Observation of surface displacements from GPS analyses before and after the Jiashian earthquake (M = 6.4) in Taiwan

A blind thrust fault with a unique strike, which is orthogonal to the strike of most tectonic structures in Taiwan, triggered the Jiashian earthquake on March 4, 2010 (M = 6.4; 22.96°N, 120.70°E). This study utilizes 100 global positioning system stations to examine changes of surface displacements during the Jiashian earthquake. We mitigate effects of short-term noise and long-term plate movements from surface displacement data using a frequency dependent filter via the Hilbert–Huang transform and compute the horizontal azimuth (i.e. GPS-azimuth) using residual data at the NS component relative to residual data at the EW component. Analytical results show that orientations of horizontal azimuths were aligned and orthogonal to the strike of the blind thrust fault. Meanwhile, inverse orientations are observed before and after the earthquake that agrees well with the seismic rebound theory. As stress disturbed on strata a few days before the earthquake, an impeded region can be clearly identified by disordered orientations of horizontal azimuths for anticipating the mainshock. These results provide an additional view to explore stress disturbance associated with earthquakes and offer more information to examine diverse models of tectonic evolution in this region.

► We used 100 GPS stations to examine changes of surface displacements.
► Our results suggest stress accumulation before the mainshock.
► GPS horizontal displacements agree with distribution of aftershocks.
► Surface displacements triggered by a blind thrust fault can be recorded using GPS.