Seamount subduction is a common process in subduction zone tectonics.
Contradicting a widely held expectation that subducting seamounts
generate large earthquakes, seamounts subduct largely aseismically,
producing numerous small earthquakes. On rare occasions when they
do produce relatively large events, the ruptures tend to be complex,
suggesting multiple rupture patches or faults. We explain that the
seismogenic behavior of these seamounts is controlled by the development
and evolution of an adjacent fracture network during subduction and
cannot be described using the frictional behavior of a single fault.
The complex structure and heterogeneous stresses of this network
provide a favorable condition for aseismic creep and small earthquakes
but an unfavorable condition for the generation and propagation of
large ruptures.
%0 Journal Article
%1 wang_bilek:2011
%A Wang, Kelin
%A Bilek, Susan L.
%D 2011
%J Geology
%K geophysics seismology
%N 9
%P 819--822
%R 10.1130/G31856.1
%T Do subducting seamounts generate or stop large earthquakes?
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/G31856.1
%V 39
%X Seamount subduction is a common process in subduction zone tectonics.
Contradicting a widely held expectation that subducting seamounts
generate large earthquakes, seamounts subduct largely aseismically,
producing numerous small earthquakes. On rare occasions when they
do produce relatively large events, the ruptures tend to be complex,
suggesting multiple rupture patches or faults. We explain that the
seismogenic behavior of these seamounts is controlled by the development
and evolution of an adjacent fracture network during subduction and
cannot be described using the frictional behavior of a single fault.
The complex structure and heterogeneous stresses of this network
provide a favorable condition for aseismic creep and small earthquakes
but an unfavorable condition for the generation and propagation of
large ruptures.
@article{wang_bilek:2011,
abstract = {Seamount subduction is a common process in subduction zone tectonics.
Contradicting a widely held expectation that subducting seamounts
generate large earthquakes, seamounts subduct largely aseismically,
producing numerous small earthquakes. On rare occasions when they
do produce relatively large events, the ruptures tend to be complex,
suggesting multiple rupture patches or faults. We explain that the
seismogenic behavior of these seamounts is controlled by the development
and evolution of an adjacent fracture network during subduction and
cannot be described using the frictional behavior of a single fault.
The complex structure and heterogeneous stresses of this network
provide a favorable condition for aseismic creep and small earthquakes
but an unfavorable condition for the generation and propagation of
large ruptures.},
added-at = {2012-09-01T13:08:21.000+0200},
author = {Wang, Kelin and Bilek, Susan L.},
biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/282985b2bcac03e407499f23b9a739bb1/nilsma},
day = 1,
doi = {10.1130/G31856.1},
interhash = {4d7e0275f5084ece60117a4da2d5778e},
intrahash = {82985b2bcac03e407499f23b9a739bb1},
journal = {Geology},
keywords = {geophysics seismology},
month = sep,
number = 9,
pages = {819--822},
timestamp = {2021-02-09T13:27:55.000+0100},
title = {Do subducting seamounts generate or stop large earthquakes?},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/G31856.1},
volume = 39,
year = 2011
}