A Kobe University research group has shed light on how low-frequency tectonic tremors occur; these findings will contribute towards better predictions of future megathrust earthquakes.

In addition to the subducting Pacific plate, the Alaska subduction zone is also characterized by a subducting oceanic plateau called the Yakutat terrane. Low-frequency tectonic tremors, which are a type of slow earthquake, have only been detected in the subducted Yakutat terrane area. However, the mechanism by which these events occur is not well understood.

Researchers at Kobe University performed a 3D numerical thermomechanical simulation of thermal convection in the Alaska subduction zone with the aim of revealing the mechanism behind these low-frequency tremors. Based on the 3D thermal structure obtained from the simulation, and the indications of hydrous minerals contained in the slab, the researchers calculated the water content distribution and compared the results of these calculations in the area where the tremors occur.

The results revealed high levels of dehydration in the marine sediment layers and ocean crust in the earthquake region. The researchers believe that the reason the tremors only occur in the Yakutat terrane is because the marine sediment layers and ocean crust are thicker there, which means that the level of dehydration is higher than in the western adjacent Pacific plate (where tectonic tremors don't occur).

The Kobe University research group consisted of 2nd year Master's student IWAMOTO Kaya (Department of Planetology, Graduate School of Science), Academic Researcher SUENAGA Nobuaki and Professor YOSHIDA Shoichi (both of the Research Center for Urban Safety and Security).

These results were published in the British online scientific journal 'Scientific Reports' (Nature Publishing Group) on April 14, 2022.

Research Report:Relationship between tectonic tremors and 3-D distributions of thermal structure and dehydration in the Alaska subduction zone

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Kobe University
Tectonic Science and News

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