Takane Hori

A slip pulse model with fault heterogeneity for low‐frequency earthquakes and tremor along plate interfaces

[1] Deep low-frequency earthquakes (LFEs) and nonvolcanic tremor have distinctive characteristics unlike those of regular earthquakes, including strong anisotropy in their migration velocity and source spectra displaying 1/f decay. We show that a physical model can explain these features in a simple framework with slip pulses originating on fault heterogeneity and triggered by slow-slip events. LFE/tremor source areas in the model consist of unstable patches sparsely and heterogeneously distributed following a Gaussian distribution. The difference in their migration speeds along dip and along strike was reproduced, without anisotropic rheological properties, by introducing alignments of their sources similar to observed streaks of LFEs/tremor. The key to reproducing inverse linear spectral decay is that the slip pulse has a constant mean moment rate. This model provides new insights into the physical source process of LFEs and tremor and should find practical use in assessing properties of deep plate interfaces.

A low-velocity zone with weak reflectivity along the Nankai subduction zone

Three-dimensional seismic reflection data reveal the presence of a low seismic velocity zone (LVZ) with weak reflectivity character along the Nankai accretionary prism. This LVZ is intercalated between an upper, offscraped layer and a lower, underthrusting layer in the outer accretionary wedge. Wide-angle ocean bottom seismograph data also support the presence of the LVZ, which is estimated to be a maximum of ∼2 km thick, ∼15 km wide, and ∼120 km long. The LVZ could be an underthrust package underplated in response to the lateral growth of the Nankai accretionary prism. Underplating of the underthrusting layer beneath the overlying offscraped layer would maintain a critical taper of the accretionary prism so that the offscraped layer can continue to grow seaward. The LVZ could have elevated fluid pressure, leading to rigidity reduction of the entire outer accretionary wedge. The rigidity-lowered outer wedge, containing the LVZ, may be more easily uplifted and thus eventually foster tsunami generation during a Nankai megathrust earthquake. If the fluid-rich LVZ supplies a significant amount of the fluid to the megasplay fault zone at depth, it may affect stick-slip behavior of the fault.

Compound fault rupture during the 2004 off the Kii Peninsula earthquake (M 7.4) inferred from highly resolved coseismic sea-surface deformation

For a tsunami inversion analysis, we incorporated a new technique that uses many Green’s functions to improve model spatial resolution. Since this method precisely reproduces observed tsunami waveforms, we can obtain a better model of the tsunami source process. We applied the proposed method to the 2004 off the Kii Peninsula earthquake to determine what fault or faults ruptured to cause the earthquake. The estimated coseismic sea-surface deformation extended to two directions, and it was consistent with the distributions of the two aftershock swarms. Hence, we concluded that the earthquake resulted from the rupture of two faults.

Deformation of a seamount subducting beneath an accretionary prism: Constraints from numerical simulation

We examined the process of seamount subduction via a numerical simulation using the finite element method, applying a frictional force on the plate interface that is proportional to the normal stress. We calculate the incremental stress due to infinitesimal deformation of the seamount associated with subduction, and consider the implications for stress buildup and fracturing of the seamount itself. Our results show that the maximum shear stress concentrates at both flanks of the seamount, which suggests that fracturing will start there. We can surmise that, eventually, the seaward flank may be more apt to break than the landward flank at shallow depth if the confining pressure there is sufficiently low. We consider this to be a possible scenario for the generation of a thrust fault imaged at the seaward flank of the Muroto seamount, which is subducting under the Nankai trough accretionary prism.

Migration process of very low-frequency events based on a chain-reaction model and its application to the detection of preseismic slip for megathrust earthquakes

In order to reproduce slow earthquakes with short duration such as very low frequency events (VLFs) migrating along the trench direction as swarms, we apply a 3-D subduction plate boundary model based on the slowness law of rate- and state-dependent friction, introducing close-set numerous small asperities (rate-weakening regions) at a depth of 30 km under high pore pressure condition, in addition to a large asperity. Our simulation indicates that swarms of slip events occur repeatedly at the small asperities, and these events are similar to the observed slow earthquake group, especially to VLF, on the basis of the relation between characteristic duration and seismic moment. No slip events occur there without the small asperities, which mean that the close-set numerous small asperities may be one of the necessary conditions for generating the short-duration slow earthquakes such as VLFs. In the preseismic stage of the megathrust earthquakes that occur at the large asperity, the swarms of VLFs have higher migration speeds and higher moment release rate as well as shorter recurrence interval. Thus, monitoring the migration of slow earthquakes may be useful in imaging the preseismic slip of megathrust earthquakes.

Splay fault and megathrust earthquake slip in the Nankai Trough

We consider whether splay fault slip may be a factor influencing the behavior of megathrust earthquakes in the Nankai Trough. Consideration of tsunami inversion results from other studies indicates that slip on one or more splay faults may be particularly important for the segment of the Nankai Trough offshore western Shikoku. These results suggest that during at least two megathrust earthquakes substantial slip may have occurred on one or more splay faults which cut the island arc crust over 100 km landward of the trench axis. In contrast to smaller subsidiary thrusts in the semi-consolidated and unconsolidated sediments very near the trough axis, the crustal faults considered here could accumulate and release considerable tectonic stress. Through a simple finite element calculation we demonstrate that slip on such faults can release some of the shear stress on the megathrust accumulated through plate subduction, and therefore may have some influence on the behavior of megathrust earthquakes.

Development and application of an advanced ocean floor network system for megathrust earthquakes and tsunamis

Japan is prone to great earthquakes because of its position near two different subduction zones. The Philippine Sea plate subducts from the southeast, and the Pacific plate subducts from the east. The former was the source of a series of great earthquakes, of which the Tonankai earthquake of 1944 and the Nankaido earthquake of 1946 are the latest events. The latter was the source of the 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku (Tohoku earthquake) of 11 March 2011 (M9).

Effect of elastic inhomogeneity on the surface displacements in the northeastern Japan: Based on three-dimensional numerical modeling

In geodetic inversions such as estimation of coseismic slip and/or afterslip distribution on faults, the displacements on the surface calculated under an assumption of homogeneous elastic half space have been mostly used as the Green’s functions (GF’s). However, this seems not adequate for better estimations of such slip distribution, because the subsurface structures are more or less inhomogeneous, especially those in and around Japan where the structure must be much complicated. In this study, to examine how much the inhomogeneous subsurface structure affects on the surface displacements, we conduct some 3-D finite element calculations with a grid for the region of 1400 km (EW) × 1200 km (NS) × 200 km (depth) including the Tohoku and Hokkaido, northeastern Japan. Assuming homogeneous and inhomogeneous elastic models with various values for the Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio, we calculated the surface displacements due to a dip-slip type dislocation of 1 m on many cell-like subfaults assumed on the interface between the Pacific and land side plates. Comparing the results, we find a large discrepancy in the surface displacements between the homogeneous and inhomogeneous elastic models and less dependency of the surface displacements on the Poisson’s ratio. The discrepancy is found to be more than 20% and can be as large as ~40% in some cases. Such a large discrepancy indicates that the surface displacements calculated for inhomogeneous elastic medium with realistic subsurface structure, unlike as in usual cases, should be used as the GF’s for better geodetic inversions.

Under what circumstances does a seismogenic patch produce aseismic transients in the later interseismic period

Whether aseismic transients occur as the next earthquake approaches or not is an important problem in the area of disaster mitigation by geophysical observation. We conducted a series of rate-state (aging law) earthquake sequence simulations with inertial effects and revealed that A/B (direct effect/evolution effect) is a key parameter controlling the complexity of interseismic behavior in a seismogenic patch. Interseismically, a creep front invades a locked patch. If A/B≤0.4, nucleation takes place as soon as the linear stability of the coherent creep is violated, and no significant aseismic transient occurs. If A/B≥0.4, nucleation size is given by the energy balance criterion, and if A/B≥0.6, aseismic transients occur after the violation of linear stability and before the creeping region is able to host the nucleation. Thus, not only A − B but also A/B must be selected carefully to obtain realistic results in numerical simulations.

Seismotectonic implications of the Kyushu-Palau ridge subducting beneath the westernmost Nankai forearc

The Kyushu-Palau ridge, a remnant arc on the Philippine Sea Plate, subducts beneath the Eurasian Plate along the westernmost part of the Nankai Trough. A seismic reflection profile on strike line images the ∼70-km-wide Kyushu-Palau ridge where it subducts beneath the toe of the forearc accretionary wedge. The geomagnetic anomaly signature, seafloor topographic features, wide-angle refraction data, and on-land geomorphologic evidence enable us to trace the forearc extension of the subducted ridge up to the east Kyushu. The subducted Kyushu-Palau ridge with excess mass may be relatively buoyant, and thus is more likely to resist subduction upon collision with the overriding plate at depth, leading us to speculate that there is locally large tectonic stress at the contact zone between the subducted ridge and base of the overriding plate. The large stress zone is marked by historic thrust-type intermediate-class (magnitude 6 or 7) earthquakes. The flank regions of the subducted buoyant Kyushu-Palau ridge are more likely to tear and result in slab fracturing when the ridge subducts deeper. We propose that the subducted Kyushu-Palau ridge may serve not only as a seismic asperity at depth but also produce the slab fracture as a seismic barrier inhibiting the rupture propagation of the adjacent megathrust earthquakes in the Hyuga segment.