The Nazca-South American plate boundary is exceptional for its geometry, length, convergence rate and high seismic activity. During the last 100 years more than 15 M8+ earthquakes ruptured segments along the megathrust. The latest major earthquakes with M 8.2 occurred on 16 September 2015 close to Illapel in Central Chile, and the M 8.1 Iquique earthquake on 1 April 2014 in Northern Chile. The sequence of historical and paleo-seismological earthquakes is well documented, and the modern monitoring networks cover a broad range of seismic and geodetic sensors.

The major aim of the session is to advance our physical and geodynamical understanding of the preparation and rupture of major earthquake and their effects on ground motions.

We invite seismological, geodetic and geological studies on seismic ruptures, pre- and postseismic transients, and through the seismic cycle, or processes associated with the strain build-up and the consequences of seismic ruptures. Contributions combining different datasets, innovative monitoring concepts, and novel methods are welcome. In particular, we invite presentations on first results from the analysis of the 2015 Illapel event, and studies focussing on the 2014 event and postseismic processes, but are open to all contributions relating to subduction zone seismic processes in South and Central America.