Slab pileup in the mantle transition zone and the 30 May 2015 Chichi‐jima earthquake

Abstract The 30 May 2015 Chichi‐jima M8 earthquake is one of the largest deep focus earthquakes ever recorded and its depth of 682 km puts it near the base of the mantle transition zone. Before source mechanisms and slip models of this earthquake can be reliably assessed, a better understanding of t...

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Main Authors: Robert W. Porritt, Shoichi Yoshioka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-05-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL068168
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author Robert W. Porritt
Shoichi Yoshioka
author_facet Robert W. Porritt
Shoichi Yoshioka
author_sort Robert W. Porritt
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The 30 May 2015 Chichi‐jima M8 earthquake is one of the largest deep focus earthquakes ever recorded and its depth of 682 km puts it near the base of the mantle transition zone. Before source mechanisms and slip models of this earthquake can be reliably assessed, a better understanding of the tectonic setting and structures of the region near the origin is required. Here we present evidence from receiver functions, a method of isolating subsurface material contrast with converted seismic waves, that the earthquake initiated within the upper mantle transition zone, above a significantly depressed 660 km phase boundary. Additionally, we observe multiple conversions within and below the transition zone, which we associate with seismic waves passing into and out of segments of the subducting Pacific plate. From this, we infer slab material is piling up at the base of the transition zone and segments are penetrating into the lower mantle.
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spelling doaj-art-9905f06fa810435cbd84e5a798a1f2c02025-08-20T03:10:24ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072016-05-0143104905491210.1002/2016GL068168Slab pileup in the mantle transition zone and the 30 May 2015 Chichi‐jima earthquakeRobert W. Porritt0Shoichi Yoshioka1Research Center for Urban Safety and Security Kobe University Kobe JapanResearch Center for Urban Safety and Security Kobe University Kobe JapanAbstract The 30 May 2015 Chichi‐jima M8 earthquake is one of the largest deep focus earthquakes ever recorded and its depth of 682 km puts it near the base of the mantle transition zone. Before source mechanisms and slip models of this earthquake can be reliably assessed, a better understanding of the tectonic setting and structures of the region near the origin is required. Here we present evidence from receiver functions, a method of isolating subsurface material contrast with converted seismic waves, that the earthquake initiated within the upper mantle transition zone, above a significantly depressed 660 km phase boundary. Additionally, we observe multiple conversions within and below the transition zone, which we associate with seismic waves passing into and out of segments of the subducting Pacific plate. From this, we infer slab material is piling up at the base of the transition zone and segments are penetrating into the lower mantle.https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL068168Chichi‐jima earthquakereceiver functionsmantle transition zoneslab morphology
spellingShingle Robert W. Porritt
Shoichi Yoshioka
Slab pileup in the mantle transition zone and the 30 May 2015 Chichi‐jima earthquake
Geophysical Research Letters
Chichi‐jima earthquake
receiver functions
mantle transition zone
slab morphology
title Slab pileup in the mantle transition zone and the 30 May 2015 Chichi‐jima earthquake
title_full Slab pileup in the mantle transition zone and the 30 May 2015 Chichi‐jima earthquake
title_fullStr Slab pileup in the mantle transition zone and the 30 May 2015 Chichi‐jima earthquake
title_full_unstemmed Slab pileup in the mantle transition zone and the 30 May 2015 Chichi‐jima earthquake
title_short Slab pileup in the mantle transition zone and the 30 May 2015 Chichi‐jima earthquake
title_sort slab pileup in the mantle transition zone and the 30 may 2015 chichi jima earthquake
topic Chichi‐jima earthquake
receiver functions
mantle transition zone
slab morphology
url https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL068168
work_keys_str_mv AT robertwporritt slabpileupinthemantletransitionzoneandthe30may2015chichijimaearthquake
AT shoichiyoshioka slabpileupinthemantletransitionzoneandthe30may2015chichijimaearthquake