Recurring and triggered slow-slip events near the trench at the Nankai Trough subduction megathrust

IODP Expedition 365 shipboard scientists

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

233 Scopus citations

Abstract

The discovery of slow earthquakes has revolutionized the field of earthquake seismology. Defining the locations of these events and the conditions that favor their occurrence provides important insights into the slip behavior of tectonic faults.We report on a family of recurring slow-slip events (SSEs) on the plate interface immediately seaward of repeated historical moment magnitude (Mw) 8 earthquake rupture areas offshore of Japan. The SSEs continue for days to several weeks, include both spontaneous and triggered slip, recur every 8 to 15 months, and are accompanied by swarms of low-frequency tremors. We can explain the SSEs with 1 to 4 centimeters of slip along the megathrust, centered 25 to 35 kilometers (km) from the trench (4 to 10 km depth). The SSEs accommodate 30 to 55% of the plate motion, indicating frequent release of accumulated strain near the trench.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1157-1160
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume356
Issue number6343
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 16 2017

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

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