htm and Vote on sexual orientation should be a matter of conscience - MP Alexander By Esther Elijah Guyana Chronicle June 8, 2003 PEOPLE’S National Congress (PNC/R) Member of Parliament Mr. Vincent Alexander, said the Opposition will vote on “conscience” when the piece of legislation on sexual orientation is again brought before the National Assembly. “With specific reference to my party, when this Bill gets back to the Parliament in the spirit of the arguments here, we will not use the `whip’. Our party will not say we have to vote for the provision (in the Sexual Orientation Bill). We will allow our members to vote as a matter of conscience,” he told participants gathered in the Conference Room of the National Library. “We feel this is a matter of conscience. You may end up with a collective position but you have to deal with us individually,” Alexander said at a poorly attended public consultation aimed at gaining support for sexual orientation to be considered a fundamental right in Guyana. Alexander, one of the main persons who sat on the Constitutional Reform Commission that addressed this controversial clause, said the legislation was not meant to legalise homosexual activities in Guyana. “It was intended to ensure that persons who have an orientation - a way of thinking - which may or may not lead to a certain activity, to not be discriminated against, in terms of their rights,” he explained. Alexander noted that very often, discussions on the sexual orientation provision in the Bill have led to seepages into other areas where debates centre on the “right to be homosexual.” “I am saying the Bill does not comment on that… However, law is peculiar, especially in a Common Law system. Once you venture out and change the law, very often you open other windows which we cannot definitively say exist or does not exist in advance,” he said. “The fear of some people is that the legislators might say one thing and the Courts will eventually say something else. While some people can’t argue against the law, per say, they will say this has opened a window of opportunity not meant to be opened. So, it is better to stay without a window than open it and then have a possibility of something you didn’t intend to happen - happening sometime in the future.” Alexander added: “I want to say I’ve found this activity to have been rich from the perspective of the amount of research which was done by student (speakers). Without any comment as to whether I agree with the arguments, I would wish that much more research on other issues be done by students, and that at the University (of Guyana) students would find it convenient to have forums on other issues, with the same depth of research for their own intellectual development.” Alexander and other Opposition M.P, Lurlene Nestor were the only three Parliamentarians in attendance at the session organised by the recently formed `Students Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination’ (SASOD), a group that has a membership of 15 mostly University of Guyana (UG) students from various faculties. SASOD was established two weeks ago. With the exception of members of the press, the consultation only managed to attract 11 persons, a handful of who were SASOD members. While congratulating the students for an “insightful” presentation, Nestor pointed out that whether or not she chooses to agree with their position is “another issue” and she is entitled to her “own view”. “The issue of sexual orientation is very `toucheous’ …while we agree with the human rights provisions and all that as a society, we must also revert to our own society. Some of the very critical questions that I would want to ask is whether or not at the society (level) we are ready for that kind of thing,” she remarked. “We cannot, at (any) time, ignore the religious groups in our society. If we look at statistics going back to 1992 from a survey done by the Bureau of Statistics, we would see that a small section of the Guyanese population might be considered as people who do not subscribe to a religious view. While the laws are not necessarily based on moral values, we must acknowledge the fact that we might want to revert to many of the cases that (concern) laws that protect public morality.” Nestor told the speakers at the consultation these were some of the issues that they needed to deal with. She highlighted, too, that what must be examined is the effects of same-sex marriages on society and how this issue must be tackled. “These are some of the things we should consider and I don’t think you dealt with that in the presentations,” Nestor stated, adding that the issues must be addressed “frontally.” “Do we think that with the coming to being of this Bill that there might be quite a number of challenges to the Constitution in relation to the same issue of a man marrying a man? What do we do at the society (level)? Do we recognise that?” were the questions directed at the five speakers at the session. Nestor continued: “There is some argument that says, `Oh the Bill does not promote homosexuality or does not encourage a man to marry (another) man, but if you look at Section (15) that talks about `non-discrimination’ then how can we not, with the passage of this Bill, allow a man not to marry (another) man.” According to Nestor, matters of this nature constitute some of the “inconsistencies” of the Bill. On the argument raised by presenters at the session on who determines what is morality, Nestor said in the concept of democracy it is the people who are the determinants based on a “line of thinking.” She also rebutted on grounds that put the spotlight on teachers who may have been caught “interfering” with their young students and who may subsequently be dismissed from their jobs. “Could you imagine such a person interfering with a boy below age 10 - and by virtue of the fact that the Bill is there, the judges (in the case) will have to use their discretion in terms of what happens. We will have more Constitutional changes and problems (arising with the passage of the Bill).” SASOD member and law student, Joel Simpson, in reply, said he doesn’t think any homosexual in Guyana wants to “run into a church and ask that people marry them or anything of that sort.” At one point likening the church to a “club”, Simpson claimed the church has the right to exclude whomever it wants. He further stated that in accordance with the Constitution, people of the same sex do not currently have the right to marry, and will also not be able to do such an act with the passage of the Bill. However, Simpson said it is possible that the law, with the passage of the Bill, would have to recognise same-sex domestic partnerships in relation to employment benefits, sharing of properties, etc. Simpson said he believes there should be a realm of “public” and “private” morality between consenting adults, and implied that the Bill did not fully give “rights” to homosexuals. But, Nestor interjected: “I am informing you further…that the Sexual Orientation provision has, in fact, in some way recognised the rights of homosexuals and we must accept that.” Meanwhile, there was no vocal Christian representative(s) at the consultation and apart from the two Opposition representatives none other participant gave comments or directed questions at the presenters. Other speakers in support of the sexual orientation clause were: Moulana Mohammed Ali Zenjiban, Assistant Director of the International Islamic College; Denuka Radzik from Red Thread, Keimo Benjamin, UG law student and Vidyartha Kissoon from Help & Shelter. The Sunday Chronicle has been reliably informed that the Georgetown Ministers Fellowship, representing groups of Christian leaders staunchly against sexual orientation as a right in Guyana, have recently prepared a detailed 16-page document outlining issues arising from research to further boost their argument against the inclusion of the clause. The document is yet to be made public. http://www.landofsixpeoples.com/news301/nc306083.htm

Droits : All rights reserved by the source institution.
http://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00014700/00001

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : We use a triangular representation of the plunges of P, B, and Taxes to compare the different ways tectonic regime is inferred from earthquake focal mechanisms in recent works. We argue that P, B, and Taxes provide a reasonable estimate of principal stress directions when faulting is close to Andersonian conditions, and that this can be estimated from the location on a triangular diagram. We analyze the geometrical relationship between the plunges of P, B, and Taxes on one hand, and the rake of slip and dip of nodal planes on the other hand. We show that the rake and dip level curves correspond to trajectories of the vertical direction along great and small circles with respect to the frame of the P, B. and Taxes. This shows that dip-slip faulting is compatible with vertical P or Taxes, but does not require it, and instead requires horizontal B axes. It also shows that strike-slip faulting does not require vertical B axes, but P and Taxes with equal plunges. This also reveals that focal mechanisms where P, B, and Taxes all have moderate plunge correspond to two very different types of nodal planes: a steeply dipping one with oblique slip and a moderately dipping one with strike-slip. Seismically active and moderately dipping strike-slip faults are to be found among these events.
ISSN: 0040-1951

hal-00486367
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00486367
DOI : 10.1016/j.tecto.2009.03.006

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD AGU and the Geochemical Society
Résumé : International audience
Although magmatism may occur during the earliest stages of continental rifting, its role in strain accommodation remains weakly constrained by largely 2-D studies. We analyze seismicity data from a 13 month, 39-station broadband seismic array to determine the role of magma intrusion on state-of-stress and strain localization, and their along-strike variations. Precise earthquake locations using cluster analyses and a new 3-D velocity model reveal lower crustal earthquakes beneath the central basins and along projections of steep border faults that degas CO2. Seismicity forms several disks interpreted as sills at 6-10 km below a monogenetic cone field. The sills overlie a lower crustal magma chamber that may feed eruptions at Oldoinyo Lengai volcano. After determining a new ML scaling relation, we determine a b-value of 0.87±0.03. Focal mechanisms for 65 earthquakes, and 13 from a catalogue prior to our array reveal an along-axis stress rotation of ∼60° in the magmatically active zone. New and prior mechanisms show predominantly normal slip along steep nodal planes, with extension directions ∼N90°E north and south of an active volcanic chain consistent with geodetic data, and ∼N150°E in the volcanic chain. The stress rotation facilitates strain transfer from border fault systems, the locus of early-stage deformation, to the zone of magma intrusion in the central rift. Our seismic, structural, and geochemistry results indicate that frequent lower crustal earthquakes are promoted by elevated pore pressures from volatile degassing along border faults, and hydraulic fracture around the margins of magma bodies. Results indicate that earthquakes are largely driven by stress state around inflating magma bodies.
ISSN: 1525-2027

hal-01667198
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01667198
DOI : 10.1002/2017GC007027

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Absolute earthquake hypocenter locations have been determined in the area offshore eastern Taiwan, at the Southernmost Ryukyu subduction zone. Location process is run within a 3D velocity model by combining the Taiwanese and neighboring Japanese networks and using the 3D MAXI technique. The study focuses on the most active seismic cluster in the Taiwan region that occurs in the forearc domain offshore eastern Taiwan. Earthquakes distribute mainly along 2 active planes. The first one aligns along the subduction interface and the second one, shallower affects the overriding margin. Focal mechanisms within the shallow group indicate that nodal planes are either compatible with high-angle back-thrusts or low-angle thrusts. The active seismic deformation exclusively indicates reverse faulting revealing that the forearc basement undergoes trench-perpendicular strong compression. By integrating the seismological image into the regional context, we favor the hypothesis in which the dense seismicity occurring offshore marks the activity of en-échelon high-angle reverse faults accommodating the uplift of a broken piece of Ryukyu Arc basement, called Hoping Basement Rise. The uplift is inferred to be caused by the subduction of an oceanic relief, either exotic block, seamount or oceanic crust sliver. Our favored solution satisfies the narrowness of epicenter's cluster along the Hoping Canyon, and the observation of high-angle active faults on seismic lines crossing the area. Furthermore, this solution is compatible with the active uplift of the Hoping Rise demonstrated from morphological and sedimentological data. We do not exclude the branching of the high-angle reverse faults system onto a splay fault connected with the subduction interface but further investigations are needed to map precisely the 3D distribution of active faults that break the margin.
ISSN: 0040-1951

hal-00407726
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00407726
DOI : 10.1016/j.tecto.2007.11.018

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union
Résumé : International audience
The reactivation of faults with near-optimal orientations is commonly considered to control the state of stress in the crust. Near the surface, where a principal stress direction is vertical, the attitude of such faults is explained by Anderson's theory. This raises the questions of how prevalent this type of faulting actually is in current seismicity, down to what depth it frequently occurs, and what range of friction angles explains it best. The Global Centroid Moment Tensor catalog is analyzed to address these questions. Dip-slip and strike-slip mechanisms are dominant, and oblique slips are relatively rare for well-constrained events with depths shallower than 30 km. Preferred Andersonian faulting is the simplest, but not the unique, explanation for this dominance. Isolating reverse, strike- slip, and normal events reveals an asymmetry in the distribution of nodal plane dips and plunges of the P, B, and T axes between reverse and normal faulting. Assuming that the most frequent events correspond to reactivation near optimal orientations yields 40-60 degrees and 0-20 degrees friction angles for reverse and normal faults, respectively. This indicates that reverse and normal faulting mechanics are not symmetrical with respect to stress configuration as predicted by Anderson's theory.
ISSN: 8755-1209

hal-00412159
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00412159
DOI : 10.1029/2007RG000240

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
We review the evolution of concepts on and methods of estimating the state of stress from fault movements. Theories of failure in isotropic materials suggested a simple geometrical construction of optimal principal stress directions from a fault plane and its associated slip. These optimal directions align shear stress and slip directions and maximize the difference between shear stress and frictional resistance on the fault plane. Optimal stress directions for calcite twinning are obtained by a similar construction, with the difference that they maximize shear stress. Force representation of seismic sources independently introduced pressure, P, and tension, T, axes at positions that also maximize shear stress on both nodal planes. Frictional slip theory and the constraint that slip and shear stress directions be parallel allowed to address reactivation of pre-existing faults. This suggested that stress could also be inverted from reactivated fault and slip data or earthquake focal mechanisms. Early methods relied on geometrical constructions as a substitute for calculations, whereas later methods relied on software as these calculations became tractable with the help of computers. Similar methods were developed for the inversion of stress from crystal twin gliding with non-optimal geometry, with a different criterion that relies on a threshold of the component of shear stress along the gliding line. Even though these methods seek a common stress tensor compatible with fault and slip data, their main use is to separate polyphase data into homogeneous subsets and help deciphering complex tectonic histories. Fault and slip data can also be analyzed to constrain the strain rather than the stress tensor. In most cases this involves a summation and yields an average strain for the considered rock volume. Stress inversion thus appears better suited for differentiating heterogeneous data whereas strain analysis appears better suited for homogenizing them.
ISSN: 0040-1951

hal-00759043
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00759043
DOI : 10.1016/j.tecto.2012.02.009

Éditeur(s) : Université de la Rochelle
Résumé : In order to better understand the functioning of the Brouage intertidal mudflat (Marennes- Oléron Basin, France), its carbon-based trophic web has been modelled and analyzed. The foodweb building is based on the 4 step method of Inverse Analysis: 1) conceive an a priori model as the graph of compartments (nodes) between which exist fluxes of material (vertices). These vertices are the unknowns for the problem; 2) gather all the existing knowledge about the ecosystem and translate it into linear equations and inequalities involving the fluxes; 3) complete this set of data by common knowledge on the behaviour of the compartments and translate it into inequalities, 4) solve the obtained linear system under the parsimony principle to find a unique solution vector. The food-web analysis is based on. The first purpose of this work was a methodological one: inverse analysis method has been adapted to consider the seasonal and spatial variability of the temperate ecosystem: two seasons have been coupled in the computation and the area has been divided into three geographical zones along a cross-shore gradient. Hence, two types of physical exchanges are involved: the benthicpelagic ones and the advection ones. Statistical results can also be obtained by coupling Monte Carlo methods to Inverse Analysis. To study the obtained networks, new indices based on Markov Chains take delay into account in describing integrative transfers of material between compartments. This lets emerge the systems' properties that are not obvious at first sight and emphasizes the role of peculiar components. The second purpose was to apply such methods to the Brouage mudflat ecosystem in order to better understand its functioning. As the knowledge and methods evolve, various food webs were computed and analyzed with the help such indices and existing ones. Sensitivity analyses allow to point at the most crucial lacks of knowledge, which can orientate future field research. New data would improve the quality of the model in two ways: one the one hand, they would validate or invalidate the outcomes and on the other hand, they would give useful information to better constrain some of the black boxes and most uncertain fluxes, especially the advection and vertical flows. The main results of the study show a strongly seasonal system in which benthic and pelagic components are linked with intensity. The system is driven by its high local benthic primary production, but also depends on imports from the basin. Each of the 3 geographic zones has a peculiar functioning. The central zone corresponds to the classical description of European intertidal mudflats: very productive, it can feed the other regions. It is a production zone. The upper part is less productive but is fed by the middle one via the water column and can be exploited by shorebirds. It is a degradation zone (material is transformed for less qualitative). The lower part strongly depends on the basin imports for its functioning, as the cultivated bivalves act as a pump for pelagic material of which a great part is deposited under the cultivation structures (oyster racks or mussels "bouchots"). It is a transformation zone.
Un double objectif (méthodologique et appliqué) a été visé par une modélisation du réseau trophique de la vasière de Brouage (Bassin de Marennes Oléron, France) à l'aide de l'analyse inverse, et son étude à l'aide de l'analyse des réseaux. L'Analyse Inverse permet en effet de reconstruire l'ensemble du réseau à partir de données éparses, le problème du manque de données étant récurrent en Ecologie. Au plan méthodologique, l'analyse inverse a été adaptée à la prise en compte des caractères saisonnier et spatialement hétérogène d'un écosystème tempéré de zone intertidale : deux saisons ont ainsi été couplées et la vasière a été considérée le long d'un transect perpendiculaire au rivage et divisé en trois zones spatiales. Deux types de flux physiques interviennent donc : les flux verticaux de dépôt et remise en suspension, et les flux d'advection via la colonne d'eau. Des pistes d'amélioration et de nouvelles méthodes sont proposées. Un résultat sous forme statistique peut être obtenu en couplant l'utilisation de méthodes de Monte Carlo à l'analyse inverse pour la construction des réseaux trophiques. Les moyens d'étude des modèles ont été enrichis par la mise au point d'indices issus de la construction de chaînes de Markov et prenant en compte le caractère temporel des transferts de matière entre compartiments. Enfin, la transformation mathématique du modèle statique pour une étude dynamique de la stabilité de l'équilibre décrit est abordée. Plusieurs modèles ont été construits au cours de l'évolution des méthodes et de l'acquisition de connaissances sur le site. Des méthodes d'analyses existantes et d'autres mises au point dans le cadre de cet ouvrage ont été appliquées aux réseaux obtenus afin de faire émerger les propriétés du fonctionnement de la vasière et de souligner le rôle de certains compartiments. Des analyses de sensibilité permettent d'évaluer la robustesse des résultats et d'orienter les recherches futures en mettant en évidence les manques les plus cruciaux. Des données supplémentaires, notamment concernant les foraminifères benthiques, le zooplancton ou les mouvements verticaux du microphytobenthos permettront de fournir de meilleures contraintes et de valider (ou non) les résultats obtenus. Les principaux résultats montrent un système au fort caractère saisonnier dont les compartiments benthiques et pélagiques sont très liés. La production primaire benthique locale est un moteur important, mais qui ne suffirait pas à suppléer l'indispensable importation de matériel détritique. Le découpage de la vasière en trois zones fait apparaître les particularités de chacune. La zone centrale correspond à la description classique des « vasières intertidales européennes » : très productive, elle peut alimenter les autres régions. C'est une zone de production et d'exportation. La partie supérieure est moins productive et reçoit de la matière de la zone de milieu d'estran via la colonne d'eau. Sa production secondaire peut alors être exploitée par les limicoles, nombreux en hiver. C'est une zone de dégradation et d'exportation. Le bas d'estran dépend fortement des importations extérieures, « pompées » par les bivalves cultivés qui sont ainsi directement responsables d'une forte sédimentation sous les structures mytilicoles et ostréicoles. C'est une zone de transformation.

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2005/these-2260.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/2260/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD AGU and the Geochemical Society
Résumé : International audience
Based on global earthquake catalogs, the hypocenters, nodal planes, and seismic moments of worldwide subduction plate interface earthquakes were extracted for the period between 1900 and 2007. Assuming that the seismogenic zone coincides with the distribution of 5.5 <= M < 7 earthquakes, the subduction interface seismogenic zones were mapped for 80% of the trench systems and characterized with geometrical and mechanical parameters. Using this database, correlations were isolated between significant parameters to identify cause-effect relationships. Empirical laws obtained in previous studies were revisited in light of this more complete, accurate, and uniform description of the subduction interface seismogenic zone. The seismogenic zone was usually found to end in a fore-arc mantle, rather than at a Moho depth. The subduction velocity was the first-order controlling parameter for variations in the physical characteristics of plate interfaces, determining both the geometry and mechanical behavior. As such, the fast subduction zones and cold slabs were associated with large and steep plate interfaces, which, in turn, had large seismic rates. The subduction velocity could not account for the potential earthquake magnitude diversity that was observed along the trenches. Events with M-w >= 8.5 preferentially occurred in the vicinity of slab edges, where the upper plate was continental and the back-arc strain was neutral. This observation was interpreted in terms of compressive normal stresses along the plate interface. Large lateral ruptures should be promoted in neutral subduction zones due to moderate compressive stresses along the plate interface that allow the rupture to propagate laterally.
ISSN: 1525-2027

hal-00617681
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00617681
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00617681/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00617681/file/heuretG32011.pdf
DOI : 10.1029/2010GC003230