Effects of episodic slow slip on seismicity and stress near a subduction-zone megathrust

Saeko Kita (), Heidi Houston, Suguru Yabe, Sachiko Tanaka, Youichi Asano, Takuo Shibutani and Naoki Suda
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Saeko Kita: National Research and Development Agency
Heidi Houston: University of Southern California
Suguru Yabe: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
Sachiko Tanaka: National Institute of Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED)
Youichi Asano: National Institute of Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED)
Takuo Shibutani: DPRI, Kyoto University
Naoki Suda: Hiroshima University

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Slow slip phenomena deep in subduction zones reveal cyclic processes downdip of locked megathrusts. Here we analyze seismicity within a subducting oceanic slab, spanning ~50 major deep slow slip with tremor episodes over 17 years. Changes in rate, b-values, and stress orientations of in-slab seismicity are temporally associated with the episodes. Furthermore, although stress orientations in the slab below these slow slips may rotate slightly, in-slab orientations 20–50 km updip from there rotate farther, suggesting that previously-unrecognized transient slow slip occurs on the plate interface updip. We infer that fluid pressure propagates from slab to interface, promoting episodes of slow slip, which break mineral seals, allowing the pressure to propagate tens of km further updip along the interface where it promotes transient slow slips. The proposed methodology, based primarily on in-slab seismicity, may help monitor plate boundary conditions and slow slip phenomena, which can signal the beginning stages of megathrust earthquakes.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27453-8

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