Seismicity pattern: an indicator of source region of volcanism at convergent plate margins     

《Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors》2004,141(4):303-326

The results of detailed investigation into the geometry of distribution of earthquakes around and below the volcanoes Korovin, Cleveland, Makushin, Yake-Dake, Oshima, Lewotobi, Fuego, Sangay, Nisyros and Montagne Pelée at convergent plate margins are presented. The ISC hypocentral determinations for the period 1964-1999, based on data of global seismic network and relocated by Engdahl, van der Hilst and Buland, have been used.The aim of this study has been to contribute to the solution of the problem of location of source regions of primary magma for calc-alkaline volcanoes spatially and genetically related to the process of subduction. Several specific features of seismicity pattern were revealed in this context. (i) A clear occurrence of the intermediate-depth aseismic gap (IDAG) in the Wadati-Benioff zone (WBZ) below all investigated active volcanoes. We interpret this part of the subducted slab, which does not contain any teleseismically recorded earthquake with magnitude greater than 4.0, as a partially melted domain of oceanic lithosphere and as a possible source of primary magma for calc-alkaline volcanoes. (ii) A set of earthquakes in the shape of a seismically active column (SAC) seems to exists in the continental wedge below volcanoes Korovin, Makushin and Sangay. The seismically active columns probably reach from the Earth surface down to the aseismic gap in the Wadati-Benioff zone. This points to the possibility that the upper mantle overlying the subducted slab does not contain large melted domains, displays an intense fracturing and is not likely to represent the site of magma generation. (iii) In the continental wedge below the volcanoes Cleveland, Fuego, Nisyros, Yake-Dake, Oshima and Lewotobi, shallow seismicity occurs down to the depth of 50 km. The domain without any earthquakes between the shallow seismically active column and the aseismic gap in the Wadati-Benioff zone in the depth range of 50-100 km does not exclude the melting of the mantle also above the slab. (iv) Any earthquake does not exist in the lithospheric wedge below the volcano Montagne Pelée. The source of primary magma could be located in the subducted slab as well as in the overlying mantle wedge. (v) Frequent aftershock sequences accompanying stronger earthquakes in the seismically active columns indicate high fracturing of the wedge below active volcanoes. (vi) The elongated shape of clusters of epicentres of earthquakes of seismically active columns, as well as stable parameters of the available fault plane solutions, seem to reflect the existence of dominant deeply rooted fracture zones below volcanoes. These facts also favour the location of primary magma in the subducting slab rather than in the overlying wedge.We suppose that melts advancing from the slab toward the Earth surface may trigger the observed earthquakes in the continental wedge that is critically pre-stressed by the process of subduction. However, for definitive conclusions it will be necessary to explain the occurrence of earthquake clusters below some volcanoes and the lack of seismicity below others, taking into account the uncertainty of focal depth determination from global seismological data in some regions.  相似文献   

Resistivity structure of a seismic gap along the Atotsugawa Fault, Japan   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Tada-nori Goto 《Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors》2005,148(1):55-72

Seismicity along the Atotsugawa Fault, located in central Japan, shows a clear heterogeneity. The central segment of the fault with low-seismicity is recognized as a seismic gap, although a lot of micro-earthquakes occur along this fault. In order to elucidate the cause of the heterogeneity in seismicity, the electrical resistivity structure was investigated around the Atotsugawa Fault by using the magnetotelluric (MT) method. The regional geoelectrical strikes are approximately parallel to the fault in a low-frequency range. We constructed two-dimensional resistivity models across the fault using TM-mode MT responses to minimize three-dimensional effects on the modeling process. A smooth inversion algorithm was used, and the static-shifts on the apparent resistivity were corrected in the inversion process.A shallow, low resistivity zone along the fault is found from the surface to a depth of 1-2 km in the best-fit model across the high-seismicity segment of the fault. On the other hand, the corresponding low resistivity zone along the low-seismicity segment is limited to a shallower depth less than 1 km. The low resistivity zone along the Atotsugawa Fault is possibly due to fluid in the fracture zone; the segment with higher levels of seismicity may have higher fluid content in the fault zone compared with the lower seismicity segment. On a view of the crustal structure, a lateral resistivity variation in a depth range of 3-12 km is found below the fault trace in the high-seismicity segment, while a resistive layer of wide extent is found at a depth of about 5 km below the fault trace in the low-seismicity segment. The resistive layer is explained by less fluid condition and possibly characterized as high rigidity. Differences in the resistivity structures between low and high-seismicity segments of the fault suggest that the seismic gap in the central part of the Atotsugawa Fault may be interpreted as a locked segment. Thus, MT is an effective method in evaluating a cause and future activity of seismic gaps along active faults.The lower crust appears as a conductive zone beneath the low-seismicity segment, less conductive beneath the high-seismicity segment. Fluid is inferred as a preferable cause of the conductive zone in this study. It is suggested that the conductive lower crust beneath the low-seismicity segment is recognized where fluid is trapped by an impermeable layer in the upper crust. On the other hand, fluid in the lower crust may upwell to the surface along the high-seismicity segment of the fault.  相似文献   

Seismotectonic Reactions to the Arc-continent Convergence in Central Philippines   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Noelynna T. Ramos    Carla B. Dimalanta    Glenda M. Besana    Rodolfo A. Tamayo  Jr  Graciano P. Yumul  Jr. Victor B. Maglambayan 《Resource Geology》2005,55(3):199-206

Abstract. High seismic activity in the Philippines originates from tectonic convergence related to surface and subsurface seismotectonic features. Based on earthquake data, the archipelago can be divided into the seismically-active Philippine Mobile Belt and the aseismic North Palawan Block. The latter represents a rifted continental fragment of the Eurasian margin that juxtaposed with the rest of island arc units in central Philippines. Earthquake hypocenter plots on planar and in vertical profiles show that the seismic events are associated with known seismotectonic features. In addition, data suggest that the collision zone between the North Palawan Block and the Philippine Mobile Belt is characterized by a decreased amount of hypocenters at > 100 km depths. Although field evidence favors the presence of a subducted slab or slabs beneath western central Philippines, these are difficult to image using the present seismicity distribution dataset.  相似文献   

The Characteristics of Seismic Activity Before the Devastating Earthquake with M_W9.0 Off the West Coast of Northern Sumatra     

Xue Yan 《中国地震研究》2006,20(2):118-126

INTRODUCTIONMeasured bythe China Earthquake Networks Center ,a great earthquake withMS8·7 occurred offthe west coast of Northern Sumatra at Beijing Time 08 :58 :55·2 on December 26 , 2004·Themagnitude of the earthquake determined by the National Earthquake Information Center of USA(NEIC) wasMW9·0 .The earthquakeisthe biggestinthe world afterthe 1964 Prince WilliamSound,Alaska earthquake .The tsunami triggered bythe Sumatra earthquake brought about severe devastationfor ten …  相似文献   

1995—1996年云南孟连西,武定,丽江三次强震前的地震活动背景性异常   总被引：2，自引：2，他引：0  

杨继登  范杨 《华南地震》1998,18(4):41-49

分析了１９９５￣１９９６年发生的云南孟连西７．５级、武定以北６．５级和丽江以北７．０级三次强震前云南及邻近地区出现的地震活动背景性异常,包括地震空区、条带、小震群活动、地震窗口、诱发地震、强震原地复发以及迁移等特征。对地震活动期的分析表明,１９８８年澜沧－耿马地震后云南地区处于强震活动高潮期,１９９３年区内发生５．０￣６．３级地震７次,达到发生７级以上强震的预报指标。这些地震活动背景异常为这３次强  相似文献   

滇西北丽江,宁蒗两次强震前地震学异常的重复性   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

蔡静观 《四川地震》1998,(3):6-14

１９９６年２月３日云南省滇西北丽江,中甸交界地区发生７．０级地震,距１９７６年１１月７日,１２月１３日宁蒗６．７,６．４级地震仅９０千米,滇西北重复发生的这两次强震在地震学异常方面具有良好的重复性,强震前均在缅甸密支那地区发生３次６级地震,密支那强震的最大震级比滇西北强震震级小０．３～０．５级,强震前１～３年均出现中强震和调制中强震的频繁活动,中强震包括调制中强震的活动除在形成的时间,范围大小有所  相似文献   

一个罕见的铀钨矿化带的成矿特征   总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3  

庞玉蕙 《地球化学》1997,26(4):86-93,T001

一个以铀钨为主的铀钨锡多金属矿化带，沿某复式花岗岩体东侧接触带分布，有５０多个矿床和矿点，其矿床（化）类型有岩浆型、伟晶岩型、夕卡岩型、高中低温热液型等，组成一个完整的花岗岩成矿系列。其中低温热液铀钨矿床是一个矿床新类型，具有独特的地质地球化学特征，工业意义也较大。  相似文献   

永登5.8级地震前几项测震学指标的异常分析          下载免费PDF全文

何秀琴  牛旺祥  王珍 《地震工程学报》1996,18(3):79-83

对１９９５年７月２２日永登ＭＳ５．８地震前几项测震学指标的变化进行了分析，发现该次地震前有４项测震学指标有明显异常，它们是小震活动增强、背景性空区、小震活动条带及前兆震群  相似文献   

山东地区及其海域近期地震活动特点     

林怀存  刘西强 《地震研究》1996,19(2):140-145

本通过对山东地区及其海域的历史地震和近代小震活动的分析，认为该区的历史地震活动，自１６８８年以来存在三个Ｍ≥５级地震活动空段；而１９６０年以来，该区ＭＬ≥４．５级地震具有８年的活跃时间段的特点。  相似文献   

Seismicity trends and potential for large earthquakes in the Alaska-Aleutian region   总被引：8，自引：0，他引：8  

Charles G. Bufe  Stuart P. Nishenko  David J. Varnes 《Pure and Applied Geophysics》1994,142(1):83-99

The high likelihood of a gap-filling thrust earthquake in the Alaska subduction zone within this decade is indicated by two independent methods: analysis of historic earthquake recurrence data and time-to-failure analysis applied to recent decades of instrumental data. Recent (May 1993) earthquake activity in the Shumagin Islands gap is consistent with previous projections of increases in seismic release, indicating that this segment, along with the Alaska Peninsula segment, is approaching failure. Based on this pattern of accelerating seismic release, we project the occurrence of one or moreM7.3 earthquakes in the Shumagin-Alaska Peninsula region during 1994–1996. Different segments of the Alaska-Aleutian seismic zone behave differently in the decade or two preceding great earthquakes, some showing acceleration of seismic release (type A zones), while others show deceleration (type D zones). The largest Alaska-Aleutian earthquakes—in 1957, 1964, and 1965—originated in zones that exhibit type D behavior. Type A zones currently showing accelerating release are the Shumagin, Alaska Peninsula, Delarof, and Kommandorski segments. Time-to-failure analysis suggests that the large earthquakes could occur in these latter zones within the next few years.  相似文献