Quantifying near-field and off-fault deformation patterns of the 1992 M_w 7.3 Landers earthquake

Coseismic surface deformation in large earthquakes is typically measured using field mapping and with a range of geodetic methods (e.g., InSAR, lidar differencing, and GPS). Current methods, however, either fail to capture patterns of near-field coseismic surface deformation or lack preevent data. Consequently, the characteristics of off-fault deformation and the parameters that control it remain poorly understood. We develop a standardized method to fully measure the surface, near-field, coseismic deformation patterns at high resolution using the COSI-Corr program by correlating pairs of aerial photographs taken before and after the 1992 M_w 7.3 Landers earthquake. COSI-Corr offers the advantage of measuring displacement across the entire zone of surface deformation and over a wider aperture than that available to field geologists. For the Landers earthquake, our measured displacements are systematically larger than the field measurements, indicating the presence of off-fault deformation. We show that 46% of the total surface displacement occurred as off-fault deformation, over a mean deformation width of 154 m. The magnitude and width of off-fault deformation along the rupture is primarily controlled by the macroscopic structural complexity of the fault system, with a weak correlation with the type of near-surface materials through which the rupture propagated. Both the magnitude and width of distributed deformation are largest in stepovers, bends, and at the southern termination of the surface rupture. We find that slip along the surface rupture exhibits a consistent degree of variability at all observable length scales and that the slip distribution is self-affine fractal with dimension of 1.56

Refining the shallow slip deficit

Geodetic slip inversions for three major (M_w > 7) strike-slip earthquakes (1992 Landers, 1999 Hector Mine and 2010 El Mayor–Cucapah) show a 15–60 per cent reduction in slip near the surface (depth < 2 km) relative to the slip at deeper depths (4–6 km). This significant difference between surface coseismic slip and slip at depth has been termed the shallow slip deficit (SSD). The large magnitude of this deficit has been an enigma since it cannot be explained by shallow creep during the interseismic period or by triggered slip from nearby earthquakes. One potential explanation for the SSD is that the previous geodetic inversions lack data coverage close to surface rupture such that the shallow portions of the slip models are poorly resolved and generally underestimated. In this study, we improve the static coseismic slip inversion for these three earthquakes, especially at shallow depths, by: (1) including data capturing the near-fault deformation from optical imagery and SAR azimuth offsets; (2) refining the interferometric synthetic aperture radar processing with non-boxcar phase filtering, model-dependent range corrections, more complete phase unwrapping by SNAPHU (Statistical Non-linear Approach for Phase Unwrapping) assuming a maximum discontinuity and an on-fault correlation mask; (3) using more detailed, geologically constrained fault geometries and (4) incorporating additional campaign global positioning system (GPS) data. The refined slip models result in much smaller SSDs of 3–19 per cent. We suspect that the remaining minor SSD for these earthquakes likely reflects a combination of our elastic model's inability to fully account for near-surface deformation, which will render our estimates of shallow slip minima, and potentially small amounts of interseismic fault creep or triggered slip, which could ‘make up’ a small percentages of the coseismic SSD during the interseismic period. Our results indicate that it is imperative that slip inversions include accurate measurements of near-fault surface deformation to reliably constrain spatial patterns of slip during major strike-slip earthquakes

Resolving Fine-Scale Heterogeneity of Co-seismic Slip and the Relation to Fault Structure

Fault slip distributions provide important insight into the earthquake process. We analyze high-resolution along-strike co-seismic slip profiles of the 1992 M_w = 7.3 Landers and 1999 M_w = 7.1 Hector Mine earthquakes, finding a spatial correlation between fluctuations of the slip distribution and geometrical fault structure. Using a spectral analysis, we demonstrate that the observed variation of co-seismic slip is neither random nor artificial, but self-affine fractal and rougher for Landers. We show that the wavelength and amplitude of slip variability correlates to the spatial distribution of fault geometrical complexity, explaining why Hector Mine has a smoother slip distribution as it occurred on a geometrically simpler fault system. We propose as a physical explanation that fault complexity induces a heterogeneous stress state that in turn controls co-seismic slip. Our observations detail the fundamental relationship between fault structure and earthquake rupture behavior, allowing for modeling of realistic slip profiles for use in seismic hazard assessment and paleoseismology studies

Metabolic diagnosis and medical prevention of calcium nephrolithiasis and its systemic manifestations: a consensus statement

Background: Recently published guidelines on the medical management of renal stone disease did not address relevant topics in the field of idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis, which are important also for clinical research. Design: A steering committee identified 27 questions, which were proposed to a faculty of 44 experts in nephrolithiasis and allied fields. A systematic review of the literature was conducted and 5216 potentially relevant articles were selected; from these, 407 articles were deemed to provide useful scientific information. The Faculty, divided into working groups, analysed the relevant literature. Preliminary statements developed by each group were exhaustively discussed in plenary sessions and approved. Results: Statements were developed to inform clinicians on the identification of secondary forms of calcium nephrolithiasis and systemic complications; on the definition of idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis; on the use of urinary tests of crystallization and of surgical observations during stone treatment in the management of these patients; on the identification of patients warranting preventive measures; on the role of fluid and nutritional measures and of drugs to prevent recurrent episodes of stones; and finally, on the cooperation between the urologist and nephrologist in the renal stone patients. Conclusions: This document has addressed idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis from the perspective of a disease that can associate with systemic disorders, emphasizing the interplay needed between urologists and nephrologists. It is complementary to the American Urological Association and European Association of Urology guidelines. Future areas for research are identified

Multi-Risk Factors Behind the 2023 Kahramanmaraş (Türkiye) Earthquake Disaster

In the early hours of 6 February 2023, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck south-eastern Türkiye. Nine hours later, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake also rocked the region. The relatively shallow depth of the earthquakes, at about 10 km, resulted in severe shaking over a large area of Türkiye and Syria. As of 1 April 2023, the total death toll of over 57,000 (50,000 in Türkiye and 7,000 in Syria) makes this event the deadliest in modern Turkish history. In this presentation we discuss the state of knowledge of the seismic hazard and the social preconditioning factors that contributed to the tragic events in Türkiye and Syria. We show that the seismic hazard along the East Anatolian Fault, which hosted the earthquakes was well known, yet the devastating impacts indicate that the risks were not adequately considered. The earthquakes occurred during a winter storm with outdoor temperatures as low as -19 °C. They also triggered major aftershocks, several thousand landslides, dam bursts in Syria and flooding. We discuss how the multi-hazard context of the earthquakes exacerbated the impact in the hours to weeks after the main earthquakes. Additionally, we suggest that acute vulnerabilities arising from exposure, corruption and poverty led to a lack of seismic preparedness. We expand on the social factors and discuss how each contributed to amplifying the earthquake risk into the tragic disaster. We end by making recommendations on the ways forward to mitigate seismic risk through better integration of multi-hazard and multi-risk thinking, and management of social vulnerabilities

Pediatr Nephrol

BACKGROUND: In patients with primary hyperoxaluria (PH), endogenous oxalate overproduction increases urinary oxalate excretion, leading to compromised kidney function and often kidney failure. Highly elevated plasma oxalate (Pox) is associated with systemic oxalate deposition in patients with PH and severe chronic kidney disease (CKD). The relationship between Pox and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients with preserved kidney function, however, is not well established. Our analysis aimed to investigate a potential correlation between these parameters in PH patients from three randomized, placebo-controlled trials (studies OC3-DB-01, OC3-DB-02, and OC5-DB-01). METHODS: Baseline data from patients with a PH diagnosis (type 1, 2, or 3) and eGFR > 40 mL/min/1.73 m(2) were analyzed for a correlation between eGFR and Pox using Spearman's rank and Pearson's correlation coefficients. Data were analyzed by individual study and additionally were pooled for Studies OC3-DB-02 and OC5-DB-01 in which the same Pox assay was used. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients were analyzed. A statistically significant inverse Spearman's correlation between eGFR and Pox was observed across all analyses; correlation coefficients were - 0.44 in study OC3-DB-01, - 0.55 in study OC3-DB-02, - 0.51 in study OC5-DB-01, and - 0.49 in the pooled studies (p < 0.0064). CONCLUSIONS: Baseline evaluations showed a moderate and statistically significant inverse correlation between eGFR and Pox in patients with PH already at early stages of CKD (stages 1-3b), demonstrating that a correlation is present before substantial loss in kidney function occurs

Refining the shallow slip deficit

Geodetic slip inversions for three major (M_w > 7) strike-slip earthquakes (1992 Landers, 1999 Hector Mine and 2010 El Mayor–Cucapah) show a 15–60 per cent reduction in slip near the surface (depth < 2 km) relative to the slip at deeper depths (4–6 km). This significant difference between surface coseismic slip and slip at depth has been termed the shallow slip deficit (SSD). The large magnitude of this deficit has been an enigma since it cannot be explained by shallow creep during the interseismic period or by triggered slip from nearby earthquakes. One potential explanation for the SSD is that the previous geodetic inversions lack data coverage close to surface rupture such that the shallow portions of the slip models are poorly resolved and generally underestimated. In this study, we improve the static coseismic slip inversion for these three earthquakes, especially at shallow depths, by: (1) including data capturing the near-fault deformation from optical imagery and SAR azimuth offsets; (2) refining the interferometric synthetic aperture radar processing with non-boxcar phase filtering, model-dependent range corrections, more complete phase unwrapping by SNAPHU (Statistical Non-linear Approach for Phase Unwrapping) assuming a maximum discontinuity and an on-fault correlation mask; (3) using more detailed, geologically constrained fault geometries and (4) incorporating additional campaign global positioning system (GPS) data. The refined slip models result in much smaller SSDs of 3–19 per cent. We suspect that the remaining minor SSD for these earthquakes likely reflects a combination of our elastic model's inability to fully account for near-surface deformation, which will render our estimates of shallow slip minima, and potentially small amounts of interseismic fault creep or triggered slip, which could ‘make up’ a small percentages of the coseismic SSD during the interseismic period. Our results indicate that it is imperative that slip inversions include accurate measurements of near-fault surface deformation to reliably constrain spatial patterns of slip during major strike-slip earthquakes

Resolving Fine-Scale Heterogeneity of Co-seismic Slip and the Relation to Fault Structure

Fault slip distributions provide important insight into the earthquake process. We analyze high-resolution along-strike co-seismic slip profiles of the 1992 M_w = 7.3 Landers and 1999 M_w = 7.1 Hector Mine earthquakes, finding a spatial correlation between fluctuations of the slip distribution and geometrical fault structure. Using a spectral analysis, we demonstrate that the observed variation of co-seismic slip is neither random nor artificial, but self-affine fractal and rougher for Landers. We show that the wavelength and amplitude of slip variability correlates to the spatial distribution of fault geometrical complexity, explaining why Hector Mine has a smoother slip distribution as it occurred on a geometrically simpler fault system. We propose as a physical explanation that fault complexity induces a heterogeneous stress state that in turn controls co-seismic slip. Our observations detail the fundamental relationship between fault structure and earthquake rupture behavior, allowing for modeling of realistic slip profiles for use in seismic hazard assessment and paleoseismology studies