Kazuo Nakahigashi

Precise aftershock distribution of the 2007 Chuetsu-oki Earthquake obtained by using an ocean bottom seismometer network

The Chuetsu-Oki Earthquake occurred on July 16, 2007. To understand the mechanism of earthquake generation, it is important to obtain a detailed seismic activity. Since the source region of the 2007 Chuetsu-oki Earthquake lies mainly offshore of Chuetsu region, a central part of Niigata Prefecture, it is difficult to estimate the geometry of faults using only the land seismic network data. A precise aftershock distribution is essential to determine the fault geometry of the mainshock. To obtain the detailed aftershock distribution of the 2007 Chuetsu-oki Earthquake, 32 Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBSs) were deployed from July 25 to August 28 in and around the source region of the mainshock. In addition, a seismic survey using airguns and OBSs was carried out during the observation to obtain a seismic velocity structure below the observation area for precise hypocenter determination. Seven hundred and four aftershocks were recorded with high spatial resolution during the observation period using OBSs, temporally installed land seismic stations, and telemetered seismic land stations and were located using the double-difference method. Most of the aftershocks occurred in a depth range of 6–15 km, which corresponds to the 6-km/s layer. From the depth distribution of the hypocenters, the aftershocks occurred along a plane dipping to the southeast in the whole aftershock region. The dip angle of this plane is approximately 40°. This single plane with a dip to the southeast is considered to represent the fault plane of the mainshock. The regions where few aftershocks occurred are related to the asperities where large slip is estimated from the data of the mainshock. The OBS observation is indispensable to determine the precise depths of events which occur in offshore regions even close to a coast.

Mantle Discontinuity Depths Beneath the West Philippine Basin from Receiver Function Analysis of Deep-Sea Borehole and Seafloor Broadband Waveforms

We analyzed broadband waveform data recorded by a deep-sea borehole observatory (WP-1) and a long-term broadband ocean-bottom seismograph (NOT1) deployed in the west Philippine basin by the Ocean Hemisphere Project. We determined the depths of the 660-km discontinuity beneath the west Philippine basin using the receiver function method. The “660” depths determined from the WP-1 and NOT1 are consistent with each other, indicating that the estimated depths are reliable. The 660 depth determined using both WP-1 and NOT1 data was 669 ± 9 km, which is deeper by 9 km than the global averages, beneath the west Philippine basin. Interpreting the 660 depth in terms of temperature, the slightly deep 660 can be translated to mean lower temperatures by about 100 K at the 660, using the Clapeyron slope of the olivine to β -spinel and the post-spinel phase change. The cold temperature is qualitatively consistent with the tomographic image. When compared with previous regional studies of the 660 beneath the Philippine Sea, our results suggest the presence of significant topography on the mantle discontinuities beneath the Philippine Sea, which may be caused by a stagnant Pacific slab in the mantle transition zone. The present study demonstrates that data from deep-sea observations provide useful information for investigating deep Earth structure.

Precise aftershock distribution of the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake revealed by an ocean-bottom seismometer network

The 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake occurred at the plate boundary between the Pacific plate and the landward plate on March 11, 2011, and had a magnitude of 9. Many aftershocks occurred following the mainshock. Obtaining a precise aftershock distribution is important for understanding the mechanism of earthquake generation. In order to study the aftershock activity of this event, we carried out extensive sea-floor aftershock observations using more than 100 ocean-bottom seismometers just after the mainshock. A precise aftershock distribution for approximately three months over the whole source area was obtained from the observations. The aftershocks form a plane dipping landward over the whole area, nevertheless the epicenter distribution is not uniform. Comparing seismic velocity structures, there is no aftershock along the plate boundary where a large slip during the mainshock is estimated. Activity of aftershocks in the landward plate in the source region was high and normal fault-type, and strike-slip-type, mechanisms are dominant. Within the subducting oceanic plate, most earthquakes have also a normal fault-type, or strike-slip-type, mechanism. The stress fields in and around the source region change as a result of the mainshock.

Hypocenter distribution of the main- and aftershocks of the 2005 Off Miyagi Prefecture earthquake located by ocean bottom seismographic data

The preliminary hypocenter distribution of the 2005 Off Miyagi Prefecture earthquake and its aftershocks is estimated using data from five ocean bottom and six onshore seismic stations located around the rupture area of the earthquake. The epicenter of the mainshock is relocated at 38.17°N, 142.18°E, and the focal depth is estimated to be 37.5 km. The aftershocks surrounding the mainshock hypocenter form several clusters that are concentrated along a distinct landward dipping plane corresponding to the plate boundary imaged by the previous seismic experiment. The strike and dip angles of the plane agree well with those of the focal mechanism solution of the mainshock. The size of the plane is about 20×25 km2 in the strike and dip directions, which is similar to that of the large coseismic slip area. The up-dip end of the planar distribution of the aftershocks corresponds to the bending point of the subducting oceanic plate, suggesting that the geometry of the plate boundary affects the spatial extent of the asperity of the 2005 earthquake

Precise aftershock distribution of the 2005West Off Fukuoka Prefecture Earthquake (Mj=7.0) using a dense onshore and offshore seismic network

The 2005 West Off Fukuoka Prefecture Earthquake (Mj=7.0) occurred on March 20, 2005 in the northern part of Kyushu, Japan. To study the aftershock activity, we deployed eleven pop-up type ocean bottom seismometers (OBSs), sixteen locally recorded temporary stations, and eight telemetered temporary stations in and around the epicenter region. We combined data from these stations and permanent stations located around the aftershock area, and determined the hypocenter of the mainshock and aftershocks. The mainshock was in the northwestern central part of the aftershock region, at a depth of 9.5 km. The mainshock was on a left-lateral strike-slip fault. Aftershocks were located in a depth range of 1–16 km and laterally extend for about 25 km in a NW-SE direction. We found that the aftershocks fell into four groups. This might be due to the heterogeneous structure in the source region. In the group that includes the mainshock, we estimated two fault planes bordering on the depth of the mainshock. There are 10-degree differences in both strike and dip angles between the lower and upper planes. From the aftershock distribution and the focal mechanisms, the rupture first propagated downward, and then propagated upward.

Aftershock seismicity and fault structure of the 2005 West Off Fukuoka Prefecture Earthquake (MJMA7.0) derived from urgent joint observations

On March 20, 2005, a large MJMA7.0 earthquake occurred in the offshore area, west of Fukuoka prefecture, northern Kyushu, Japan. A series of joint observations were carried out by teams from several universities in Japan with the aim of investigating the aftershock activity. Six online telemetered and 17 offline recording seismic stations were installed on land around the aftershock area immediately followed the occurrence of the mainshock. Because aftershocks were located mainly in offshore regions, we also installed 11 ocean bottom seismometers (OBSs) just above the aftershock region and its vicinity in order to obtain accurate locations of hypocenters. The OBS observation was carried out from March 27 to April 13, 2005. We further conducted temporary GPS observations in which ten GPS receivers were deployed around the aftershock region. The aftershocks were mainly aligned along an approximately 25-km-long NW-SE trend, and the hypocenters of the main aftershock region were distributed on a nearly vertical plane at depths of 2–16 km. The mainshock was located near the central part of the main aftershock region at a depth of approximately 10 km. The largest aftershock of MJMA5.8 occurred near the southeastern edge of the main aftershock region, and the aftershock region subsequently extended about 5 km in the SE direction as defined by secondary aftershock activity. Enlargement of the aftershock region did not occur after the peak in aftershock activity, and the aftershock activity gradually declined. The distribution of hypocenters and seismogenic stress as defined by aftershocks suggest that the 2005 West Off Fukuoka Prefecture Earthquake occurred on the fault that is the NW extension of the Kego fault, which extends NW-SE through the Fukuoka metropolitan area, and that the largest aftershock occurred at the northwestern tip of the Kego fault.

Three-dimensional seismic velocity structure as determined by double-difference tomography in and around the focal area of the 2005 West off Fukuoka Prefecture earthquake

On March 20, 2005 the West off Fukuoka Prefecture earthquake (magnitude of 7.0 on the JMA scale) occurred in southeastern Japan. The earthquake fault was a left-lateral strike-slip having a nearly vertical fault plane and a strike in the WNW-ESE direction. The largest aftershock with a magnitude of 5.8 (JMA) followed 1 month later. To gain more detailed aftershock data, several teams from different Japanese universities jointly installed a number of temporary seismic stations and positioned Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBSs) immediately above the focal area. Double-difference tomography was used to estimate the three-dimensional (3D) (Zhang and Thurber, 2003) velocity structures in and around the focal area based on the travel time data collected during seismic observations. The high-velocity regions estimated by the inversion are located on the edge of the aftershock area and on the shallow part of asperity, as inferred from the slip distribution. Conversely, the Vp/Vs ratio is not always as high as that found at the location of the asperity. This finding suggests that the construction of the medium is not uniformly elastic but complex, with different relations between elastic constants and strength.

Aftershock observation of the Noto Hanto earthquake in 2007 using ocean bottom seismometers

The Noto Hanto earthquake in 2007 (Mj 6.9) occurred on March 25, 2007 near the west coast of the Noto peninsula, Honshu, Japan. To study the aftershock activity under the sea, we deployed pop-up type ocean bottom seismometers (OBSs) from April 5 to May 8, 2007. We combined data from ten ocean bottom and four onshore seismic stations located around the rupture area of the earthquake and determined the preliminary distribution of the aftershocks. Most of the offshore aftershocks are located in a depth range between 2 and 10 km, and no earthquakes are observed in the lower crust. Hypocenters of deep events occurring at depths greater than 5 km are confined to an area northeastward from the largest aftershock in offshore region. Most of the aftershocks aligned along a high angle and southeast dipping plane, which is consistent with the geometry of the active faults revealed by previous seismic reflection surveys.

P-wave velocity structure in the southernmost source region of the 2011 Tohoku earthquakes, off the Boso Peninsula, deduced by an ocean bottom seismographic survey

We present the result of a seismic experiment conducted using ocean bottom seismometers and controlled sources in the region off Ibaraki and the Boso Peninsula. This region is the southern edge of the rupture zone of the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake. We estimated the P-wave seismic velocity structure beneath the profile using a 2-D ray-tracing method. The crustal structure in the southern area is more heterogeneous than that of the northern area. This heterogeneity is thought to be related with subducting the Philippine Sea plate (PHS). The plate boundary between the landward plate and the Pacific plate (PAC) is positioned at depths of 20 km at a distance of 170 km from the southern end of the profile. The subducting PHS is imaged on the southern part of the profile. However, we could not obtain a distinct image of the contact zone of PHS and PAC. The contact zone of PHS and PAC is estimated to have a large heterogeneity resulting from strong deformation due to the collision of the two plates. We infer that the termination of the rupture, and the large afterslip in the collision region, are caused by this strong heterogeneity.

Deep slab dehydration and large‐scale upwelling flow in the upper mantle beneath the Japan Sea

We present a three-dimensional P and S wave tomography model beneath the central Japan Sea using arrival time data obtained by long-term ocean bottom seismometer observations. The tomographic model is determined down to over 300 km. The resulting tomographic image has two features in the mantle wedge. First, a remarkable low-velocity region is spread within the shallow part of the mantle wedge beneath the Japan arc with a slight extension beneath the Japan Sea. Second, an inclined low-velocity anomaly exists in the deeper part beneath the Japan Sea and converges to the slab at ~300 km depth. Moreover, its anomaly amplitude is distinctly small compared to the shallow part of the low-velocity region. These low-velocity anomalies are interpreted to represent fluids that were dehydrated from the Pacific and Philippine Sea slabs and melt production affected by the fluid. Our observations suggest that the deep dehydration from the Pacific slab is found at a depth of approximately 300 km and large-scale upwelling flow mechanically induced by plate subduction exists beneath the Japan Sea. Our results indicate the importance of the deep heterogeneous mantle wedge structure beneath the Japan Sea with regards to better understanding the magmatism of the subduction dynamics in Japan and the evolution of the opening of the Japan Sea.