The development of seismic anisotropy below south-central Alaska: Evidence from local earthquake shear-wave splitting
File(s)Karlowska_final_no_markup.pdf (1.36 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Karlowska, Eliza
Bastow, Ian
Rondenay, Stephane
Martin-Short, Robert
Richard, Allen
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The Transportable Array in south-central Alaska spans several subduction zone features: backarc, forearc and volcanic arc, making it an ideal tool to study subduction zone anisotropy. Shear wave splitting analysis of 157 local earthquakes of mb ≥ 3.0 that occurred between 2014 and 2019 yields 210 high-quality measurements at 23 stations. Splitting delay times (δt) are generally small (δt ≈ 0.3 s), increasing with distance from the trench. Arc-parallel fast directions, ϕ, are only seen in the forearc, but rotate to arc-perpendicular ϕ in the backarc. Observed ϕ values generally do not parallel teleseismic SKS splitting results, implying that the latter is sensitive primarily to subslab mantle flow, not mantle wedge dynamics. The forearc local-earthquake signal likely originates from anisotropic serpentinite in fractures atop the subducting Pacific Plate, with possible additional signal coming from fractures in the North American crust. Mantle wedge corner flow, potentially with additional arc-perpendicular anisotropy in the subducting slab, explains backarc anisotropy.
Date Issued
2020-12-21
Date Acceptance
2020-12-11
Citation
Geophysical Journal International, 2020, 225 (1), pp.548-554
ISSN
0956-540X
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Start Page
548
End Page
554
Journal / Book Title
Geophysical Journal International
Volume
225
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2020 Oxford University Press. This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Geophysical Journal International following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at: https://academic.oup.com/gji
Sponsor
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Identifier
https://academic.oup.com/gji/article/225/1/548/6043203
Grant Number
NE/S014136/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Geochemistry & Geophysics
North America
Seismic anisotropy
Subduction zone processes
Volcanic arc processes
0403 Geology
0404 Geophysics
0909 Geomatic Engineering
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2020-12-21