Discretization of Deep Low-Frequency Earthquakes Associated with
Different Temporal Activity Patterns beneath Japanese Volcanoes
Abstract
We constructed a catalog of volcanic deep low-frequency (DLF)
earthquakes across 52 regions in Japan to investigate their seismicity
based on three analyses: relocation, classification, and detection.
Relocation and classification analyses are based on waveform
correlation, and detection analysis is conducted using the matched
filter technique. We found that DLF earthquakes in many regions are
spatially clustered at approximately 5 km intervals between the lower
limit of crustal earthquakes and Moho discontinuity. Based on temporal
seismicity patterns, DLF earthquake groups in each region can be
classified into episodic and non-episodic types. Episodic groups consist
of seismic swarms and quiescence. In some episodic groups, DLF
earthquakes have constant recurrence interevent times or increasing
interevent times as a function of time. Swarms of DLF earthquakes
sometimes are associated with volcanic activity at the surface, such as
eruptions or crustal deformations in some regions. The spatiotemporal
characteristics of DLF earthquake groups may be linked to the movement
of magmatic fluids. The discrete vertical separation of DLF earthquake
groups may reflect small-scale heterogeneities, such as injected magma.
Periodic activity patterns may be caused by volcanic mechanisms, such as
second boiling. The variety of DLF earthquake patterns may suggest that
multiple mechanisms may trigger DLF earthquakes, such as complex
underground structures and volcanic processes, rather than a single
mechanism.