Makoto Uyeshima

Magnetotelluric imaging of fluids in intraplate earthquake zones, NE Japan back arc

Intraplate earthquake zones in the back arc of NE Japan were imaged by wide-band magnetotelluric (MT) soundings. The 90km long MT profile of 34 stations extends over the two topographic features, the Dewa Hills and the Ou Backbone Range, which were uplifted by thrust faults. MT data show two-dimensionality and strong TE/TM anisotropic responses at the periods around 100 s. After tensor decompositions with regional strike of N12°E, two-dimensional inversion was carried out where static shift was also a model parameter. The final model is characterized by conductive blocks in the mid-crust to account for the anisotropic responses. Correlation of the conductors to the seismic scatterers and to the low velocity anomalies suggests that the conductors represent fluids. High seismicity clustering near the rims of conductors suggests that the intraplate seismicity results either from the migration of the fluids to less permeable crust or from local stress concentration near the structural boundary.

Electric potential changes associated with slip failure of granite: Preseismic and coseismic signals

Electric potential changes were measured for stick-slip events in granite samples with a three-block direct shear arrangement at 8 MPa normal stress. Two electrodes were mounted on the left- and right-hand blocks, and the electric potential difference between each electrode and the ground was measured with a high input impedance recording system of frequency range from DC to 100 Hz. As well as coseismic electric signals of about 1.5 V which appeared the moment of the dynamic slip event, preseismic signals were detected just before the slip event. The coseismic signal rises stepwise with opposite polarities at the two electrodes and exponentially decays with a time constant of e/s, where e is the permittivity and s is the conductivity of the rock sample. We conducted a simple test of rapid stress drop without slipping and observed almost the same electric signal as the coseismic signal. This suggests that the electric signal is generated by the piezoelectric effect. We proposed a generation model based on the piezoelectric effect and the resultant relaxation process and obtained a theoretical frequency response, which is in agreement with experimental data. The preseismic signal appears about 2–3 s before the dynamic event with an amplitude of about 50 mV. The local strains along two sliding surfaces were also measured to monitor the growth of the rupture nucleation zone. When the growth of the rupture nucleation zone occurred on the left sliding surface, a clear preseismic signal was detected at the electrode mounted on the left granite block. When the growth occurred on the right-hand surface, a signal was detected at the electrode on the right block. This shows that the preseismic electric signal is caused by stress change in the rupture nucleation zone. These preseismic and coseismic signals were also detected with an antenna, which was placed away from the sample surface.

Magnetic and electric field observations during the 2000 activity of Miyake-jima volcano, Central Japan

Magnetic and electric field variations associated with the 2000 eruption of Miyake-jima volcano are summarized. For about 1 week prior to the July 8 phreatic explosion, significant changes in the total intensity were observed at a few stations, which indicated uprising of a demagnetized area from a depth of 2 km towards the summit: this nonmagnetic source can be regarded as a vacant space itself. Electric and magnetic field variations were observed simultaneously associated with the tilt-step event, which was the abrupt (V50 s) inflation at a few km depth within the volcano followed by gradual recovery (Vseveral hours). The electric field is ascribed to the electrokinetic effect most probably due to forced injection of fluids from the source, while the magnetic field to the piezomagnetic effect due to increased pressure. Large magnetic variations amounting to a few tens of nT were observed at several stations since July 8, and they turned almost flat after the August 18 largest eruption. Magnetic changes are explained mostly by the vanishing of magnetic mass in the summit and additionally by the thermal demagnetization at a rather shallow depth. A large increase in the self-potential by 130 mV was also observed near the summit caldera associated with the August 18 eruption, which suggests that the hydrothermal circulation system sustained within the volcano for the past more than 10 years was destroyed by this eruption. 9 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

Upper mantle conductivity structure of the back‐arc region beneath northeastern China

The upper mantle electrical conductivity structure of the pacific back-arc beneath northeastern China was investigated through long-period magnetotelluric (MT) and geomagnetic depth sounding (GDS) experiments. MT and GDS responses were obtained up to periods of 105 ∼ 106 seconds, and were inverted to one-dimensional (1-D) models with minimum and smooth structure constraints, respectively. The resulting conductivity model was compared with past models and the mantle transition zone beneath northeastern China is more conductive than those of other tectonic settings by almost one order of magnitude in the depth range of 400∼600 km. This feature may correspond to the presence of a stagnant slab beneath this region. In the mantle at a depth of less than 400 km, the conductivity profile has a similar feature to that in the thermal and extensional tectonic region in the southwestern United States.

Resistivity and self-potential changes associated with volcanic activity: The July 8, 2000 Miyake-jima eruption (Japan)

Abstract The Miyake-jima volcano abruptly erupted on July 8, 2000 after 17 years of quiet and gave birth to a crater, 1 km in diameter and 250 m deep. This expected unrest was monitored during the years 1995–2000 by electromagnetic methods including DC resistivity measurements and self-potential (SP) surveys. Beneath the 2500 yr old Hatcho-Taira summit caldera audio-magnetotelluric soundings made in 1997–98 identified a conductive medium, 200–500 m thick (within the 50 Ω m isoline) located at a few hundred metres depth. It was associated with the active steady-state hydrothermal system centred close to the 1940 cone and extending southward. A DC resistivity meter set in a Schlumberger array with 600, 1000 and 1400 m long injection lines evidenced strong resistivity changes between September 1999 and July 3, 2000 in the vicinity of the newly formed crater. The apparent resistivity has reached about three times its initial values on the 1400 m long line and has lowered to about 20% on the 600 m line. Just prior to the July 8, 2000 eruption SP mapping made inside the summit Hatcho-Taira caldera revealed negative anomalies where positive ones had occurred during the previous tens of years. The largest negative anomaly, −225 mV in amplitude, mainly took place above the 1940 cone which collapsed in the crater formation. A permanent 1 km long SP line across the caldera suggests accelerating changes during the 3 months preceding the eruption. On a larger scale, the comparison between 1995 and 2000 surveys has shown a global increase of the hydrothermal activity beneath the volcano. Its source could have been 250 m to the south of the crater. These observations suggest that the hydrothermal system was slowly disturbed in the months preceding the eruption while drastic changes have occurred during the 2 weeks before the summit collapse when tectonic and volcanic swarms have appeared.

Resistivity imaging across the source region of the 2004 Mid-Niigata Prefecture earthquake (M6.8), central Japan

Across the source region of the 2004 Mid-Niigata Prefecture earthquake, wideband magnetotelluric (MT) survey was performed just after the onset of the mainshock. Owing to the temporal stop of the DC powered railways around the area together with intense geomagnetic activity, we obtain MT records with excellent quality for both short and long period data, as long as 10,000 s. Two dimensional regional strike is evaluated with the aid of the Groom-Bailey tensor decomposition together with induction vector analysis. As a result, N15°W is determined for the strike. This strike is oblique to the local geological trend and also to the strike of the main shock source fault together with aftershock distribution of N35°E. Two dimensional resistivity structure is determined with the aid of an ABIC inversion code, where static shift is considered and estimated. Characteristics of the structure are as follows. (1) About 10 km thick sedimentary layer exists on the top. (2) A conductive body exists in the lower crust beneath the source region. The mainshock occurred at the boundary of the conductive sedimentary layer and a resistive basement beneath it and aftershocks occurred in the sedimentary layer. From geological studies, it is reported that the sedimentary layer was formed in the extensional rift-structure from Miocene to Pleistocene and has been thickened by compressional tectonic regime in the late Quaternary. Interstitial fluids or clay minerals, which reduce the sedimentary layer resistivity, control the reactivation of the normal fault as the mainshock thrust fault and aftershock activity. The second conductive body probably indicates existence of fluids in the depths as well. Such a conductive layer in the lower crust was also revealed by previous MT experiments along the Niigata-Kobe Tectonic Zone and probably plays a main role in concentration of strain rate along the zone.

Three-dimensional inversion for Network-Magnetotelluric data

Three-dimensional inversion of Network-Magnetotelluric (MT) data has been implemented. The program is based on a conventional 3-D MT inversion code (Siripunvaraporn et al., 2004), which is a data space variant of the OCCAM approach. In addition to modifications required for computing Network-MT responses and sensitivities, the program makes use of Massage Passing Interface (MPI) software, with allowing computations for each period to be run on separate CPU nodes. Here, we consider inversion of synthetic data generated from simple models consisting of a 1 Ω-m conductive block buried at varying depths in a 100 Ω-m background. We focus in particular on inversion of long period (320–40,960 seconds) data, because Network-MT data usually have high coherency in these period ranges. Even with only long period data the inversion recovers shallow and deep structures, as long as these are large enough to affect the data significantly. However, resolution of the inversion depends greatly on the geometry of the dipole network, the range of periods used, and the horizontal size of the conductive anomaly.

Island arc tectonics

Abstract Tectonic stress states in arc-backarc systems have been examined on simplified model structures corresponding to the Chilean, Mariana and intermediate arc types. Two sources of tectonic stress are assumed: the stress due to lateral density variations and the stress transmitted from the subducting oceanic plate to the forearc. The average vertical stress σ zz of the former type has been calculated for each isostatically compensated model lithospheric plate, using the difference from a reference structure. From the sign of ( σ xx − σ zz ) one can estimate whether the tectonic situation is extentional or compressional. If we assume that σ xx is caused by mechanical coupling between the subducting oceanic slab and is laterally constant in one arc-backarc system, we can estimate at least the upper or lower boundary of the mechanical coupling. For the Chilean type arcs where the truly great interplate earthquakes occur and no backarc spreading takes place, the transmitted average stress must be larger than 660 bar. For the Mariana type arcs where no large interplate earthquakes are recorded and spreading takes place in the backarc region, σ xx should be smaller than 100 bar. In any arc-backarc system, the most extentional feature is expected at the highest topography of the volcanic arc. Once spreading has started, the viscosity under the backarc region drops dramatically and the spreading will continue in the backarc even if its topography is subdued in comparison with the now separated main and remnant arcs.

Resistivity structure around the hypocentral area of the 1984 Western Nagano Prefecture earthquake in central Japan

We carried out magnetotelluric measurements in the southeastern region of Mt. Ontake, where the 1984 Western Nagano Prefecture earthquake occurred and earthquake swarms have been observed since 1976. Most of the earthquakes have focal depths shallower than 10 km. The depth of the hypocenters increases towards the west. Our purpose is to delineate the resistivity structures down to the focal depths of the earthquakes, because the resistivity structure is very sensitive to the free water in the crust. The regional strike was estimated as N60°E. We carried out a two-dimensional analysis over two profiles across the earthquake fault of the 1984 Western Nagano Prefecture earthquake: one is in the low seismicity region of the fault (A-A′) and the other, in the high seismicity region (B-B′). The resistivity structure along the A-A′ profile is reasonably homogeneous and shows a high resistivity of more than 300 ohm·m. The resistivity structure along the B-B′ profile has a clear boundary at the center of the profile. This boundary divides the structure along the B-B′ profile into two resistivity blocks and its location coincides with that of the earthquake fault. A conductor is detected at depths greater than 8 km to the northwest of the earthquake fault. The depth to the upper boundary of the conductor coincides with those of the seismic reflectors. This structure seems to be formed by the free water dehydrated from the magma.

Three‐dimensional resistivity structure and magma plumbing system of the Kirishima Volcanoes as inferred from broadband magnetotelluric data

Broadband magnetotelluric (MT) measurements were conducted in 2010 and 2011 in the vicinity of Shinmoe-dake Volcano in the Kirishima volcano group, Japan, where sub-Plinian eruptions took place 3 times during 26–27 January 2011. By combining the new observations with previous MT data, it is found that an anomalous phase in excess of 90° is commonly observed in the northern sector of the Kirishima volcano group. Because the anomalous phase is not explained by 1-D or 2-D structure with isotropic resistivity media, 3-D inversions were performed. By applying small errors to the anomalous phase, we successfully estimated a 3-D resistivity structure that explains not only the normal data but also the anomalous phase data. The final model shows a vertical conductor that is located between a deep-seated conductive body (at a depth greater than 10 km) and a shallow conductive layer. By applying the findings of geophysical and petrological studies of the 2011 sub-Plinian eruptions, we infer that the subvertical conductor represents a zone of hydrothermal aqueous fluids at temperatures over 400°C, in which a magma pathway (interconnected melt) is partially and occasionally formed before magmatic eruptions. To the north of the deep conductor, earthquake swarms occurred from 1968 to 1969, suggesting that these earthquakes were caused by volcanic fluids.