An asperity is an area on an
active fault where there is increased friction, such that the fault may become locked, rather than continuously slipping as in
aseismic creep.
Earthquake rupture generally begins with the failure of an asperity, allowing the fault to move.
See also
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Asperity (materials science)
In materials science, asperity, defined as "unevenness of surface, roughness, ruggedness" (from the Latin ''asper''—"rough"), has implications (for example) in physics and seismology. Smooth surfaces, even those polished to a mirror finish, ...
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Asperity (geotechnical engineering)
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Earthquake
An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, fr ...
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Fault friction
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Fault mechanics
References
External links
IRIS page on fault asperities with simple cartoon video of an asperity on an active faultIRIS page on "Modeling Asperities on a Strike-Slip Fault with Spaghetti"
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Seismology