Along-arc heterogeneity in local seismicity across the Lesser Antilles subduction zone from a dense ocean-bottom seismometer network

Bie, Lidong ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8130-7084, Rietbrock, Andreas, Hicks, Stephen, Allen, Robert, Blundy, Jon, Clouard, Valerie, Collier, Jenny, Davidson, Jon, Garth, Thomas, Goes, Saskia, Harmon, Nick, Henstock, Tim, van Hunen, Jeroen, Kendall, Mike, Krüger, Frank, Lynch, Lloyd, Macpherson, Colin, Robertson, Richard, Rychert, Kate, Tait, Stephen, Wilkinson, Jamie and Wilson, Marjorie (2020) Along-arc heterogeneity in local seismicity across the Lesser Antilles subduction zone from a dense ocean-bottom seismometer network. Seismological Research Letters, 91 (1). pp. 237-247. ISSN 0895-0695

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Abstract

The Lesser Antilles arc is only one of two subduction zones where slow-spreading Atlantic lithosphere is consumed. Slow-spreading may result in the Atlantic lithosphere being more pervasively and heterogeneously hydrated than fast-spreading Pacific lithosphere, thus affecting the flux of fluids into the deep mantle. Understanding the distribution of seismicity can help unravel the effect of fluids on geodynamic and seismogenic processes. However, a detailed view of local seismicity across the whole Lesser Antilles subduction zone is lacking. Using a temporary ocean-bottom seismic network we invert for hypocenters and 1D velocity model. A systematic search yields a 27 km thick crust, reflecting average arc and back-arc structures. We find abundant intraslab seismicity beneath Martinique and Dominica, which may relate to the subducted Marathon and/or Mercurius Fracture Zones. Pervasive seismicity in the cold mantle wedge corner and thrust seismicity deep on the subducting plate interface suggest an unusually wide megathrust seismogenic zone reaching ∼65 km depth. Our results provide an excellent framework for future understanding of regional seismic hazard in eastern Caribbean and the volatile cycling beneath the Lesser Antilles arc.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Acknowledgements: This work was funded under Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Grant Number NE/K010611/1. The authors thank the German Instrument Pool for Amphibian Seismology, hosted by the Alfred Wegener Institute Bremerhaven, for providing the ocean-bottom seismometers and temporary island seismometers, and University of California, San Diego (UCSD) (Scripps) for providing additional ocean-bottom seismometers. The authors thank Allison Bent, Zhigang Peng, Hongfeng Yang, and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful and constructive comments.
Uncontrolled Keywords: geophysics ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1908
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Geosciences
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Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 25 Apr 2022 09:31
Last Modified: 16 Dec 2024 01:37
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/84772
DOI: 10.1785/0220190147

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