Application of tectonophysical approaches to the solution of seismotectonic problems by the example of the Simushir earthquakes of November 15, 2006 and January 13, 2007 in Central Kuriles

The seismotectonic, seismological, macroseismic, and geodetic investigations carried out by different authors provided the idea about the size and structure of the sources of the largest Simushir earthquakes that occurred on November 15, 2006 and January 13, 2007. Sound conclusions concerning the character of dislocations arising in the epicentral area of strong submarine seismic events are drawn from the detailed analysis of GPS-based geodetic observations of surface deformations on the islands and in the southern Kamchatka. The focal mechanism solutions for two of the strongest quakes, together with the hypocentral positions of their aftershocks, are used for identifying the fault plane and reconstructing the pattern of the slip on it.