EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Ito & Obara 2006
Ito, Y. and Obara, K. (2006). Very low frequency earthquakes within accretionary prisms are very low stress-drop earthquakes. Geophysical Research Letters 33: doi: 10.1029/2006GL025883. issn: 0094-8276.

We report characteristic P wave spectra and stress drops of very low frequency (VLF) earthquakes that occurred within the accretionary prism along the Nankai Trough, southwestern Japan. Although many VLF earthquakes showed no distinct phases on a raw seismogram, a few showed slightly distinct phases. The arrival times of some phases were consistent with the calculated P wave arrival times. The corner frequencies of the VLF earthquakes were calculated using the stacked P wave spectra assuming an omega-square spectrum. Stress drops were very low, i.e., in the range of 0.1--10 kPa, which corresponds to 0.1%--1% of those of ordinary earthquakes. Such extremely low stress drops of the VLF earthquakes suggest that the fault strength within the accretionary prism may have weakened due to the existence of a fluid within the thrust fault system of the accretionary prism.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Seismology, Body waves, Seismology, Earthquake source observations, Seismology, Subduction zones (1207, 1219, 1240), Tectonophysics, Dynamics and mechanics of faulting, Tectonophysics, Subduction zone processes (1031, 3060, 3613, 8413)
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit