Crustal Fluid Distribution in the Source Area of the 2008 Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku Earthquake, NE Japan Inferred from Seismic Tomography

Abstract:

Seismic tomography is an important tool for detecting the distibution of magma and other crustal fluids. In this presentation, we show the results of seismic tomography, in an area that includes the Naruko volcano and the 2008 Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku earthquake, using data from a dense temporary seismic network, and discuss the crustal fluid distribution related to the volcanic and seismic activity.

The seismic velocity structure is complex within the crust and we found distinct seismic low-velocity zones (LVZs). In the shallow crust, the LVZ is located beneath each volcano (Naruko, Onikobe, and Kurikoma) in the focal area of the 2008 Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku Earthquake.In the middle to deep crust (10–20 km), a distinct LVZ beneath the volcanic front can be observed. This LVZ seems to be continuously distributed in the NNE-SSW direction, from the Yakeishi to the Naruko volcano. The lateral extent of the LVZ in the NNE-SSW direction is almost the same as the lateral extent of the aftershock area of the 2008 Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku earthquake.

Some low-V areas in the upper crust have high Vp/Vs areas. The aseismic low-V and high-Vp/Vs areas just beneath the volcanoes could correspond to an area with molten magma. We also found some low-V and high Vp/Vs areas with seismicity in the upper crust. Possible reason for this low-V and relatively high-Vp/Vs area could be the presence of overpressurized fluid. For a misoriented compressional inversion fault, reduction of fault strength by overpressurized fluid along the fault is a possible cause for reactivation (Sibson 1990; Sibson 2009). The fault plane of the 2008 Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku earthquake is thought to be as compressional inversion fault (Sibson, 2009). Compressional inversion fault is the reverse fault along the pre-existing “normal” fault. The complex distribution of the aftershock alignment (i.e. fault) has been spatially correlated with the distribution of the LVZ. This suggests that the fluid path distribution could have controlled the occurrence of the complex faulting during the 2008 Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku earthquake.