Source characteristics and along-strike variations of shallow very low
frequency earthquake swarms on the Nankai Trough shallow plate boundary
Abstract
We detected shallow very low frequency earthquakes (VLFEs) off the Cape
Muroto and Kii Channel in the Nankai subduction zone and estimated their
moment rate functions. Combining the new and previously estimated
catalogs, we obtained the comprehensive catalog of shallow VLFE moment
rate functions along the Nankai Trough. We defined the shallow VLFE
swarms and investigated the scaling relationships of their cumulative
moments, activity area, and durations in each region. Detected swarms
were considered candidates for shallow slow slip events. A similar
scaling relationship was observed between the cumulative moments and
activity areas, irrespective of regions. It indicates similar stress
drops in each region. However, the relationship between the cumulative
moments and durations varied. This difference was explained by the
along-strike variations in the faulting conditions of shallow slow
earthquakes, such as material or hydrological properties.