Multiple seamount subduction and lithological variability possibly
control pore fluid pressure and shallow slow earthquake activity in
Nankai Trough off Muroto
Abstract
The clustered distribution of shallow slow earthquakes in the Nankai
Trough has been attributed to different factors such as seamount
subduction, pore fluid pressure, fluid migration, and sediment input.
However, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding of how
these factors interact to generate slow earthquakes. We examined the
seismic reflection profiles crossing four subducted seamounts off Muroto
to understand how it deforms the accretionary wedge. Along-trough
reflection profiles within the accretionary wedge were also used to
infer the lithology of the underthrusted sediments. The seamounts are at
different stages of subduction and their associated underplated
sediments were identified. Comparison with sandbox models indicate that
the underplated sediments are likely comprised of fluid-rich trench fill
sediments. A negative polarity decollement and transparent underthrust
is observed off Muroto. The transparent underthrust is interpreted as
mudstone, while stratified underthrust sediments in other regions is
interpreted as turbidites. By comparing with numerical simulations, we
propose the following deformational history off Muroto: (1) subduction
of the first seamount resulted in underplating of a large volume of
fluid-rich trench fill sediments, (2) the underplated sediments are
undergoing horizontal compression from subsequent subduction of the
three seamounts resulting in high pore pressure consistent with
previously reported low velocity zones, and (3) the horizontal
compression may also result in fluid expulsion and these fluids migrate
updip and get trapped because the mudstones serve as an impermeable cap.
This mechanism accounts the aforementioned factors associated with slow
earthquakes and likely controls the clustered distribution off Muroto.