The 2010 Qinghai, China, Earthquake: A Moderate Earthquake with Supershear Rupture.

From analyses using near-field and teleseismic data, we estimate the nipture speed of the 2010 Qinghai, China, earthquake (M_W 6.9). Comparisons of model calculations of the initiations to the observed near-field seismogram at station YUS indicate a fast supershear rupture propagation of about 5.0 km/s. From the teleseismic analyses using an envelope deconvolution method with an empirical Green's function event, two high-frequency pulses are identified at 6.5 km and 41.8 km southeast of the epicenter, indicating two subevents. The location and timing of the high-frequency events also show a supershear rupture velocity of 4.7 to 5.8 km/s. The supershear speed of the rupture likely contributed to the severe damage caused in the forward direction of the rupture toward the town of Yushu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]