Hidden magma system causing intense earthquake swarm in the northeastern
Noto Peninsula, Japan
Abstract
An intense earthquake swarm is occurring in the crust of the
northeastern Noto Peninsula, Japan. Fluid movement related to volcanic
activity is often involved in earthquake swarms in the crust, but the
last volcanic activity in this area occurred in the middle Miocene (15.6
Ma), and no volcanic activity has occurred since then. In this study, we
investigated the cause of this earthquake swarm using spatiotemporal
variation of earthquake hypocenters and seismic reflectors. Hypocenter
relocation revealed that earthquakes moved from deep to shallow areas
via many planes, similar to earthquake swarms in volcanic regions. The
strongest M5.4 earthquake initiated near the migration front of the
hypocenters. Moreover, it ruptured the seismic gap between the two
different clusters. The initiation of this earthquake swarm occurred at
a locally deep depth (z = ~17 km), and we found a
distinctive S-wave reflector, suggesting a fluid source in the immediate
vicinity. The local hypocenter distribution revealed a characteristic
ring-like structure similar to the ring dike that forms just above the
magma reservoir and is associated with caldera collapse and/or magma
intrusion. These observations suggest that the current seismic activity
was impacted by fluids related to ancient or present hidden magmatic
activity, although no volcanic activity was reported. Significant
crustal deformation was observed during this earthquake swarm, which may
also be related to fluid movement and contribute to earthquake
occurrences. A seismic gap zone in the center of the swarm region may
represent an area with aseismic deformation.