The 2015 moment magnitude Mw=8.3 Illapel earthquake is the largest mega-thrust earthquake that has been recorded along the Chilean subduction zone since the 2010 M_W=8.8 Maule earthquake. Previous studies indicate a rupture propagation from the hypocenter to shallower parts of the fault, with a maximum slip varying from 10 to 16 meters. The amount of shallow slip differs dramatically between rupture models with some results showing almost no slip at the trench and other models with significant slip at shallow depth. In this work, we revisit this event by combining a comprehensive data set including continuous and survey GNSS data corrected for post-seismic and aftershock signals, ascending and descending InSAR images of the Sentinel-1A satellite, tsunami data along with high-rate GPS, and doubly integrated strong-motion waveforms. We follow a Bayesian approach, in which the solution is an ensemble of models. The kinematic inversion is done using the cascading capability of the AlTar algorithm, allowing us to first get a static solution before integrating seismic data in a joint model. In addition, we explore a new approach to account for forward problem uncertainties using a second-order perturbation approach. Results show a rupture with two main slip patches, with significant slip at shallow depth. During the rupture propagation, we observe two regions that are encircled by the rupture, with no significant slip, westward of the hypocenter. These encircling effects have been previously suggested by back-projection results but have not been observed in finite-fault slip models. We propose that the encircled regions correspond to regions where the yield stress largely exceeds the initial stress or regions where fracture energy is too large to be ruptured during earthquakes such as the Illapel one. These asperities may potentially break in the future and probably already broke in the past.

Transient deformation associated with foreshocks activity has been observed before large earthquakes, suggesting the occurrence of a detectable preseismic slow slip during the initiation phase. A critical issue consists in discriminating the relative contributions from seismic and aseismic fault slip during the preparation phase of large earthquakes. We focus on the April–May 2017 Valparaíso earthquake sequence, which involved a M W = 6.9 earthquake preceded by intense foreshock activity. To assess the relative contribution of seismic and aseismic slip, we compare surface displacement predicted from foreshocks source models with transient motion measured prior to the mainshock. The comparison between observed and predicted displacements shows that only half of the total displacement can be explained by the contribution of foreshocks. This result suggests the presence of aseismic pre‐slip during an initiation phase preceding the mainshock.

We introduce the Tremor Energy and Polarization (TREP) method, which jointly determines the source location and focal mechanism of sustained nonvolcanic tremor (NVT) signals. The method minimizes a compound cost function by means of a grid search over a three-dimensional hypocentral lattice. Inverted metrics are derived from three NVT observables: (1) the energy spatial distribution, (2) the energy spatial derivatives, and (3) the azimuthal direction of the particle motion polarization ellipsoid. To assess the tremor sources, TREP assumes double-couple point dislocations with frequency-dependent quality factors (Q) in a layered medium. Performance and resolution of the method is thoroughly assessed via synthetic inversion tests with random noise, where the observed data correspond to an NVT-like finite difference (FD) model we introduce. The FD tremor source is composed of hundreds of quasi-dynamic penny-shaped cracks governed by a time-weakening friction law. In agreement with previous works, epicentral locations of 26 NVTs in Guerrero are separated in two main groups, one between 200 and 230km from the trench, and another at about 170km. However, unlike earlier investigations, most NVT hypocenters concentrate at 43km depth near the plate interface and have subparallel rake angles to the Cocos plate convergence direction. These locations have uncertainties of similar to 5km in the three components and are consistent with independent results for low-frequency earthquakes in the region, supporting their common origin related to slip transients in the plate interface. Our results also suggest the occurrence of NVT sources within the slab, similar to 5km below the interface.