Long-living Earthquake Swarm and Intermittent Seismicity in the
Northeastern Tip of the Noto Peninsula, Japan
Abstract
The factors controlling earthquake swarm duration are remain unclear,
especially in the long-living ones. A severe earthquake swarm struck the
tip of the Noto peninsula, Japan. Ten M > 4.0 earthquakes
occurred, and the sequence has continued more than four years. We
investigated the spatiotemporal characteristics of the swarm using
relocated hypocenters to elucidate the factors causing this long
duration. The swarm consists of four seismic clusters-northern,
northeastern, western, and southern-the latter of which began first.
Diffusive hypocenter migrations were observed in the western, northern,
and northeastern clusters with moderate to low diffusivities, implying a
low-permeability environment. Rapid diffusive migration associated with
intermittent seismicity deep within the southern cluster suggests the
presence of a highly pressurized fluid supply. We conclude that the
nature of this fluid supply combined with intermittent seismicity from
the southern cluster and a low-permeability environment are the key
causes of this long-living swarm.