The effect of seamount subduction on seismic coupling

Scholz, Christopher H.; Small, Christopher

doi:10.1130/0091-7613(1997)025<0487:teosso>2.3.co;2

Cited by 293 publications

(245 citation statements)

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“…Increased seismic coupling may result from several factors, including changes to the force balance of subducting or overriding plates [40], decreases in slab dip that result from changes in mantle £ow [49], a decrease in the coherency of slab material [26], an increase in the smoothness of subducted sediments [30], or the subduction of seamounts [33]. If seismic coupling is strengthened by one of these mechanisms, weakened plate^slab coupling and increased slab suction would lead to additional locking, and possibly a rapid slowing of the subducting plate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Great earthquakes and slab pull: interaction between seismic coupling and plate–slab coupling

Conrad

Bilek

Lithgow‐Bertelloni

2004

Earth and Planetary Science Letters

105

108

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Great earthquakes and slab pull: interaction between seismic coupling and plate–slab coupling

Conrad

Bilek

Lithgow‐Bertelloni

2004

Earth and Planetary Science Letters

105

108

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“…Variation in subducting plate relief has also been invoked as a cause for the change in the effective stress, the mechanics of the plate boundary, and the frictional stability of the fault zone (e.g., Scholz and Small, 1997). Detailed bathymetric and seismic data collection in several subduction zones has led to correlations between large earthquake rupture patterns and subducting features such as seamounts and ridges Bilek, 2007).…”

Section: Expedition 344 Summarymentioning

confidence: 99%

Expedition 344 summary

Li¹,

Malinverno²,

Torres³

et al. 2013

Proceedings of the IODP

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Expedition 344 summaryProc. IODP | Volume 344 2 from velocity-strengthening to velocity-weakening friction, and shear becomes localized. The onset of seismogenic behavior is correlated with the intersection of the 100°-150°C isotherm and the subduction thrust (Hyndman et al., 1997;Oleskevich et al., 1999). With increasing depth down the subduction thrust, the frictional characteristics undergo a second transition either due to the juxtaposition with the forearc mantle or because the rocks are heated to 350°-450°C and can no longer store elastic stresses needed for rupture. Transitional regions between the three zones have conditional stability and can host rupture but are generally not thought to be regions where large earthquakes initiate.Although this three-zone two-dimensional view of the subduction thrust provides a reasonable framework, it is simplistic. Rupture models for large subduction earthquakes suggest significant fault plane heterogeneity in slip and moment release that in three dimensions is characterized as patchiness (Bilek and Lay, 2002). Additionally, we now know the transition zone from stable to unstable sliding is not simple but hosts a range of fault behaviors that includes creep events, strain transients, slow and silent earthquakes, and low-frequency earthquakes (Peng and Gomberg, 2010;Beroza and Ide, 2011;Ide, 2012).Fundamentally unknown are the processes that change fault behavior from stable sliding to stick-slip behavior. Understanding these processes is important for understanding earthquakes, the mechanics of slip, and rupture dynamics. For a fault to undergo unstable slip, fault rocks must have the ability to store elastic strain, be velocity weakening, and have sufficient stiffness. Hypotheses for mechanisms leading to the transition between stable and unstable slip invoke temperature, pressure, and strain-activated processes that lead to downdip changes in the mechanical properties of rocks. These transitions are also sensitive to fault zone composition, lithology, fabric, and fluid pressures.The composition of the material in the fault zone and its contrast with the surrounding wall rock play a key role in rock frictional behavior. The frictional state of the incoming sediment changes progressively with increasing temperature and pressure as it travels downdip. Important lithologic factors influencing friction are composition, fabric, texture, and cementation of rocks, as well as fluid pore pressure (Bernabé et al., 1992;Moore and Saffer, 2001;Beeler, 2007;Marone and Saffer, 2007;Collettini et al., 2009). For example, fault rocks with high phyllosilicate content are generally weaker than rocks with low phyllosilicate content (Ikari et al., 2011). Sediment properties including porosity, permeability, consolidation state, and alteration history also exert a strong influence on fault zone behavior. At erosive margins, where the plate boundary cuts into the overriding plate, the composition and strength of the upper plate is also important (McCaffrey, 1993).Field observations and la...

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“…The suggestion that the Louisville seamount chain has a more westerly track than its younger 340°azimuth is supported by another defining characteristic of the Louisville collision zone, namely, the region of seismic quiescence known as the 'Louisville gap' 51 ; Fig. 5).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%