{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,4]],"date-time":"2026-03-04T00:04:23Z","timestamp":1772582663865,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"Edicions de la Universitat de Barcelona","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2012,7,20]],"date-time":"2012-07-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1342742400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["GeA"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The El Salvador earthquake of February 13th 2001 (Mw 6.6) was associated with the tectonic rupture of the El Salvador Fault Zone. Paleoseismic studies of the El Salvador Fault Zone undertaken after this earthquake provide a basis for examining the longer history of surface rupturing earthquakes on the fault. Trenching at five sites along the San Vicente segment, a 21km-long and up to 2km-wide central section of the El Salvador Fault Zone, shows that surface fault rupture has occurred at least seven times during the past 8ka. Single-event displacements identified at each trench vary from several decimetres to at least 3.7m. Fault trace mapping, geomorphic analysis, and paleoseismic studies indicate a maximum magnitude for the El Salvador Fault Zone is c. Mw 7.6, with a recurrence interval of around 800yr. Earthquakes of Mw 6.6 or smaller, such as the February 2001 event are unlikely to be identified in the paleoseismic trenches, so our observations represent the minimum number of moderate to large earthquakes that have occurred on this part of the El Salvador Fault Zone. We observe significant variability in single-event displacement in the trenches, which we interpret as possible cascade rupture of several segments of the El Salvador Fault Zone. Combining displacements of river courses and the timing of events revealed in the trenches, we calculate a slip rate of c. 4mm\/yr for El Salvador Fault Zone, identifying the fault zone as a major tectonic feature of the region, and a major source of seismic hazard and risk in El Salvador.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1344\/105.000001700","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,3]],"date-time":"2026-02-03T09:26:11Z","timestamp":1770110771000},"page":"103-123","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Paleoseismic analysis of the San Vicente segment of the El Salvador Fault Zone, El Salvador, Central America"],"prefix":"10.1344","volume":"10","author":[{"given":"C.","family":"CANORA","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"P.","family":"VILLAMOR","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"J.J.","family":"MART\u00cdNEZ D\u00cdAZ","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"K.R.","family":"BERRYMAN","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"J.A.","family":"\u00c1LVAREZ G\u00d3MEZ","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"R.","family":"CAPOTE","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"W.","family":"HERN\u00c1NDEZ","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"17854","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2012,7,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"256895","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ambraseys, N.N., Adams, R.D., 2001. The seismicity of Central America: a descriptive catalogue 1898-1995. London, Imperial College Press, 309pp.","DOI":"10.1142\/p209"},{"key":"256896","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bommer, J., Benito, B., Ciudad-Real, M., Lemoine, A., L\u00f3pezMenjivar, M., Madariaga, R., Mankelow, J., Mendez-Hasbun, P., Murphy, W., Nieto-Lovo, M., Rodr\u00edguez, C., Rosa, H., 2002. The Salvador earthquakes of January and February 2001: Context, characteristics and implications for seismic risk. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 22, 389-418.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0267-7261(02)00024-6"},{"key":"256897","unstructured":"Bosse, H.R., Lorenz, W., Merino, A., Mihm, A., Rode, K., Schmidt-Thom\u00e9, M., Wiesemann, G., Weber, H.S., 1978. Geological map of El Salvador Republic: Hannover Germany. Bundesanstalt f\u00fcr Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, D-3 scale 1:100,000."},{"key":"256898","unstructured":"Buforn, E., Lemoine, A., Udias, A., Madariaga, R., 2001. Mecanismo focal de los terremotos de El Salvador. In: Mart\u00ednez-Guevara, J.M., (ed.). Memorias 2\u00ba Congreso Iberoamericano de Ingenier\u00eda S\u00edsmica. Madrid (Spain), 115-118."},{"key":"256899","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Canora, C., Mart\u00ednez-D\u00edaz, J.J., Villamor, P., Berryman, K., \u00c1lvarez-G\u00f3mez, J.A., Pullinger, C., Capote, R., 2010. Geological and seismological analysis of the Mw 6.6 February, 13th 2001 El Salvador earthquake: Evidence for surface rupture and implications for seismic hazard. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 100(6), 2873-2890.","DOI":"10.1785\/0120090377"},{"key":"256900","unstructured":"Ca\u00f1as-Dinarte, C., 2004. El Salvador: cronolog\u00eda de una tierra danzarina. El Diario de Hoy. Last visit: September 2009. http:\/\/www.elsalvador.com\/noticias\/terremoto\/cronologia.htm"},{"key":"256901","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Correa-Mora, F., DeMets, C., Alvarado, D., Turner, H.L., Mattioli, G., Hern\u00e1ndez, D., Pullinger, C., Rodr\u00edguez, M., Tenorio, C., 2009. GPS-derived coupling estimates for Central America subduction zone and volcanic arc faults: El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. Geophysical Journal International, 179(3), 1279-1291.","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-246X.2009.04371.x"},{"key":"256902","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Corti, G., Carminati, E., Mazzarini, F., Garcia, M.O., 2005. Active strike-slip faulting in El Salvador, Central America. Geology, 33, 989-992.","DOI":"10.1130\/G21992.1"},{"key":"256903","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"DeMets, C., 2001. A new estimate for present-day CocosCaribbean plate motion: Implications for slip along the Central American volcanic arc. Geophysical Research Letters, 28, 4043-4046.","DOI":"10.1029\/2001GL013518"},{"key":"256904","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"DeMets, C., Jasma, P.E., Mattioli, G.S., Dixon, T.H., Farina, F., Bilham, R., Calais, E., Mann P., 2000. GPS geodetic constraints on Caribbean-North America plate motion. Geophysical Research Letters, 27(3), 437-440.","DOI":"10.1029\/1999GL005436"},{"key":"256905","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dull, R., Southon, J.R., Sheets, P., 2001. Volcanism, ecology and culture: A reassessment of the Volcan Ilopango Tierra Blanca Joven eruption in the southern Maya realm. Latin American Antiquity, 12, 25-44.","DOI":"10.2307\/971755"},{"key":"256906","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dewey, J.W., Su\u00e1rez, G., 1991. Seismotectonics of Middle America. In: Slemmons D.B., E. R. Engahl, M. D. Zovak and D. Blackwell (eds.). Neotectonics of North America. Geological Society of America, 309-321.","DOI":"10.1130\/DNAG-CSMS-NEO.309"},{"key":"256907","unstructured":"Dewey, J.W., White, R.A., Hern\u00e1ndez, D.A., 2004. Seismicity and tectonic of El Salvador. In: Rose, I., Bommer, J.J., L\u00f3pez D.L., Carr M.J., and Major J.J. (eds.). Natural Hazards in El Salvador. Geological Society of America, 375(Special Paper), 363-378."},{"key":"256908","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Guzm\u00e1n-Speziale, M., Meneses-Rocha, J.J., 2000. The North America-Caribbean plate boundary west of the MotaguaPolochic fault system: A fault jog in southeastern Mexico. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 13, 459-468.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0895-9811(00)00036-5"},{"key":"256909","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Guzm\u00e1n-Speziale, M., Pennington, W.D., Matumoto, T., 1989. The triple junction of the North America, Cocos, and Caribbean plates: Seismicity and tectonics. Tectonics, 8, 981-997.","DOI":"10.1029\/TC008i005p00981"},{"key":"256910","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Harlow, D.H., White, R.A., Rymer, M.J., Alvarez, S., 1993. The San Salvador earthquake of 10 October 1986 and its historical contex. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 83(4), 1143-1154.","DOI":"10.1785\/BSSA0830041143"},{"key":"256911","unstructured":"Hecker, S., Abrahamson, N.A., 2004. Low slip-at-a point variability: implications for earthquakes-size distribution, fault rupture hazard, and ground-motion modelling. RenoSparks (Nevada), Basin and Range Province Seismic Hazards Summit II, Western States Seismic Policy Council, 21-22."},{"key":"256912","unstructured":"Hern\u00e1ndez, W., 2004. Caracter\u00edsticas geomec\u00e1nicas y vulcanol\u00f3gicas de las tefras de Tierra Blanca Joven, Caldera de Ilopango. El Salvador. Master Thesis. Madrid (Spain), Universidad Polit\u00e9cnica de Madrid, 80pp."},{"key":"256913","unstructured":"International Seismological Centre. United Kingdom. Last visited: June 2009. http:\/\/www.isc.ac.uk\/."},{"key":"256914","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Isacks, B., Baranzagi, M., 1977. Geometry of Benioff zones: Lateral segmentation and downwards bending of the subducted lithosphere. In: Talwani, M., Pitman, W.C., (eds.). Island arcs, deep sea trenches, and back-arc basins. American Geophysical Union Maurice Ewing Series, 1, 99-114.","DOI":"10.1029\/ME001p0099"},{"key":"256915","unstructured":"Kikuchi, M., Yamanaka, Y., 2001. EIC Seismological Notes, 99. Earthquake Research Institute Tokyo. http:\/\/www.eri.u-tokyo.ac.jp\/sanchu\/Seismo_Note\/index-e.html Last visited: June 2009"},{"key":"256916","unstructured":"Lard\u00e9-Lar\u00edn, J., 1978. El Salvador: inundaciones e incendios, erupciones y terremotos. San Salvador. Biblioteca de Historia Salvadore\u00f1a, 397pp. Last visited: November 2009. http:\/\/desastres.usac.edu.gt\/documentos\/pdf\/spa\/doc15003\/doc15003.htm."},{"key":"256917","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lyon-Caen, H., Barrier, E., Lasserre, C., Franco, A., Arzu, I., Chiquin, M., Chiquin, L.M., Duquesnoy, T., Flores, O., Galicia, O., Luna, J., Molina, E., Porras, O., Requena, J., Robles, V., Romero, J., Wolf, R., 2006. Kinematics of the North American-Caribbean-Cocos plates in Central America from new GPS measurements across the Polochic-Motagua fault system. Geophysical Research Letters, 33, L19309. doi:10.1029\/2006GL027694","DOI":"10.1029\/2006GL027694"},{"key":"256918","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Major, J.J., Schilling, S.P., Sofield, D.J., Escobar, C.D., Pullinger, C.R., 2001. Volcano hazards in the San Salvador region, El Salvador. United States Geological Survey, USGS Open file report, 01-366: 1-23.","DOI":"10.3133\/ofr01366"},{"key":"256919","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mart\u00ednez-D\u00edaz, J.J., \u00c1lvarez-G\u00f3mez, J.A., Benito, B., Hern\u00e1ndez, D., 2004. Triggering of destructive earthquakes in El Salvador. Geology, 32, 65-68.","DOI":"10.1130\/G20089.1"},{"key":"256920","unstructured":"Peraldo, G., Montero, W., (1999). Sismolog\u00eda Hist\u00f3rica de Am\u00e9rica Central. M\u00e9xico, Instituto Panamericano de Geograf\u00eda e Historia, 513, 347pp."},{"key":"256921","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Plafker, G., 1976. Tectonic aspects of the Guatemala earthquake of 4 February 1976. Science, 193(4259), 1201-1208.","DOI":"10.1126\/science.193.4259.1201"},{"key":"256922","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rose, W.I., Conway, F.M., Pullinger, C.R., Deino, A., McIntosh, W.C., 1999. An improved age framework for late Quaternary silicic eruptions in northern Central America. Bulletin of Volcanology, 61, 106-120.","DOI":"10.1007\/s004450050266"},{"key":"256923","unstructured":"Servicio Nacional de Estudios Territoriales (SNET). El Salvador government. Last visited: February 2010. htp:\/\/www.snet."},{"key":"256924","unstructured":"gob.sv\/ver\/sismologia\/registro\/estadisticas\/"},{"key":"256925","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Stirling, M.W., Gerstenberger, M.C., Litchfield, N.J., McVerry, G.H., Smith, W.D., Pettinga, J., Barnes, P. 2008. Seismic hazard of the Canterbury region, New Zealand; new earthquake source model and methodology. Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, 41(2), 51-67.","DOI":"10.5459\/bnzsee.41.2.51-67"},{"key":"256926","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Stuiver, M., Reimer, P.J., 1993. Extended 14C database and revised CALIB radiocarbon calibration program. Radiocarbon, 35, 215-230.","DOI":"10.1017\/S0033822200013904"},{"key":"256927","unstructured":"United States Geological Survey. National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC). Last visited: November 2009. htttp:\/\/neic.usgs.gov\/"},{"key":"256928","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wallace, R.E., 1977. Profiles and ages of young fault scarps, northcentral Nevada. Geological Society of America Bulletin,","DOI":"10.1130\/0016-7606(1977)88<1267:PAAOYF>2.0.CO;2"},{"key":"256929","unstructured":", 1267-1281."},{"key":"256930","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wells, D.L., Coppersmith, K.J., 1994. New empirical relations among Magnitude, Rupture Length, Rupture Width, Rupture Area and Surface Displacement. Bulletin of Seismological Society of America Bulletin, 84(4), 974-1002.","DOI":"10.1785\/BSSA0840040974"},{"key":"256931","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wesnousky, S.G., 1988. Seismological and structural evolution of strike-slip faults. Nature, 335, 340-343.","DOI":"10.1038\/335340a0"},{"key":"256932","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"White, R.A., Harlow, D.H., 1993. Destructive uppercrustal earthquakes of Central America since 1900. Seismological Society of America Bulletin, 83, 1115-1142.","DOI":"10.1785\/BSSA0830041115"},{"key":"256933","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"White, R.A., Harlow, D.H., \u00c1lvarez, S., 1987. The San Salvador earthquake of October 10, 1986: Seismological aspects and other recent local seismicity. Earthquake Spectra, 3, 419-434.","DOI":"10.1193\/1.1585439"},{"key":"256934","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"White, R.A., Ligorr\u00eda, J.P., Cifuentes, I.L., 2004. Seismic history of the Middle America subduction zone along El Salvador, Guatemala, and Chiapas, Mexico: 1526-2000. In: Rose, I., Bommer, J.J., L\u00f3pez D.L., Carr M.J., and Major J.J. (eds.). Natural Hazards in El Salvador. Geological Society of America, 375(Special Paper), 379-396.","DOI":"10.1130\/0-8137-2375-2.379"}],"container-title":["Geologica Acta"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/revistes.ub.edu\/index.php\/GEOACTA\/article\/download\/3814\/4378","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/revistes.ub.edu\/index.php\/GEOACTA\/article\/download\/3814\/4378","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,3]],"date-time":"2026-02-03T11:15:08Z","timestamp":1770117308000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/revistes.ub.edu\/index.php\/GEOACTA\/article\/view\/3814"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2012,7,20]]},"references-count":40,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2012,10,3]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1344\/105.000001700","relation":{"is-cited-by":[{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.1007\/s41513-017-0034-2","asserted-by":"object"}]},"ISSN":["1696-5728"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1696-5728","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2012,7,20]]}}}