Accelerated pacific plate subduction following interplate thrust earthquakes at the Japan trench

Generation Mechanism of Giant Earthquakes in Subduction Zones with Smaller-Size Interplate Earthquakes During Interseismic Period

Tsunami earthquakes possibly widespread manifestations of frictional conditional stability

[1] Tsunami earthquakes, shallow events that produce larger tsunamis than expected given their surface wave magnitudes (Ms), typically have long durations and a source spectrum depleted in short period energy. Seven cases of underthrusting tsunami earthquakes provide information on the rupture processes, but little constraint on geographic distribution or frequency. We compare their rupture cha...

Trench migration and overriding plate stress in dynamic subduction models

S U M M A R Y On Earth, oceanic plates subduct beneath a variety of overriding plate (OP) styles, from relatively thin and negatively buoyant oceanic OPs to thick and neutrally/positively buoyant continental OPs. The inclusion of an OP in numerical models of self-consistent subduction has been shown to reduce the rate that subducting slabs roll back relative to the equivalent single plate model...

On the Competing Roles of Fault Reactivation and Brittle Failure in Generating Plate Tectonics from Mantle Convection

Fault reactivation plays a fundamental role in the generation of plate tectonics from mantle convection. Converging and transform plate margins are mechanically weak due to both preexisting faults and preserved shear zones within the crust and lithosphere, on the one hand, and continuous brittle failure of lithosphere, on the other hand. Transform margins are the site for nucleating new converg...

The 2006–2007 Kuril Islands great earthquake sequence

[1] The southwestern half of a 500 km long seismic gap in the central Kuril Island arc subduction zone experienced two great earthquakes with extensive preshock and aftershock sequences in late 2006 to early 2007. The nature of seismic coupling in the gap had been uncertain due to the limited historical record of prior large events and the presence of distinctive upper plate, trench and outer r...