Megathrust reflectivity reveals the updip limit of the 2014 Iquique earthquake rupture

Bo Ma (), Jacob Geersen, Dietrich Lange, Dirk Klaeschen, Ingo Grevemeyer, Eduardo Contreras-Reyes, Florian Petersen, Michael Riedel, Yueyang Xia (), Anne M. Tréhu and Heidrun Kopp
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Bo Ma: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Jacob Geersen: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Dietrich Lange: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Dirk Klaeschen: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Ingo Grevemeyer: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Eduardo Contreras-Reyes: Universidad de Chile
Florian Petersen: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Michael Riedel: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Yueyang Xia: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Anne M. Tréhu: Oregon State University, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences
Heidrun Kopp: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The updip limit of seismic rupture during a megathrust earthquake exerts a major control on the size of the resulting tsunami. Offshore Northern Chile, the 2014 Mw 8.1 Iquique earthquake ruptured the plate boundary between 19.5° and 21°S. Rupture terminated under the mid-continental slope and did not propagate updip to the trench. Here, we use state-of-the-art seismic reflection data to investigate the tectonic setting associated with the apparent updip arrest of rupture propagation at 15 km depth during the Iquique earthquake. We document a spatial correspondence between the rupture area and the seismic reflectivity of the plate boundary. North and updip of the rupture area, a coherent, highly reflective plate boundary indicates excess fluid pressure, which may prevent the accumulation of elastic strain. In contrast, the rupture area is characterized by the absence of plate boundary reflectivity, which suggests low fluid pressure that results in stress accumulation and thus controls the extent of earthquake rupture. Generalizing these results, seismic reflection data can provide insights into the physical state of the shallow plate boundary and help to assess the potential for future shallow rupture in the absence of direct measurements of interplate deformation from most outermost forearc slopes.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31448-4

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