Along‐arc variation in the 3‐D thermal structure around the junction between the Japan and Kurile arcs

Abstract The thermal structure in subduction zones has a strong influence on seismogenesis and arc volcanism. Traditional 2‐D models have been used to provide reasonable agreement between models and observations, but in a number of cases clear 3‐D effects are present. One such case is in the Norther...

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Main Authors: Manabu Morishige, Peter E. van Keken
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-06-01
Series:Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/2014GC005394
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author Manabu Morishige
Peter E. van Keken
author_facet Manabu Morishige
Peter E. van Keken
author_sort Manabu Morishige
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The thermal structure in subduction zones has a strong influence on seismogenesis and arc volcanism. Traditional 2‐D models have been used to provide reasonable agreement between models and observations, but in a number of cases clear 3‐D effects are present. One such case is in the Northern Japan subduction system. At the junction between Japan and Kurile arcs, surface heat flow and the occurrence of intermediate‐depth seismicity are different than in the Tohoku and Hokkaido regions. We investigate the effects of 3‐D slab geometry and a local deepening of slab‐mantle decoupling depth on the thermal structure in this region based on 3‐D finite element approach. We find that both effects produce the along‐arc variation of slab surface temperature, which could reach ∼100°C. The warmer region arises through 3‐D effects of thermal conduction and the colder region arises through localized slow incoming flow in the case where 3‐D slab geometry is taken into account. 3‐D flow arises where a local deepening of slab‐mantle decoupling depth is assumed, which leads to both warmer and colder regions. The effects on surface heat flow are small. While intermediate‐depth seismicity in the subducted crust is suggested to be controlled by temperature‐dependent phase transitions, the predicted changes in thermal structure are not sufficient to cause the observed deepening of seismicity. This suggests that the thermal structure of this subduction zone may be more strongly influenced by time‐dependent deformation of the overriding crust and slab.
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spelling doaj-art-3b49fe7aeeb542f6b10604191201239a2025-08-20T02:35:19ZengWileyGeochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems1525-20272014-06-011562225224010.1002/2014GC005394Along‐arc variation in the 3‐D thermal structure around the junction between the Japan and Kurile arcsManabu Morishige0Peter E. van Keken1Department of Deep Earth Structure and Dynamics ResearchJapan Agency for Marine‐Earth Science and Technology Yokosuka JapanDepartment of Earth and Environmental SciencesUniversity of MichiganAnn Arbor Michigan USAAbstract The thermal structure in subduction zones has a strong influence on seismogenesis and arc volcanism. Traditional 2‐D models have been used to provide reasonable agreement between models and observations, but in a number of cases clear 3‐D effects are present. One such case is in the Northern Japan subduction system. At the junction between Japan and Kurile arcs, surface heat flow and the occurrence of intermediate‐depth seismicity are different than in the Tohoku and Hokkaido regions. We investigate the effects of 3‐D slab geometry and a local deepening of slab‐mantle decoupling depth on the thermal structure in this region based on 3‐D finite element approach. We find that both effects produce the along‐arc variation of slab surface temperature, which could reach ∼100°C. The warmer region arises through 3‐D effects of thermal conduction and the colder region arises through localized slow incoming flow in the case where 3‐D slab geometry is taken into account. 3‐D flow arises where a local deepening of slab‐mantle decoupling depth is assumed, which leads to both warmer and colder regions. The effects on surface heat flow are small. While intermediate‐depth seismicity in the subducted crust is suggested to be controlled by temperature‐dependent phase transitions, the predicted changes in thermal structure are not sufficient to cause the observed deepening of seismicity. This suggests that the thermal structure of this subduction zone may be more strongly influenced by time‐dependent deformation of the overriding crust and slab.https://doi.org/10.1002/2014GC005394subduction zone3‐D slab geometryslab‐mantle decoupling depthslab surface temperaturesurface heat flow
spellingShingle Manabu Morishige
Peter E. van Keken
Along‐arc variation in the 3‐D thermal structure around the junction between the Japan and Kurile arcs
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
subduction zone
3‐D slab geometry
slab‐mantle decoupling depth
slab surface temperature
surface heat flow
title Along‐arc variation in the 3‐D thermal structure around the junction between the Japan and Kurile arcs
title_full Along‐arc variation in the 3‐D thermal structure around the junction between the Japan and Kurile arcs
title_fullStr Along‐arc variation in the 3‐D thermal structure around the junction between the Japan and Kurile arcs
title_full_unstemmed Along‐arc variation in the 3‐D thermal structure around the junction between the Japan and Kurile arcs
title_short Along‐arc variation in the 3‐D thermal structure around the junction between the Japan and Kurile arcs
title_sort along arc variation in the 3 d thermal structure around the junction between the japan and kurile arcs
topic subduction zone
3‐D slab geometry
slab‐mantle decoupling depth
slab surface temperature
surface heat flow
url https://doi.org/10.1002/2014GC005394
work_keys_str_mv AT manabumorishige alongarcvariationinthe3dthermalstructurearoundthejunctionbetweenthejapanandkurilearcs
AT peterevankeken alongarcvariationinthe3dthermalstructurearoundthejunctionbetweenthejapanandkurilearcs