Along strike variations in the electrical structure of the San Andreas Fault at Parkfield, California

Abstract

Magnetotelluric exploration has been used to image along strike variations in the electrical resistivity structure of the San Andreas Fault at Parkfield, California. A low resistivity wedge extending to a depth of several kilometers is continuous over a horizontal distance of 8 km. The base of the wedge is coincident with the shallowest microearthquakes. A change in the electrical and fluid connection of the San Andreas Fault with a low resistivity zone in the Franciscan formation is observed along the Parkfield segment.