We present a dynamic rupture model of the 2016 M_w 7.8 Kaikōura earthquake to unravel the event’s riddles in a physics-based manner and provide insight on the mechanical viability of competing hypotheses proposed to explain them. Our model reproduces key characteristics of the event and constraints puzzling features inferred from high-quality observations including a large gap separating surface rupture traces, the possibility of significant slip on the subduction interface, the non-rupture of the Hope fault, and slow apparent rupture speed. We show that the observed rupture cascade is dynamically consistent with regional stress estimates and a crustal fault network geometry inferred from seismic and geodetic data. We propose that the complex fault system operates at low apparent friction thanks to the combined effects of overpressurized fluids, low dynamic friction and stress concentrations induced by deep fault creep.

Extension deficit builds up over centuries at divergent plate boundaries and is recurrently removed during rifting events, accompanied by magma intrusions and transient metre-scale deformation. However, information on transient near-field deformation has rarely been captured, hindering progress in understanding rifting mechanisms and evolution. Here we show new evidence of oblique rift opening during a rifting event influenced by pre-existing fractures and two centuries of extension deficit accumulation. This event originated from the Bárðarbunga caldera and led to the largest basaltic eruption in Iceland in >200 years. The results show that the opening was initially accompanied by left-lateral shear that ceased with increasing opening. Our results imply that pre-existing fractures play a key role in controlling oblique rift opening at divergent plate boundaries.

Large earthquakes often do not occur on a simple planar fault but involve rupture of multiple geometrically complex faults. The 2016 M_w 7.8 Kaikoura earthquake, New Zealand, involved the rupture of at least 21 faults, propagating from southwest to northeast for about 180 km. Here we combine space geodesy and seismology techniques to study subsurface fault geometry, slip distribution, and the kinematics of the rupture. Our finite‐fault slip model indicates that the fault motion changes from predominantly right‐lateral slip near the epicenter to transpressional slip in the northeast with a maximum coseismic surface displacement of about 10 m near the intersection between the Kekerengu and Papatea faults. Teleseismic back projection imaging shows that rupture speed was overall slow (1.4 km/s) but faster on individual fault segments (approximately 2 km/s) and that the conjugate, oblique‐reverse, north striking faults released the largest high‐frequency energy. We show that the linking Conway‐Charwell faults aided in propagation of rupture across the step over from the Humps fault zone to the Hope fault. Fault slip cascaded along the Jordan Thrust, Kekerengu, and Needles faults, causing stress perturbations that activated two major conjugate faults, the Hundalee and Papatea faults. Our results shed important light on the study of earthquakes and seismic hazard evaluation in geometrically complex fault systems.

We derive the ALOS‐2 coseismic interferograms, pixel‐offsets and Sentinel‐2 sub‐pixel offsets of the 2023 M_w7.8 and M_w7.7 Kahramanmaras, Turkey earthquake sequence. Offset maps show that the sequence ruptured ∼300 km along the East Anatolian Fault (EAF) and ∼180 km along the secondary Cardak and Dogansehir faults. We infer the coseismic slip distribution and interseismic fault motion by inverting the co‐ and inter‐seismic observations. Inversion results show that the coseismic slip (∼8.0 m) and interseismic strike‐slip rate (∼4.6 mm/yr) on the main rupture of the M_w7.8 event are basically consistent with the ∼8.4 m and ∼3.9 mm/yr of the M_w7.7 event. Most coseismic slips of the M_w7.8 and M_w7.7 events occur within 10 and 12 km at depth, respectively, in keeping with the interseismic locking depth of 10.4 ± 3.3 km and 11.1 ± 3.1 km. This implies that the coseismic rupture kinematics correlate with the interseismic strain accumulation. Moreover, static stress changes show that the M_w7.7 event is likely promoted by ∼2 bar stress increase from the M_w7.8 event on the central section of its main rupture.

The May 22nd, 2021,7.4 Maduo earthquake occurred on an intraplate fault of Bayan‐Har block in the Tibet Plateau. Here, we derive the coseismic and early postseismic surface deformations from the Sentinel‐1 (S1) interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data. We use the subpixel offsets of SAR and Sentinel‐2 (S2) optical images to determine the surface rupture traces. The fault geometry and coseismic fault slip distribution of multi‐segmented ruptures are estimated by inverting InSAR interferograms and SAR pixel offsets. We show that at least five fault segments with curved geometry are activated, with a peak coseismic slip of about 5 m. The geodetic data inversion suggests that an NW‐striking blind segment near the Eling Lake may have ruptured during the 2021 event. Postseismic slip inversion with the 60‐day cumulative line‐of‐sight deformations, shows that the early afterslip of 0.1 ∼ 0.3 m occurred mostly toward the downdip direction of the main coseismic slip asperities. The afterslip geodetic moment accounts for approximately 15.3% of the coseismic one. Coulomb stress analysis shows that the nucleation of the Maduo earthquake is partially facilitated by the 1947 M7.7 Dari earthquake.