Large earthquake processes in the northern Vanuatu subduction zone

Cleveland, K. Michael; Ammon, Charles J.; Lay, Thorne

doi:10.1002/2014JB011289

Large earthquake processes in the northern Vanuatu subduction zone

Journal Article · Tue Dec 02 23:00:00 EST 2014 · Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JB011289· OSTI ID:1402173

Cleveland, K. Michael ^[1]; Ammon, Charles J. ^[2]; Lay, Thorne ^[3]

Department of Geosciences Pennsylvania State University University Park Pennsylvania USA, EES‐17, Geophysics Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos New Mexico USA
Department of Geosciences Pennsylvania State University University Park Pennsylvania USA
Earth and Planetary Sciences Department University of California Santa Cruz California USA

Abstract

The northern Vanuatu (formerly New Hebrides) subduction zone (11°S to 14°S) has experienced large shallow thrust earthquakes with M _w > 7 in 1966 ( M _S 7.9, 7.3), 1980 ( M _w 7.5, 7.7), 1997 ( M _w 7.7), 2009 ( M _w 7.7, 7.8, 7.4), and 2013 ( M _w 8.0). We analyze seismic data from the latter four earthquake sequences to quantify the rupture processes of these large earthquakes. The 7 October 2009 earthquakes occurred in close spatial proximity over about 1 h in the same region as the July 1980 doublet. Both sequences activated widespread seismicity along the northern Vanuatu subduction zone. The focal mechanisms indicate interplate thrusting, but there are differences in waveforms that establish that the events are not exact repeats. With an epicenter near the 1980 and 2009 events, the 1997 earthquake appears to have been a shallow intraslab rupture below the megathrust, with strong southward directivity favoring a steeply dipping plane. Some triggered interplate thrusting events occurred as part of this sequence. The 1966 doublet ruptured north of the 1980 and 2009 events and also produced widespread aftershock activity. The 2013 earthquake rupture propagated southward from the northern corner of the trench with shallow slip that generated a substantial tsunami. The repeated occurrence of large earthquake doublets along the northern Vanuatu subduction zone is remarkable considering the doublets likely involved overlapping, yet different combinations of asperities. The frequent occurrence of large doublet events and rapid aftershock expansion in this region indicate the presence of small, irregularly spaced asperities along the plate interface.

View Accepted Manuscript (Publisher)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

OSTI ID:: 1402173

Journal Information:: Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 119; ISSN 2169-9313

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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