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Fig. 1 | Earth, Planets and Space

Fig. 1

From: Preparation zones for large crustal earthquakes consequent on fault-valve action

Fig. 1

a Components of shear stress, τ, and normal stress, σn, acting on a fault; b hypothetical profiles of pore-fluid pressure, Pf, versus depth, z, within the crust and in crustal fault zones shown in relation to the pore-fluid factor, λv. Profile a assumes a smooth progression from hydrostatic towards lithostatic pressure as permeability steadily reduces with increasing depth; profile b is affected by the presence of low-permeability barriers (area of cross-hatching notes region of supralithostatic pore pressure). Note that the fluid-pressure profile inside a fault zone may differ from that in the wallrock

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