KM PhD

I completed my PhD project in late 2019 at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand, where I conducted independent research on the Alpine Fault's central section. My work elucidated complex interplay between orogenic processes, tectonic stress and seismicity. Below you can find a summary of the main findings from this work.
Here is a link to the full thesis: https://doi.org/10.26686/wgtn.17141993

Crustal thermal structure and exhumation in the central Southern Alps

We model the crustal dynamics in New Zealand's central Southern Alps (Michailos et al. 2020b).

Integrated analysis combining seismicity and thermochronology to model crustal thermal structure,
Spatially variable exhumation rates (1–8 mm/yr) along the Alpine Fault, aligning with geological/geodetic studies,
Elevated seismicity cutoff temperatures (410–430°C) suggesting fluid pressure/strain rate effects,

View scripts on GitHub

Earthquake distribution with model thermal isotherms and exhumation rates.

Microseismicity and tectonic stress near the central Alpine Fault

We compile a catalog of 7,719 earthquakes near the central Alpine Fault using data from five seismic networks and GeoNet stations (Michailos et al. 2019).

Shallow seismogenic cutoffs (<8 km) near Aoraki/Mount Cook,
A seismic gap in Whataroa potentially linked to hydrothermal activity.

Next, we analyze 845 focal mechanisms (spanning ~10 years) to determine stress near the Alpine Fault (Michailos et al. 2020a; NZ Herald article).

Dominant strike-slip faulting with uniform stress orientations (mean 121° ±11°),
Remarkably consistent stress orientations over time.

Focal mechanisms near the central Alpine Fault.

This PhD project was supported by a Victoria Doctoral Scholarship.