Heterogeneity within the subducting Pacific slab beneath the Izu–Bonin–Mariana arc: Evidence from tomography using 3D ray tracing inversion techniques

Miller, Meghan; Gorbatov, A.; Kennett, B. L. N.

doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2005.04.007

Cited by 67 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…The derived model generally agrees with other previously published regional models (Bijwaard et al, 1998;Widiyantoro, 1999;Van der Hilst and Seno, 1993;Widiyantoro and Van der Hilst, 1996;Gorbatov et al, 2003;Miller et al, 2005Miller et al, , 2006. In Fig.…”

Section: Comparison To Previous Tomography Modelssupporting

confidence: 81%

“…Third, tearing between Izu-Bonin and Mariana slab segments down to depths of 500 km is clearly observed in horizontal sections. In contrast to the results by Miller et al (2005Miller et al ( , 2006a who observed the gap in the subduction segments beneath Izu-Bonin and northern Mariana arcs, we can see the continuous transition of the subduction style (see the shapes of the fast anomaly between 400-450 km in 5). Finally, we present more different tests to prove the reliability of our results than in any of previous studies for this region.…”

Section: Comparison To Previous Tomography Modelscontrasting

confidence: 53%

“…In Fig. 5, we show an example of comparing of our tomographic images with the model by Miller et al (2005) which is one of the most recent results for this region. Same as in most of previously published models, our model reveals almost vertical dipping slab beneath the Mariana arc which penetrates into lower mantle.…”

Section: Comparison To Previous Tomography Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first information on the shape of the subduction zone was derived from the analysis of depth distribution of seismicity in the Benioff zone (e.g., Katsumata and Sykes 1969;Engdahl et al, 1998). More details on the slab structure beneath the IBM area were found in a number of seismic models on the global (e.g., Bijwaard et al, 1998) and regional scales (Widiyantoro, 1999;1996, Van der Hilst and Seno;, Gorbatov et al, 2003Miller et al, 2005Miller et al, , 2006aMiller et al, , b, 2011 mostly constructed by a tomographic inversion of body wave travel times. These studies reveal generally consistent information on the shape of the subducting slab, but in details they appear to be considerably different.…”

Section: Previous Slab Structure Investigationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The behaviour of the slab beneath the IBM area has been actively discussed in a series of papers by Miller et al (2005Miller et al ( , 2006aMiller et al ( , 2006b. They reconstructed the position of the trench in the last 30 Ma and explained the variable shapes of the slab along the IBM arc system by the mutual displacements of the trench and the oceanic plate.…”

Section: 3 Kinematics Of Ibm Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Segmentation of the Izu-Bonin and Mariana slabs based on the analysis of the Benioff seismicity distribution and regional tomography results

2013

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Abstract. We present a new model of P and S velocity anomalies in the mantle down to a depth of 1300 km beneath the Izu-Bonin and Mariana (IBM) arcs. This model is derived based on tomographic inversion of global travel time data from the revised ISC catalogue. The results of inversion are thoroughly verified using a series of different tests. The obtained model is generally consistent with previous studies by different authors. We also present the distribution of relocated deep events projected to the vertical surface along the IBM arc system. Unexpectedly, the seismicity forms elongated vertical clusters instead of horizontal zones indicating phase transitions in the slab. We propose that these vertical seismicity zones mark zones of intense deformation and boundaries between semi-autonomous segments of the subducting plate. The P and S seismic tomography models consistently display the slab as prominent high-velocity anomalies coinciding with the distribution of deep seismicity. We can distinguish at least four segments which subduct differently. The northernmost segment of the Izu-Bonin arc has the gentlest angle of dipping which is explained by backward displacement of the trench. In the second segment, the trench stayed at the same location, and we observe the accumulation of the slab material in the transition zone and its further descending to the lower mantle. In the third segment, the trench is moving forward causing the steepening of the slab. Finally, for the Mariana segment, despite the backward displacement of the arc, the subducting slab is nearly vertical. Between the Izu-Bonin and Mariana arcs we clearly observe a gap which can be traced down to about 400 km in depth. Based on joint consideration of the tomography results and the seismicity distribution, we propose two different scenarios of the subduction evolution in the IBM zone during the recent time, depending on the reference frame of plate displacements. In the first case, we consider the movements in respect to the Philippine Plate, and explain the different styles of the subduction by the relative backward and forward migrations of the trench. In the second case, all the elements of the subduction system move westward in respect to the stable Asia. Different subduction styles are explained by the "anchoring" of selected segments of the slab, different physical properties of the subducting plate and the existence of buoyant rigid blocks related to sea mount and igneous provinces.

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Section: Comparison To Previous Tomography Modelssupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Comparison To Previous Tomography Modelscontrasting

confidence: 53%

Section: Comparison To Previous Tomography Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Previous Slab Structure Investigationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: 3 Kinematics Of Ibm Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Segmentation of the Izu-Bonin and Mariana slabs based on the analysis of the Benioff seismicity distribution and regional tomography results

2013

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Seismicity and structure in central Mexico: Evidence for a possible slab tear in the South Cocos plate

Dougherty

Clayton

2014

JGR Solid Earth

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The morphology of the transition from flat to normal subduction in eastern central Mexico is explored using intraslab earthquakes recorded by temporary and permanent regional seismic arrays. Observations of a sharp transition in slab dip near the abrupt end of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) suggest a possible slab tear located within the subducted South Cocos plate. The eastern lateral extent of a thin ultra-slow velocity layer (USL) imaged atop the Cocos slab in recent studies along the Meso America Subduction Experiment array is examined here using additional data. We find an end to this USL which is coincident with the western boundary of a zone of decreased seismicity and the end of the TMVB near the sharp transition in slab dip. Waveform modeling of the 2-D structure in this region using a finite difference algorithm provides constraints on the velocity and geometry of the slab's seismic structure and confirms the location of the USL. Analysis of intraslab seismicity patterns reveals clustering, sudden increase in depth, variable focal mechanism orientations and faulting types, and alignment of source mechanisms along the sharp transition in slab dip. The seismicity and structural evidence suggests a possible tear in the South Cocos slab. This potential tear, together with the tear along the Orozco Fracture Zone to the northwest, indicates a slab rollback mechanism in which separate slab segments move independently, allowing for mantle flow between the segments.

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Investigating the lithospheric velocity structures beneath the Taiwan region by nonlinear joint inversion of local and teleseismicPwave data: Slab continuity and deflection

Huang

Song

et al. 2014

Geophys. Res. Lett.

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The interaction between two flipping subduction systems shapes the complicated lithospheric structures and dynamics around the Taiwan region. Whether and in what form the Eurasian Plate subducts/deforms under Taiwan Island is critical to the debate of tectonic models. Although an east dipping high-velocity anomaly down to a depth below 200 km has been reported previously, its detailed morphology remains uncertain and leads to different interpretations. With a two-step strategy of nonlinear joint inversion, the slab images of the Eurasian Plate were retrieved in a geometry that is hyperthin in the south, becoming massive and steeper in the central, and severely deformed in the north. The possible depth and dimension of a slab break were also investigated through synthetic tests of whether the slab had torn. Moreover, the slab deflection found at~23.2°N latitude seems to correspond to where the nonvolcanic tremors and recent NW-SE striking structures have occurred in southern Taiwan.

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Heterogeneity within the subducting Pacific slab beneath the Izu–Bonin–Mariana arc: Evidence from tomography using 3D ray tracing inversion techniques

Cited by 67 publications

References 47 publications

Segmentation of the Izu-Bonin and Mariana slabs based on the analysis of the Benioff seismicity distribution and regional tomography results

Segmentation of the Izu-Bonin and Mariana slabs based on the analysis of the Benioff seismicity distribution and regional tomography results

Seismicity and structure in central Mexico: Evidence for a possible slab tear in the South Cocos plate

Investigating the lithospheric velocity structures beneath the Taiwan region by nonlinear joint inversion of local and teleseismicPwave data: Slab continuity and deflection

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