Which mechanism initiates earthquake rupture propagation during strike-slip fault movement?

💡 Explanation

When stress accumulates along a strike-slip fault, frictional weakening through thermal pressurization occurs because heat from slip reduces effective normal stress, leading to rapid fault slip and earthquake rupture. Therefore frictional weakening initiates rupture propagation, rather than elastic rebound, creep, or brittle fracturing which require different material properties and stress conditions.

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