Abstract

PORRAS, Juan Luis et al. The 2018 seismicity of Costa Rica. Rev. Geol. Amér. Central [online]. 2019, n.60, pp.133-144. ISSN 0256-7024.  http://dx.doi.org/10.15517/rgac.v2019i60.36468.

During 2018 the National Seismological Network (RSN: UCR-ICE) located 3233 earthquakes. From the total located events, 285 (~9%) were felt earthquakes, including four significant events with magnitudes Mw between 5.7 and 6.2. The majority (91%) of the felt earthquakes were shallow (< 30 km) and 64 % had low magnitudes (Mw < 3.9). Local and regional faulting caused 64 % of the felt earthquakes, 34 % were associated to the subduction of the Cocos Plate and only three events due to the Panama Fracture Zone. The geographic areas with the highest seismicity were located near the Tenorio volcano, between Cartago and Tarrazu, and the Dulce Gulf. The highest observed Modified Mercalli intensity was VI, caused by the Golfito (6.2 Mw) earthquake on August 17 and by an earthquake on November 9 (5.9 Mw), associated with the same seismic activity.

Keywords : Seismic activity; Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI); Moment Magnitude (Mw); Subduction.

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