Fault geometry and slip distribution of the 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan earthquake imaged from inversion of GPS data

GPS measurements of coseismic displacements from the 1999, Chi-Chi, Taiwan earthquake are modeled using elastic dislocation theory. We find that a single fault plane cannot fit the data, but rather a curved fault surface consisting of multiple segments dipping 20-25 degrees best fits the observations. The model fault exhibits reverse and left-lateral slip on a 75 km long N-S trending segment and reverse and right-lateral slip on a 25 km EW trending segment at the northern end of the rupture. The 21 degrees dipping E-W segment is inconsistent with previous interpretations of high angle tear faulting.