Narrow intermediate-depth seismogenic band related to flexural strain in relatively dry Peruvian flat slab

Abstract The distribution and rupture properties of intermediate-depth earthquakes (70–300 km) provide insights into the interior stress state of the subducting plate, its petrological composition, and the subduction history. Here we evaluate the kinematic spatio-temporal rupture evolutions of four...

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Main Authors: Lingci Zeng, Lingling Ye, Huajian Yao, Wei Liu, Daojun Si, Thorne Lay, Ting Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Communications Earth & Environment
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02071-0
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author Lingci Zeng
Lingling Ye
Huajian Yao
Wei Liu
Daojun Si
Thorne Lay
Ting Yang
author_facet Lingci Zeng
Lingling Ye
Huajian Yao
Wei Liu
Daojun Si
Thorne Lay
Ting Yang
author_sort Lingci Zeng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The distribution and rupture properties of intermediate-depth earthquakes (70–300 km) provide insights into the interior stress state of the subducting plate, its petrological composition, and the subduction history. Here we evaluate the kinematic spatio-temporal rupture evolutions of four M7+ intermediate-depth earthquakes beneath Peru between 1997 and 2021 using teleseismic waveforms, which reveal similar rupture behavior over a limited depth range within the flat-slab segment. The intermediate-depth seismogenic zone is confined within a narrow band ~20 km thick near the slab surface, as also found in Pampean and Mexican flat slabs, contrasting to the broader seismicity distributions in the adjacent normally-dipping segments. The elongated earthquake ruptures in flat slabs with few aftershocks and the narrow, sparse seismicity bands are attributed to flexure from along-dip slab steepening and limited dehydration reactions within relatively dry flat-slab segments. Conversely, the diffuse seismicity in adjacent normally-dipping segments is likely associated with more widespread dehydration reactions.
format Article
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issn 2662-4435
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Communications Earth & Environment
spelling doaj-art-0a33f99b99f04ad890a69a24b9dfc7702025-08-20T02:48:27ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-02-016111410.1038/s43247-025-02071-0Narrow intermediate-depth seismogenic band related to flexural strain in relatively dry Peruvian flat slabLingci Zeng0Lingling Ye1Huajian Yao2Wei Liu3Daojun Si4Thorne Lay5Ting Yang6Laboratory of Seismology and Physics of Earth’s Interior, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Earth and Space Sciences, Southern University of Science and TechnologyLaboratory of Seismology and Physics of Earth’s Interior, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Earth and Space Sciences, Southern University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Earth and Space Sciences, Southern University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California Santa CruzDepartment of Earth and Space Sciences, Southern University of Science and TechnologyAbstract The distribution and rupture properties of intermediate-depth earthquakes (70–300 km) provide insights into the interior stress state of the subducting plate, its petrological composition, and the subduction history. Here we evaluate the kinematic spatio-temporal rupture evolutions of four M7+ intermediate-depth earthquakes beneath Peru between 1997 and 2021 using teleseismic waveforms, which reveal similar rupture behavior over a limited depth range within the flat-slab segment. The intermediate-depth seismogenic zone is confined within a narrow band ~20 km thick near the slab surface, as also found in Pampean and Mexican flat slabs, contrasting to the broader seismicity distributions in the adjacent normally-dipping segments. The elongated earthquake ruptures in flat slabs with few aftershocks and the narrow, sparse seismicity bands are attributed to flexure from along-dip slab steepening and limited dehydration reactions within relatively dry flat-slab segments. Conversely, the diffuse seismicity in adjacent normally-dipping segments is likely associated with more widespread dehydration reactions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02071-0
spellingShingle Lingci Zeng
Lingling Ye
Huajian Yao
Wei Liu
Daojun Si
Thorne Lay
Ting Yang
Narrow intermediate-depth seismogenic band related to flexural strain in relatively dry Peruvian flat slab
Communications Earth & Environment
title Narrow intermediate-depth seismogenic band related to flexural strain in relatively dry Peruvian flat slab
title_full Narrow intermediate-depth seismogenic band related to flexural strain in relatively dry Peruvian flat slab
title_fullStr Narrow intermediate-depth seismogenic band related to flexural strain in relatively dry Peruvian flat slab
title_full_unstemmed Narrow intermediate-depth seismogenic band related to flexural strain in relatively dry Peruvian flat slab
title_short Narrow intermediate-depth seismogenic band related to flexural strain in relatively dry Peruvian flat slab
title_sort narrow intermediate depth seismogenic band related to flexural strain in relatively dry peruvian flat slab
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02071-0
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