大瞬态剪切应力驱动的非火山颤动

在火山附近观测到非脉冲的地震辐射或“颤动”已有很长时间了(McNutt,2005),最近在消减带附近也观测到了类似现象(Obara,2002)。尽管非火山颤动观测资料的数量一直持续增加,然而人们对其发生机理依然知之甚少。有人将非火山颤动归结为流体的运动(Obara,2002;Kaoet al,2005;McCauslandet al,2005;Katsumataand Kamaya,2003;Seno and Yamasaki,2003),然而大地测量学观测发现非火山颤动与有规则间隔的慢滑动事件具有很好的一致性(Rogers and Dragert,2003;),这让另外一些人将非火山颤动发生的原因解释为板块边界的滑动(Rogers and Drager…     

阿留申岛弧的非火山颤动

在阿留申岛弧观测到了一些非火山颤动。在数座火山上的大跨区的地震台网也监测到颤动状的事件,因此不可能与任何一座火山体有关。虽然目前还不能给这些颤动定位,但我们根据多个台网的反射时差和振幅给出了大概的位置。多数非火山颤动是在所推断的太平洋消减板块闭锁区或从蠕动到闭锁转换区记录到的。有一次非火山颤动事件是在拉特群岛和安德烈亚诺夫群岛附近地区地震活动和火山活动增强时期记录到的。类似的同步增加以往在阿留申群岛记录到过,并被假设是由慢滑动事件引起的大范围应力变化造成的。2008年7月12日奥克莫克火山喷发约1小时后在科罗文和大锡特金地震台网记录到显著的非火山颤动。非火山颤动并不是分散地出现在整个阿留申岛弧,而似乎是集中在几个地区。用2500km的消减带,我们有机会检查这些地区并将其与不产生非火山颤动地区加以比较,以便确定产生该颤动的作用因素。     

慢地震与深部不连续颤动和慢滑事件同时发生

我们对日本西南部南海俯冲板块界面过渡带发生的超低频地震进行报道。由矩震级为3.1～3.5的超低频地震引起的地震波显示其卓越长周期约为20s。超低频地震活动伴随深源低频颤动和慢滑事件同时发生,并随之移动。慢地震一直被认为会增加向上倾斜的大型逆冲地震断裂带上的应力,而这3种现象的同时发生提高了人们对慢地震的探测和特性鉴定水平。     

日本西南火山以外地区莫霍面附近的低频持续颤动

最近日本列岛地震台网的加强揭示了日本西南部呈带状分布的低频持续颤动事件的发生。在那里，菲律宾海消减板块达到30～40km的深度。选择具有相对清晰的P波初动的颤动段估计出颤动源的深度。颤动源区被认为对应于地壳最底部，位于地壳、地幔楔和消减板块之间的三角形边界地区。较长的颤动持续时间表明了与产生颤动相关的流体的存在。根据高温高压实验数据，最有可能的流体被认为是消减板块中的绿泥石和闪石在脱水过程中产生的水。带状分布的北部可能以地幔楔的边缘为边界，因为蛇绿岩建造吸收了流体水。     

对日本俯冲带与IBM俯冲带俯冲特征的地球物理研究:来自重力与震源分布数据的启示

日本俯冲带与IBM俯冲带位于太平洋板块、菲律宾海板块和欧亚板块三者的交汇地带,是典型的"俯冲工厂"地区,具有重要的研究意义.本文利用震源分布资料与卫星重力数据对日本俯冲带与IBM俯冲带进行了研究.通过空间重力异常反映了俯冲带地区的区域构造形态,在此基础上基于艾利模式计算了均衡异常以反映地壳均衡特征.利用震源分布资料,分别从垂直俯冲带走向与沿俯冲带走向划定了横截剖面(cross-sections)进行了地震提取,讨论了俯冲带地区的Wadati-Benioff带形态特征,并借助于俯冲带地震等深线图直观描述了俯冲带的俯冲形态.在日本俯冲带与伊豆-小笠原俯冲带各选取了一条典型剖面进行了重力2.5D反演,研究了俯冲带地区的壳幔结构特征.研究结果表明,九州-帕劳海脊与IBM岛弧在均衡异常上存在差异,前者已逐渐趋向于地壳均衡.IBM的Wadati-Benioff带存在明显的南北差异,反映出伊豆-小笠原俯冲板片停留在了660 km转换带中,而马里亚纳俯冲板片很可能垂直穿过了这一转换带,造成这种南北差异的原因与板块相对运动、岩石圈黏性和年龄差异以及俯冲板片的重力效应等因素有关.在IBM的中部和南部存在板片撕裂现象.日本俯冲带的俯冲洋壳密度随俯冲深度变化较小,洋幔存在一定程度的蛇纹岩化,地幔楔蛇纹岩化作用不典型,海沟处有一范围较小的含水畸变带;伊豆-小笠原俯冲带俯冲洋壳密度随深度增大而明显增大,洋幔蛇纹岩化程度较日本俯冲带低,地幔楔蛇纹岩化作用强烈,板块交汇处存在明显的蛇纹岩底辟.日本俯冲带与IBM俯冲带一线自北向南板片俯冲变陡,两侧板块耦合度降低,与俯冲带两侧的板块运动速率差异有关.     

西太平洋板块俯冲运动与中国东北深震带

中国东北地区有一条震源深度达600公里的深震带,从震源剖面投影可以明显地看出,它是西太平洋板块俯冲的结果,俯冲的角度约为26°。 根据板块学说,建立了一个板块俯冲模型,主要考虑地幔物质和岩石层板块的热传导,计算了板块俯冲到一定深度时的温度分布。结果表明,西太平洋板块俯冲到中国东北地区深度达600公里时,其中心温度约为1200℃,仍比周围地幔物质的温度低得多,因而能产生弹性断裂,发生地震。 震源机制的结果表明,中国东北地区深震的主压应力轴方位为93°—113°,正好迎着板块俯冲的方向,仰角为27°—28°,与板块俯冲的角度大体一致。以上结果说明中国东北深震是西太平洋板块俯冲到中国东北大陆之下造成的。     

西太平洋板块俯冲运动与中国东北深震带

中国东北地区有一条震源深度达600公里的深震带,从震源剖面投影可以明显地看出,它是西太平洋板块俯冲的结果,俯冲的角度约为26°。 根据板块学说,建立了一个板块俯冲模型,主要考虑地幔物质和岩石层板块的热传导,计算了板块俯冲到一定深度时的温度分布。结果表明,西太平洋板块俯冲到中国东北地区深度达600公里时,其中心温度约为1200℃,仍比周围地幔物质的温度低得多,因而能产生弹性断裂,发生地震。 震源机制的结果表明,中国东北地区深震的主压应力轴方位为93°-113°,正好迎着板块俯冲的方向,仰角为27°-28°,与板块俯冲的角度大体一致。以上结果说明中国东北深震是西太平洋板块俯冲到中国东北大陆之下造成的。     

日本俯冲带地震发生过程的数值模拟研究

了解地震发生的动力学机制是研究地震发震原因的关键,而数值模拟的方法是高速、有效的手段.2011年3月11日日本东北部宫城县发生9.0级大地震,文中以该次大地震所在的日本俯冲带为研究对象,通过使用黏弹性有限元数值模拟,并引用接触对,建立了研究区二维数值模型,模拟俯冲带与上覆板片之间的滑动、黏滞到再滑动的过程,亦即断层失稳发生地震的过程.模拟结果显示,随着太平洋板块不断俯冲,在俯冲带上自发出现了断层闭锁、解锁到再闭锁的黏滑过程,且这种过程呈现一定的准周期性,大事件主要集中分布在20~30 km的深度范围内.根据俯冲带可能在俯冲过程中角度的变化,建立了不同的模型,进行模拟对比研究,结果表明,俯冲带的几何形态,以及俯冲角度变化所在的不同深度,对模拟的结果有不同的影响.     

大别-苏鲁深俯冲研究中的一些问题

目前板块内部的大陆深俯冲及其动力学成为国际地球科学研究的热点.大别、苏鲁地区的超高压变质带在世界上是规模最大的,因此,吸引了国内外科学家的注目.已进行的大量研究获得了一系列研究成果,提出了诸多的成因解释,但仍有一些关键问题需要深入研究和解决.     

对俯冲带深震成因的探讨

根据一种准动力学计算方案,用有限元方法计算了不同模型俯冲带的热结构．在此基础上计算了俯冲带的密度分布和P波速度异常．通过与地震波探测结果和实验室破裂实验结果的对比,指出400 km以下俯冲带的地震可能由反裂纹机制所控制．     

卡斯卡迪亚古陆俯冲带上的间歇式颤动和滑动: 静滑动的嘟囔声

我们在曾一度被认为很平静,具有独特非地震活动特征的地区,北卡斯卡迪亚古陆俯冲带下部界面上观测到一些重复发生的慢滑动事件。颤动式地震信号在时空上与过去6年里连续的地壳运动数据中识别出来的滑动事件相关。在滑动间隔期内,颤动活动小到几乎不存在。我们称这一相关的颤动和滑动现象为“间歇性颤动滑动(ETS)”,并认为ETS活动可用于卡斯卡迪亚古陆大型俯冲地震带应力聚集的实时监测。     

GeoFEM Kinematic Earthquake Cycle Simulation in Southwest Japan

— We construct a viscoelastic FEM model with 3-D configuration of the subducting Philippine Sea plate in Southwest Japan to simulate recent 300-year kinematic earthquake cycles along the Nankai-Suruga-Sagami trough, based on the kinematic earthquake cycle model. This 300-year simulation contains a series of three great interplate earthquakes. The inclusion of viscoelasticity produces characteristic velocity field during earthquake cycles regardless of the assumed constant plate coupling throughout the interseismic period. Just after the occurrence of interplate earthquakes, the viscoelastic relaxation creates the seaward motion in the inland region. In the middle period, the seaward motion gradually decreases, and the resultant velocity field is similar to the elastic one. Later, just before the next interplate earthquake, displacements due to the interplate coupling in the viscoelastic material are distributed more broadly in the forearc region than in the purely elastic one, since the viscoelastic relaxation due to the previous earthquake mostly disappears. The effects of such interplate earthquake cycles on five major inland faults in southwest Japan, where large intraplate earthquakes occurred during this period, are quantitatively evaluated using the Coulomb failure function (CFF). The calculated change in CFF successfully predicts the occurrence of the 1995 Kobe earthquake (M～7). The occurrence of other inland earthquakes, however, cannot be explained by the calculated changes in CFF, and especially the 1891 Nobi earthquake (M～8), the largest inland earthquake in Japan, which occurred at the time close to the local minimum of CFF. This implies that further improvements are necessary for our FEM modeling, such as the modeling of steady east-west compressive force and stress interactions between the inland faults.     

Crustal shortening of Southwest Japan in the Late Miocene

Abstract Tectonic deformation of an island arc is interpreted on the basis of geophysical data. Extensive reflection seismic, gravity, geomagnetic data around the back-arc region of Southwest Japan delineate east-west to northeast-southwest folding, and imply conspicuous compression on the southern margin of the Sea of Japan. Because geological data of exploration boreholes indicate that the coinpressive regime was dominant in the late Miocene, the tectonic event seems to be linked with coeval resumption of subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate. Strong coupling of the young buoyant oceanic plate brought about north-south shortening of the overriding continental lithosphere, and left wrench deformation at the southwestern corner of the Sea of Japan. Amount of shortening for the back-arc shelf and mountainous ranges of Southwest Japan is estimated to be ca 10 km, adopting a uniform ratio of shortening (0.944) since the Miocene determined on the shelf from depth-converted seismic profiles. Along the western side of a bend of boundary between the Eurasian Plate and Philippine Sea Plate, the middle Miocene and younger sediments upon the back-arc shelf are much less deformed than the northern equivalents, and the fore-arc Miocene strata are deformed by left wrenching, facts which are indicative of northerly initial convergence of the Philippine Sea Plate at the end of Miocene and crustal decoupling on the west of Kyushu Island.     

Regularities in the Spatiotemporal Variations of Deformation Processes in the Region of Japan Subduction Zone

Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth - The approach is proposed for modeling deformations in the subduction zones from the surface displacement data recorded by the methods of satellite geodesy....     

Paleomagnetic evidence for the clockwise rotation of Southwest Japan

Over 500 oriented samples of felsic rocks of Cretaceous to Middle Miocene age were collected along the Go¯River in the central part of Southwest Japan, in an attempt to detect the process of tectonic rotation of Southwest Japan from the paleomagnetic view point. Thermal demagnetization was successful in isolating characteristic directions from the remanent magnetization of samples. Reliability of the paleomagnetic direction is ascertained through the agreement of directions from different kinds of rocks as well as the presence of both normal and reversed polarities. The paleomagnetic results establish that Southwest Japan began to rotate clockwise through58 ± 14° later than 28 Ma and ceased its motion by about 12 Ma. Southwest Japan has undergone no detectable north-south translation since 28 Ma. These results imply that southwest Japan was rotated about the pivot around 34°N, 129°E between 28 Ma and 12 Ma in association with the opening of the Japan Sea.     

Volcanic history and tectonics of the Southwest Japan Arc

Abstract Remarkable changes in volcanism and tectonism have occurred in a synchronous manner since 1.5–2 Ma at the junction of the Southwest Japan Arc and the Ryukyu Arc. Although extensive volcanism occurred in Kyushu before 2 Ma, the subduction-related volcanism started at ca 1.5 Ma, forming a NE–SW trend volcanic front, preceded by significant changes in whole-rock chemistry and mode of eruptions at ca 2 Ma. The Median Tectonic Line has intensified dextral motion since 2 Ma, with a northward shift of its active trace of as much as 10 km, accompanied by the formation of rhomboidal basins in Central Kyushu. Crustal rotation and incipient rifting has also occurred in South Kyushu and the northern Okinawa Trough over the past 2 million years. We emphasize that the commencement age of these events coincides with that of the transition to the westward convergence of the Philippine Sea plate, which we interpret as a primary cause of these synchronous episodes. We assume that the shift in subduction direction led to an increase of fluid component contamination from subducted oceanic slab, which then produced island-arc type volcanism along the volcanic front. Accelerated trench retreat along the Ryukyu Trench may have caused rifting and crustal rotation in the northern Ryukyu Arc.     

FDM Simulation of an Anomalous Later Phase from the Japan Trench Subduction Zone Earthquakes

We investigated the development of a distinct later phase observed at stations near the Japan Trench associated with shallow, outer-rise earthquakes off the coast of Sanriku, northern Japan based on the analysis of three-component broadband seismograms and FDM simulations of seismic wave propagation using a heterogeneous structural model of the Japan Trench subduction zone. Snapshots of seismic wave propagation obtained through these simulations clearly demonstrate the complicated seismic wavefield constructed by a coupling of the ocean acoustic waves and the Rayleigh waves propagating within seawater and below the sea bottom by multiple reflections associated with shallow subduction zone earthquakes. We demonstrated that the conversion to the Rayleigh wave from the coupled ocean acoustic waves and the Rayleigh wave as they propagate upward along the slope of seafloor near the coast is the primary cause of the arrival of the distinct later phase at the station near the coast. Through a sequence of simulations using different structural models of the Japan Trench subduction zone, we determined that the thick layer of seawater along the trench and the suddenly rising sea bottom onshore of the Japanese island are the major causes of the distinct later phase. The results of the present study indicate that for realistic modeling of seismic wave propagation from the subduction zone earthquakes, a high-resolution bathymetry model is very crucial, although most current simulations do not include a water column in their simulation models.