How an earthquake rupture propagates strongly influences the potentially destructive
ground shaking. Complex ruptures often involve slip along multiple faults, which masks
information on the frictional behaviour of fault zones. Geometrically smooth ocean transform
fault plate boundaries offer a favourable environment to study fault dynamics, because strain
is accommodated along a single, wide fault zone that offsets the homogeneous geology.
Here we present an analysis of the 2016 M w 7.1 earthquake on the Romanche fracture …

Rupture propagation of an earthquake strongly influences potentially destructive ground 16
shaking. Variable rupture behaviour is often caused by complex fault geometries, masking
17 information on fundamental frictional properties. Geometrically smoother ocean transform
18 fault (OTF) plate boundaries offer a favourable environment to study fault zone dynamics
19 because strain is accommodated along a single, wide zone (up to 20 km width) offsetting
20 homogeneous geology comprising altered mafic or ultramafic rocks. However, fault …