Abstract

LINKIMER, Lepolt; ARROYO-SOLORZANO, Mario  and  ARROYO, Ivonne G.. Seismicity and seismic noise in Costa Rica during the pandemic of 2020. Rev. Geol. Amér. Central [online]. 2021, n.64, pp.104-122. ISSN 0256-7024.  http://dx.doi.org/10.15517/rgac.v0i64.46623.

During 2020, the National Seismological Network (RSN) located 3,480 local earthquakes, equivalent to the seismic energy released by an earthquake of magnitude (Mw) 6.5. The seismicity was mainly concentrated in six zones with 100-350 tremors. A total of 232 earthquakes (~ 7%) were felt by the population, including 17 with Mw between 5.0 and 6.0. Most of the felt earthquakes were shallow (~85% <30 km) and small (~56% Mw <3.9). Faulting in the overriding plates caused 140 of the felt earthquakes, while the interplate seismogenic zone caused 61, including the most significant event near Jaco in August (Mw 6.0). This earthquake and the Boruca event in March (Mw 5.6) caused the highest intensities observed (VI). During 2020, the seismic noise level dropped from 200 to 50 nm due to confinement measures of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords : Earthquake Statistics; Seismic Energy; Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI); Moment Magnitude (Mw); Subduction..

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