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Correlation between ridge subduction and a fluid reservoir in the Hyuganada accretionary prism: insights from a passive seismic array
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  • Takeshi Akuhara,
  • Yusuke Yamashita,
  • Shukei Ohyanagi,
  • Yasunori Sawaki,
  • Tomoaki Yamada,
  • Masanao SHINOHARA
Takeshi Akuhara
Earthquake Research Institute, The University of Tokyo

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Yusuke Yamashita
Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University
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Shukei Ohyanagi
Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University
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Yasunori Sawaki
Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University
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Tomoaki Yamada
Earthquake Research Institute, The University of Tokyo
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Masanao SHINOHARA
Earthquake Research Institute, The University of Tokyo
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Abstract

Subducted reliefs, such as seamounts and ridges, affect fluid processes in accretionary prisms of subduction zones. The Kyushu–Palau Ridge subducts along with the Philippine Sea Plate in Hyuganada, which is one of the regions that are best suited for studying the role of subducting topography. This study investigates the shear wave velocity structure using an array of ocean-bottom seismometers (OBSs) with a 2 km radius. Teleseismic Green’s functions and a surface wave dispersion curve are inverted to one-dimensional shear wave velocity structures using transdimensional inversion. The results indicate the presence of a low-velocity zone 3–4 km below the seafloor. The reduced shear wave velocities are consistent with a compressional velocity structure obtained in a previous seismic refraction survey. We conclude that the low velocities are representative of high pore fluid pressure. In addition, the resolved lithological boundaries exhibit a sharp offset that consistently appears across the OBS array, suggesting the presence of a blind fault beneath it. The predicted fault, which is located at the flank of the Kyushu–Palau Ridge and oriented roughly parallel to the ridge axis, is likely caused by the ridge subduction. The fracture caused by the ridge subduction may act as a fluid conduit, forming a fluid reservoir beneath the well-compacted sediment layers. The compilation of previous refraction surveys implies that the reservoir has a lateral extension of >100 km. Its spatial distribution roughly correlates with the ridge location, highlighting the significant role the ridge plays in the formation of the reservoir.
Apr 2023Published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth volume 128 issue 4. 10.1029/2022JB026298