Source model for the Mw 6.1, 31 March 2006, Chalan-Chulan earthquake (Iran) from InSAR

We use InSAR to measure deformation and kinematics of the Mw = 4.9 Borujerd (2005/05/03) and Mw = 6.1 Chalan-Chulan (2006/03/31) earthquakes that occurred in the Zagros fold-and-thrust belt. The focal mechanism of the 2006 event is consistent with right lateral strike-slip motion and the event ruptured the Dorud-Borujerd segment of the Main Recent Fault. An Envisat interferogram spanning the 2006 event shows peak ground deformation of 9 cm in the satellite line-of-sight along a 10 km long fault portion. The interferogram spanning the 2005 earthquake is rather related to atmospheric artefact than to ground deformation. Dislocation models of the 2006 Chalan-Chulan event indicate dextral slip amounting to a maximum of 90 cm at a depth of 4 km. The predicted vertical displacements are in good agreement with differential levelling data. The 2006 event filled only a small part of the seismic gap located between large M = 7 events that occurred in 1909 and 1957.