Suboceanic earthquake location and seismic structure in the Kanto district,central Japan

We present a combined method, using sP depth-phase data and double-difference arrival times, to determine the precise hypocenter locations of earthquakes that occur under the Pacific Ocean outside of the area covered by the land-based seismic network. We assess the effectiveness of the combined method using a data set of P- and S-wave arrival times and sP depth phase from suboceanic earthquakes recorded by both land-based seismic stations and offshore seismic stations (OFS). The hypocenters of the offshore earthquakes relocated using the combined method are consistent with those determined using the standard location method and OFS data. The differences in the hypocenters relocated by the two methods are less than 4 km. We applied the method to the subduction region that underlies the Kanto district, central Japan, and located a large number of earthquakes that occurred beneath the Pacific Ocean. We then determined the detailed 3D seismic velocity structure by inverting a large number of arrival times of P- and S-waves and sP depth phase from the relocated earthquakes in the study region. High-velocity anomalies related to the cold subducting Pacific slab and low-velocity anomalies related to the hot mantle wedge are clearly imaged. Beneath active volcanoes, low-velocity zones are visible from the surface to a depth of 100 km, reflecting fluids released by dehydration of the subducting Pacific slab. Strong lateral heterogeneities are revealed on the upper boundary of the Pacific slab beneath the forearc region. The low-velocity areas under the offshore region are associated with low seismicity and weak interplate coupling. A low-velocity layer is imaged along the upper boundary of the Philippine Sea slab in the northern part of Kanto district, which may reflect dehydration of the slab. Our tomographic images indicate that the overlaying Philippine Sea plate has effects on the spatial distribution of active volcanoes related to the subducting Pacific slab in the study region.     

中国东北的深源地震波形匹配检测及定位

中国东北珲春周边地区位于环太平洋地震带上,也是中国唯一存在的深源地震带.较大地震发生后常会有若干震级较小的余震发生,但在相同的地震震级情况下深源地震的余震一般比浅源地震的余震数量要少1~3个数量级,且在全球不同深震区的深震余震数量也存在显著差异.针对国际地震中心（ISC）2010年7月至2014年12月目录中给出的中国东北附近27次震源深度超过300 km的深源地震,我们首先利用区域固定地震台及NECsaids流动地震台阵的连续波形数据,选取已知地震事件作为模板,采用Match&Locate及Matched Filter方法进行波形互相关叠加分析来检测微小深震事件;然后对1966至2017年ISC目录中的东北地区深源地震进行双差重定位以提高震源位置的准确性,进一步分析深震活动与俯冲板片的关系.研究结果显示除ISC目录中给出的深震事件,我们未能检测出作为模板的深源地震的前震或余震活动,证明东北深源地震余震活动较少并不是由于台站分布有限而造成的漏检结果;重定位后震源延伸的角度与西太平洋板片在410~660 km地幔转换带内的俯冲角度较为一致,并且大部分深震震源位置位于俯冲板片中的亚稳态橄榄岩楔形区内部.结合双差定位结果、b值分析及前人研究成果,我们认为东北深源地震应不属于与俯冲非直接相关的"孤立地震",而是与西太平洋板块俯冲直接相关.     

Stresses along the metastable wedge of olivine in a subducting slab: possible explanation for the Tonga double seismic layer

A numerical calculation of the stresses associated with changes in volume during phase transitions of olivine in a descending slab results in a double layer of high shear stress along the metastable olivine wedge in the depth range 350-460 km. Stress in the upper layer is in-plane tensional and stress in the lower layer is down-dip compressional. The modeled stress field agrees with observations of stress in the Tonga double seismic zone. High shear stress also exists in the slab at depths below the metastable wedge. This stress distribution involves down-dip compression and trench-parallel tension, which agrees with about half of the focal mechanisms in the Tonga slab at depths of 460-690 km. The model supports the idea that at least two possible stress release mechanisms for deep earthquakes may act in the Tonga subducting slab. One, transformational faulting, is restricted to the metastable wedge while the other one acts below the metastable wedge.     

Influence of fluids and magma on earthquakes: seismological evidence

In this paper, we present seismological evidence for the influence of fluids and magma on the generation of large earthquakes in the crust and the subducting oceanic slabs under the Japan Islands. The relationship between seismic tomography and large crustal earthquakes (M=5.7-8.0) in Japan during a period of 116 years from 1885 to 2000 is investigated and it is found that most of the large crustal earthquakes occurred in or around the areas of low seismic velocity. The low-velocity zones represent weak sections of the seismogenic crust. The crustal weakening is closely related to the subduction process in this region. Along the volcanic front and in back-arc areas, the crustal weakening is caused by active volcanoes and arc magma resulting from the convective circulation process in the mantle wedge and dehydration reactions in the subducting slab. In the forearc region of southwest Japan, fluids are suggested in the 1995 Kobe earthquake source zone, which have contributed to the rupture nucleation. The fluids originate from the dehydration of the subducting Philippine Sea slab. The recent 2001 Geiyo earthquake (M=6.8) occurred at 50 km depth within the subducting Philippine Sea slab, and it was also related to the slab dehydration process. A detailed 3D velocity structure is determined for the northeast Japan forearc region using data from 598 earthquakes that occurred under the Pacific Ocean with hypocenters well located with SP depth phases. The results show that strong lateral heterogeneities exist along the slab boundary, which represent asperities and results of slab dehydration and affect the degree and extent of the interplate seismic coupling. These results indicate that large earthquakes do not strike anywhere, but only anomalous areas which can be detected with geophysical methods. The generation of a large earthquake is not a pure mechanical process, but is closely related to physical and chemical properties of materials in the crust and upper mantle, such as magma, fluids, etc.     

西北太平洋俯冲带日本本州至中国东北段应力场反演

本研究基于Global CMT提供的1196个1976年11月—2017年1月MW4.6地震矩心矩张量解,对西北太平洋俯冲带日本本州至中国东北段的应力场进行反演计算,得到了从浅表到深部俯冲带应力状态的完整分布.结果显示:俯冲带浅表陆壳一侧应力场呈现水平挤压、垂向拉伸状态,洋壳一侧的应力状态则相反,即近水平拉张、近垂向压缩.沿着俯冲板片向下,应力主轴逐渐向俯冲板片轮廓靠拢,其中位于双地震层(120km深度附近)之上的部分,主张应力轴沿俯冲板片轮廓展布而又比其更为陡倾;双地震层内的应力模式同典型I型双层地震带内的应力模式一致,即上层沿俯冲板片轮廓压缩、下层沿俯冲板片轮廓拉伸;双地震层之下,应力模式逐步转变为主压应力轴平行于俯冲板片轮廓.通观所研究的整个俯冲系统,水平面内主压和主张应力轴基本保持了与西北太平洋板片俯冲方向上的一致性,同经典俯冲板片的应力导管模型所预言的俯冲带应力模式相符;而主张应力轴在俯冲板片表面之下的中源地震深度范围内转向海沟走向,或许同研究区域横跨日本海沟与千岛海沟结合带,改变的浅部海沟形态致使完整俯冲板片下部产生横向变形有关.     

南阿拉斯加地壳及上地幔结构成像研究

通过反演562891个纵波和156321个横波走时数据,第一次同时获得了阿拉斯加地区地壳及上地幔的纵波与横波速度以及泊松比图像,为更好地认识阿拉斯加地区的深部地震结构、太平洋板块与亚库塔特板块的俯冲几何形态提供了科学依据.成像结果表明P波和S波速度图像与泊松比结构具有很好的一致性,强的高速度和低泊松比异常沿着阿拉斯加俯冲带延伸至200 km深度,该高速度和低泊松比异常体与俯冲带的地震空间分布吻合,因此,我们认为该高速体为俯冲的太平洋板块和亚库塔特板块.从地震空间分布发现,大部分大地震（M>6.5）发生在高速度与低速度异常交界处,可能反映了俯冲板块之间强耦合作用.在俯冲带的地幔楔显示出广泛的低速度和高泊松比异常,并且这些异常与岛弧火山的位置相对应,这与大洋板块俯冲所形成的岩浆入侵作用有关.研究结果表明在南阿拉斯加俯冲带,俯冲板块的俯冲角度从兰格尔块体下方的平坦变成在布里斯托尔湾下方的陡峭,这与亚库塔特板块俯冲在兰格尔块体下方和太平洋板块俯冲在布里斯托尔湾下方有关.在基奈半岛和科迪亚克岛连接处的上地幔位置存在强烈的低速与高泊松比异常体,使该处的大洋俯冲板块变薄.这一现象可能与亚库塔特板块和太平洋板块相互碰撞作用以及软流圈强烈的上升流入侵有关.     

使用纵波和横波走时层析成像研究菲律宾海板块西边缘带和南海地区的深部结构

使用纵波震相及同台同源纵波和横波震相的走时资料及层析成像反演方法,分别给出了菲律宾海板块(PHP)和南海地区的纵波速度V_pf及同台同源的纵波和横波速度V_p和V_s结构. 结果表明,（1） PHP与欧亚板块(EUAP)的俯冲接触关系随地段而异,在琉球海沟,PHP向EUAP之下俯冲深达400 km;在台湾岛,EUAP先近陡直地俯冲到深度400 km,然后折向PHP之下达到660 km左右;在马尼拉海沟北段,俯冲板片几乎垂直达到660 km附近;在菲律宾海沟,PHP向EUAP之下的俯冲深度超过660 km．（2）南海地区之下是一个深达300～400 km的宽阔低速区,并且大致在莺琼海盆与700 km深处另一低速区曲折相通;在该宽阔低速区内部,有两个小而明显的低速区分别在海口火山和珠江口盆地下方．（3）对V_p和V_s及据其算出的容声速度V_b作分析发现,V_s和V_b的平均扰动量对深度的变化在一些深度范围内是反向的;年龄较大的太平洋板块俯冲体的V_s相对扰动量的平均值大于V_b的,而在较年轻的PHP俯冲体中则正好相反．     

深部俯冲板片三维构造重建及其几何学、运动学研究——以汤加—克马德克地区俯冲板片为例

西南太平洋板块与澳大利亚板块之间的汤加—克马德克俯冲带,是研究地球动力学最重要的区域之一.本文研究根据MIT-P08地震数据,结合板块构造边界、地震活动分布、海岸地形数据等,基于GOCAD软件平台建立三维地震层析成像,对西南太平洋板块的汤加—克马德克俯冲板片进行三维解释.地震层析成像显示汤加—斐济地区地幔至少存在三个"高速"异常体.早期汤加—克马德克俯冲板片穿过地幔转换带,并进入下地幔,最大深度达1600 km.三维构造模型揭示了汤加—克马德克板片在深度600~800 km处存在断折形变,该俯冲板片去褶皱恢复后,测量其俯冲的最大位移达2600 km.汤加—克马德克板片开始快速俯冲的时间至少在30 Ma之前,平均移动速率约为68~104 mm /a.俯冲板片三维构造重建和恢复,可以有效揭示俯冲板片几何学、运动学,为研究深源地震成因、地球深部变化过程和动力学机制提供约束.     

Subduction zone seismicity and the thermo-mechanical evolution of downgoing lithosphere

In this paper we discuss characteristic features of subduction zone seismicity at depths between about 100 km and 700 km, with emphasis on the role of temperature and rheology in controlling the deformation of, and the seismic energy release in downgoing lithosphere. This is done in two steps. After a brief review of earlier developments, we first show that the depth distribution of hypocentres at depths between 100 km and 700 km in subducted lithosphere can be explained by a model in which seismic activity is confined to those parts of the slab which have temperatures below a depth-dependent critical valueT _cr.Second, the variation of seismic energy release (frequency of events, magnitude) with depth is addressed by inferring a rheological evolution from the slab's thermal evolution and by combining this with models for the system of forces acting on the subducting lithosphere. It is found that considerable stress concentration occurs in a reheating slab in the depth range of 400 to 650–700 km: the slab weakens, but the stress level strongly increases. On the basis of this stress concentration a model is formulated for earthquake generation within subducting slabs. The model predicts a maximum depth of seismic activity in the depth range of 635 to 760 km and, for deep earthquake zones, a relative maximum in seismic energy release near the maximum depth of earthquakes. From our modelling it follows that, whereas such a maximum is indeed likely to develop in deep earthquake zones, zones with a maximum depth around 300 km (such as the Aleutians) are expected to exhibit a smooth decay in seismic energy release with depth. This is in excellent agreement with observational data. In conclusion, the incoroporation of both depth-dependent forces and depth-dependent rheology provides new insight into the generation of intermediate and deep earthquakes and into the variation of seismic activity with depth.Our results imply that no barrier to slab penetration at a depth of 650–700 km is required to explain the maximum depth of seismic activity and the pattern of seismic energy release in deep earthquake zones.     

Seismic imaging of the entire arc of Tohoku and Hokkaido in Japan using P-wave, S-wave and sP depth-phase data

In order to better understand seismic structure and seismotectonics of the entire arc of Tohoku and Hokkaido in Japan, we combined arrival time data from earthquakes beneath Tohoku and Hokkaido land areas, and beneath the Pacific Ocean to determine the three-dimensional (3D) velocity structures (Vp and Vs) under the entire Northeast (NE) Japan-Kuril arc. We adopted 176,431 P-wave and 110,953 S-wave arrival times, from 5123 local earthquakes, and 2843 sP depth-phase data from 385 events that occurred beneath the Pacific Ocean. The 385 suboceanic events were accurately relocated by using P-wave, S-wave and sP depth-phase arrival time data jointly. The obtained results confirmed the major features delineated by previous studies and revealed some new features of the structural heterogeneity beneath NE Japan and the Kuril forearcs. High-velocity anomalies of the cold subducting Pacific slab and low-velocity anomalies in the hot mantle wedge were imaged clearly. Strong lateral heterogeneities were revealed on the upper boundary of the Pacific slab under the forearc region, which showed a good correlation with the spatial distribution of large interplate earthquakes. These results indicated that strong coupling sections (or asperities) and weak-coupled or decoupled patches might exist along the upper boundary of the Pacific slab. Widespread low-velocity anomalies were visible in the forearc mantle above the subducting Pacific slab, which might reflect serpentinization of the forearc mantle associated with the dehydration process of the subducting slab. Our results also showed a general tendency for seismic coupling in the asperities to be located around low-velocity areas on the slab boundary under the suboceanic region.     

华北克拉通及东邻西太平洋活动大陆边缘地区的P波速度结构：对岩石圈减薄动力学过程的探讨

本文通过地震层析成像研究获得了华北克拉通及其东邻地区（30°N-50°N,95°E -145°E）1°×1°的P波速度扰动图像.结果显示,在西太平洋俯冲带地区,上地幔中西倾的板片状高速异常体与其上方的低速异常区构成俯冲带与上覆地幔楔的典型速度结构式样.俯冲板片高速体在约300~400 km深度范围内被低速物质充填,暗示俯冲板片可能发生了断离.在华北克拉通地区的上地幔中发现三个东倾排列的高速异常带.在此基础上,本文构建了华北克拉通及其东邻西太平洋活动大陆边缘地区的上地幔速度结构模式图,并据此探讨克拉通岩石圈减薄与西太平洋活动大陆边缘的深部动力学联系.本文认为,太平洋板片的俯冲（断离）,触发热地幔物质上涌并在上覆地幔楔中形成对流,使克拉通岩石圈受到改造（底侵与弱化）.随着俯冲板片后撤,地幔楔中的对流场以及对岩石圈改造的影响范围均随之东移,最终导致华北克拉通岩石圈自下而上、从西向东分三个阶段依次拆沉减薄.这一模式能很好地解释现今克拉通岩石圈自西向东呈台阶状减薄的深部现象.     

Regionality of deep low-frequency earthquakes associated with subduction of the Philippine Sea plate along the Nankai Trough, southwest Japan

The Fukuoka District Meteorological Observatory recently logged three possible deep low-frequency earthquakes (LFEs) beneath eastern Kyushu, Japan, a region in which LFEs and low-frequency tremors have never before been identified. To assess these data, we analyzed band-pass filtered velocity seismograms and relocated LFEs and regular earthquakes using the double-difference method. The results strongly suggest that the three events were authentic LFEs, each at a depth of about 50 km. We also performed relocation analysis on LFEs recorded beneath the Kii Peninsula and found that these LFEs occurred near the northwest-dipping plate interface at depths of approximately 29–38 km. These results indicate that LFEs in southwest Japan occur near the upper surface of the subducting Philippine Sea (PHS) plate. To investigate the origin of regional differences in the occurrence frequency of LFEs in western Shikoku, the Kii Peninsula, and eastern Kyushu, we calculated temperature distributions associated with PHS plate subduction. Then, using the calculated thermal structures and a phase diagram of water dehydration for oceanic basalt, the water dehydration rate (wt.%/km), which was newly defined in this study, was determined to be 0.19, 0.12, and 0.08 in western Shikoku, the Kii Peninsula, and eastern Kyushu, respectively; that is, the region beneath eastern Kyushu has the lowest water dehydration rate value. Considering that the Kyushu–Palau Ridge that is subducting beneath eastern Kyushu is composed of tonalite, which is low in hydrous minerals, this finding suggests that the regionality may be related to the amount of water dehydration associated with subduction of the PHS plate and/or differences in LFE depths. Notable dehydration reactions take place beneath western Shikoku and the Kii Peninsula, where the depth ranges for dehydration estimated by thermal modeling agree well with those for the relocated LFEs. The temperature range in which LFEs occur in these regions is estimated to be 400–500 °C.     

Receiver functions in northeast China - implications for slab penetration into the lower mantle in northwest Pacific subduction zone

Seismic studies of the subducting lithosphere and the upper mantle discontinuities in the northwest Pacific subduction zone beneath Japan and northeast China have suggested contrary subduction scenarios. There was little consensus on the issue whether the subducting slab penetrates the upper mantle discontinuities into the lower mantle or it is deflected atop of the 660-km discontinuity over several hundred kilometers. We calculate receiver functions from a recent seismic broadband station network located in northeast China and find topographic variations of the upper mantle discontinuities. A deeper-than-normal 660-km discontinuity is observed over an area of 400 km and it coincides with the stagnant slab imaged by seismic tomography. The 660-km discontinuity is locally depressed by more than 35 km and the transition zone is thickened by more than 20 km in the east of the region where it encounters the slab. These observations provide evidence of the slab accumulating in the mantle transition zone and locally penetrating into the lower mantle.     

Subduction zone earthquakes and stress in slabs

Summary The pattern of seismicity as a function of depth in the world, and the orientation of stress axes of deep and intermediate earthquakes, are explained using viscous fluid models of subducting slabs, with a barrier in the mantle at 670 km. 670 km is the depth of a seismic discontinuity, and also the depth below which earthquakes do not occur. The barrier in the models can be a viscosity increase of an order of magnitude or more, or a chemical discontinuity where vertical velocity is zero. LongN versus depth, whereN is the number of earthquakes, shows (1) a linear decrease to about 250–300 km depth, (2) a minimum near that depth, and (3) an increase thereafter. Stress magnitude in a subducting slab versus depth, for a wide variety of models, shows the same pattern. Since there is some experimental evidence thatN is proportional toe , where is a constant and is the stress magnitude, the agreement is encouraging. In addition, the models predict down-dip compression in the slab at depths below 400 km. This has been observed in earlier studies of earthquake stress axes, and we have confirmed it via a survey of events occurring since 1977 which have been analysed by moment tensor inversion. At intermediate depths, the models predict an approximate but not precise state of down-dip tension when the slab is dipping. The observations do not show an unambiguous state of down-dip tension at intermediate depths, but in the majority of regions the state of stress is decidedly closer to down-dip tension than it is to down-dip compression. Chemical discontinuities above 670 km, or phase transitions with an elevation of the boundary in the slab, predict, when incorporated into the models, stress peaks which are not mirrored in the profile of seismicity versus depth. Models with an asthenosphere and mesosphere of appropriate viscosity can not only explain the state of stress observed in double Benioff zones, but also yield stress magnitude profiles consistent with observed seismicity. Models where a nonlinear rheology is used are qualitatively consistent with the linear models.     

Preliminary models of upper mantle P and S wave velocity structure in the western South America region

Upper mantle P and S wave velocities in the western South America region are obtained at depths of foci from an analysis of travel time data of deep earthquakes. The inferred velocity models for the Chile–Peru–Ecuador region reveal an increase of P velocity from 8.04 km/s at 40 km to 8.28 km/s at 250 km depth, while the S velocity remains almost constant at 4.62 km/s from 40 to 210 km depth. A velocity discontinuity (probably corresponding to the L discontinuity in the continental upper mantle) at 220–250 km depth for P and 200–220 km depth for S waves, with a 3–4% velocity increase, is inferred from the velocity–depth data. Below this discontinuity, P velocity increases from 8.54 km/s at 250 km to 8.62 km/s at 320 km depth and S velocity increases from 4.81 km/s at 210 km to 4.99 km/s at 290 km depth. Travel time data from deep earthquakes at depths greater than 500 km in the Bolivia–Peru region, reveal P velocities of about 9.65 km/s from 500 to 570 km depth. P velocity–depth data further reveal a velocity discontinuity, either as a sharp boundary at 570 km depth with 8–10% velocity increase or as a broad transition zone with velocity rapidly increasing from 560 to 610 km depth. P velocity increases to 10.75 km/s at 650 km depth. A comparison with the latest global average depth estimates of the 660 km discontinuity reveals that this discontinuity is at a relatively shallow depth in the study region. Further, a velocity discontinuity at about 400 km depth with a 10% velocity increase seems to be consistent with travel time observations from deep earthquakes in this region.     

东北日本地震波速度、VP/VS和各向异性结构:对俯冲带水迁移过程的探讨

本文利用区域地震初至波到时数据,通过地震层析成像研究获得了东北日本俯冲带上地幔（深至约150 km）的P波速度（V_P）、S波速度（V_S）、V_P/V_S和P波各向异性结构.结果表明,低速及高V_P/V_S比异常体主要分布在火山下方的下地壳和地幔楔中,其与低频地震的分布吻合,该区域与俯冲板块脱水所释放的流体及其导致的部分熔融密切相关;俯冲的太平洋板块内可能由于脱水脆化导致的双层地震带区域则没有表现出整体的高V_P/V_S值,其可能与俯冲板块内部含水矿物含量有关;俯冲板块内双重地震带区域及上覆地幔楔薄层主要表现为与海沟平行的方位各向异性和正的径向各向异性,其可能是由于含水矿物的脱水使橄榄石晶格结构发生了从A型到B型的变化所引起的.我们研究表明,结合地震波速度和各向异性结构能够加深对俯冲带内水运移过程的认识.     

中国东北地区地壳、上地幔速度结构及其对矿产能源形成的控制作用

中国东北地区处于古亚洲洋和滨太平洋构造域叠合部位,地质构造极其复杂.利用东北及华北地区部分台网所接收的近震及远震走时资料获得东北地区地壳与上地幔三维P波速度结构,成像分辨率在80 km左右.成像结果表明东北地区地壳与上地幔具有较强的横向不均匀性.P波速度异常走向大体呈北东向,与该区地表构造走向一致.5 km深度的速度异...     

苏鲁地区剪切波速度结构研究及与地震关系探讨

利用S波纯波形拟合法以及T函数法反演了苏鲁地区壳幔剪切波速度结构,并利用长周期P波T函数反演得到了连云港和莱阳台下方800km深度的速度结构。结果显示:(1)苏鲁地区大部分台站地壳表层及上地壳浅部速度偏高,分别对应高压、超高压物质和古老基底出露地区;(2)沿郯庐断裂带分布的台站均显示明显低速层,并具有北浅南深的特点;(3)连云港和莱阳台超深度反演结果显示两台均在150km深度下出现高速层,反映扬子板块的俯冲深度为100km以下,俯冲板片厚度在100km以上;板片拆离下沉深度甚至达到300km或者更深;(4)地震深度分布与低速层关系密切,沿郯庐断裂和烟台—五莲断裂的中小地震震源深度都比较深,有的甚至达到地壳的底部,反映这两条断裂目前切割深度都比较大,而且地幔物质相对比较活跃。     

基于三重震相方法探测日本海俯冲区地幔转换带的速度结构

本文基于中国数字地震台网记录的发生于日本北海道地区的一次中源地震的三重震相资料研究了日本海俯冲区地幔转换带的速度结构．结果表明,该区域P波速度结构与S波速度结构的一致性整体上较强．冷的西太平洋俯冲板块导致410 km间断面出现了10 km的抬升,660 km间断面出现了25 km的下沉;410 km和660 km间断面之上均存在与俯冲板块相关的高速层;660 km间断面下方存在厚度为65 km的低速异常．纵横波波速比vP/vS值在210—400 km深度范围内偏低,约为1.827,体现出海洋板块低泊松比的特征;在560—685 km深度范围内,该值偏高,约为1.831,可能预示地幔转换带底部含有一定量的水．