The intracontinental subduction of a>200-km-long section of the Tajik-Tarim lithosphere beneath the Pamir Mountains is proposed to explain nearly 30 km of shortening in the Tajik fold-thrust belt and the Pamir upli...The intracontinental subduction of a>200-km-long section of the Tajik-Tarim lithosphere beneath the Pamir Mountains is proposed to explain nearly 30 km of shortening in the Tajik fold-thrust belt and the Pamir uplift.Seismic imaging revealed that the upper slab was scraped and that the lower slab had subducted to a depth of>150 km.These features constitute the tectonic complexity of the Pamirs,as well as the thermal subduction mechanism involved,which remains poorly understood.Hence,in this study,high-resolution three-dimensional(3D)kinematic modeling is applied to investigate the thermal structure and geometry of the subducting slab beneath the Pamirs.The modeled slab configuration reveals distinct along-strike variations,with a steeply dipping slab beneath the southern Pamirs,a more gently inclined slab beneath the northern Pamirs,and apparent upper slab termination at shallow depths beneath the Pamirs.The thermal field reveals a cold slab core after delamination,with temperatures ranging from 400℃to 800℃,enveloped by a hotter mantle reaching~1400℃.The occurrence of intermediate-depth earthquakes aligns primarily with colder slab regions,particularly near the slab tear-off below the southwestern Pamirs,indicating a strong correlation between slab temperature and seismicity.In contrast,the northern Pamirs exhibit reduced seismicity at depth,which is likely associated with thermal weakening and delamination.The central Pamirs show a significant thermal anomaly caused by a concave slab,where the coldest crust does not descend deeply,further suggesting crustal detachment or mechanical failure.The lateral asymmetry in slab temperature possibly explains the mechanism of lateral tearing and differential slab-mantle coupling.展开更多
The dependence of the subduction regime on three-dimensional slab geometry poses a challenge for accurately estimating the evolving thermal structure of megathrusts globally. Although slab dips and ages have gained at...The dependence of the subduction regime on three-dimensional slab geometry poses a challenge for accurately estimating the evolving thermal structure of megathrusts globally. Although slab dips and ages have gained attention, the specific impacts of oblique subduction remain unmeasured. Here, we present an integrated thermal model that quantifies how slab morphology can shape the thermal state of megathrusts, such as those in the Makran Subduction Zone. The model considers both slab obliquity and depth variations along the trench. We find a considerable match between the slab petrological dehydration zone and the distribution of great crustal earthquakes. We suggest that the accumulation of fluids along megathrusts by slab metamorphism can foster more polarized conditions for decreasing plate coupling and increasing interplate ruptures. It is thus imperative to improve model representation and more realistically represent how drivers of slab geometry affect metamorphic transitions and the occurrence of earthquakes at megathrusts.展开更多
Throughout the 20th century, several large megathrust earthquakes were observed in the Colombia–Ecuador subduction zone which widely ruptured plate interfaces, causing considerable damage and loss of life. The occurr...Throughout the 20th century, several large megathrust earthquakes were observed in the Colombia–Ecuador subduction zone which widely ruptured plate interfaces, causing considerable damage and loss of life. The occurrence of earthquakes in subduction zones is thought to be closely related to the thermal structure of the incoming plate. However, in the case of the subducting Nazca Plate beneath the Colombia–Ecuador zone, the thermal structure remains unclear, especially its hydraulic distribution. On the basis of 3D thermal models, we present new insights into the plate interface conditions of Colombia–Ecuador interplate and megathrust earthquakes. We show that the plate geometry strongly affects the along-strike thermal structure of the slab beneath Colombia and Ecuador, with the subduction of the Carnegie Ridge playing an important role. Our results further reveal that the unique geometry of the Nazca Plate is the primary reason for the relatively high temperatures of the slab beneath Colombia. We suggest that the positions of the100–200 ℃ and 350–450 ℃ isotherms on the plate interface determine the updip and downdip limits of the seismogenic zone. For Colombia–Ecuador interplate earthquakes, the released fluids control the distribution of shallow-depth earthquakes, whereas the age and geometry of the slab control the distribution of intermediate-depth earthquakes. The average temperature of the plate interface at the upper limit of large megathrust earthquakes is hotter than previously thought, which is more consistent with our understanding of the Colombia–Ecuador subduction zone. We predict that the potential location of future large seismic events could be in the rupture zone of past seismic events or offshore of northern Colombia.展开更多
基金the Chinese Academy of Sciences Pioneer Hundred Talents Program and the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(Grant No.2019QZKK0708)supported by a MEXT(Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Technology)KAKENHI(Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research)grant(Grant No.21H05203)Kobe University Strategic International Collaborative Research Grant(Type B Fostering Joint Research).
文摘The intracontinental subduction of a>200-km-long section of the Tajik-Tarim lithosphere beneath the Pamir Mountains is proposed to explain nearly 30 km of shortening in the Tajik fold-thrust belt and the Pamir uplift.Seismic imaging revealed that the upper slab was scraped and that the lower slab had subducted to a depth of>150 km.These features constitute the tectonic complexity of the Pamirs,as well as the thermal subduction mechanism involved,which remains poorly understood.Hence,in this study,high-resolution three-dimensional(3D)kinematic modeling is applied to investigate the thermal structure and geometry of the subducting slab beneath the Pamirs.The modeled slab configuration reveals distinct along-strike variations,with a steeply dipping slab beneath the southern Pamirs,a more gently inclined slab beneath the northern Pamirs,and apparent upper slab termination at shallow depths beneath the Pamirs.The thermal field reveals a cold slab core after delamination,with temperatures ranging from 400℃to 800℃,enveloped by a hotter mantle reaching~1400℃.The occurrence of intermediate-depth earthquakes aligns primarily with colder slab regions,particularly near the slab tear-off below the southwestern Pamirs,indicating a strong correlation between slab temperature and seismicity.In contrast,the northern Pamirs exhibit reduced seismicity at depth,which is likely associated with thermal weakening and delamination.The central Pamirs show a significant thermal anomaly caused by a concave slab,where the coldest crust does not descend deeply,further suggesting crustal detachment or mechanical failure.The lateral asymmetry in slab temperature possibly explains the mechanism of lateral tearing and differential slab-mantle coupling.
基金benefited from the financial support of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Pioneer Hundred Talents Programthe Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (Grant No. 2019QZKK0708)+2 种基金the MEXT KAKENHI grant (Grant No. 21H05203)the Kobe University Strategic International Collaborative Research Grant (Type B Fostering Joint Research)the “Science of Slowto-Fast Earthquakes” project。
文摘The dependence of the subduction regime on three-dimensional slab geometry poses a challenge for accurately estimating the evolving thermal structure of megathrusts globally. Although slab dips and ages have gained attention, the specific impacts of oblique subduction remain unmeasured. Here, we present an integrated thermal model that quantifies how slab morphology can shape the thermal state of megathrusts, such as those in the Makran Subduction Zone. The model considers both slab obliquity and depth variations along the trench. We find a considerable match between the slab petrological dehydration zone and the distribution of great crustal earthquakes. We suggest that the accumulation of fluids along megathrusts by slab metamorphism can foster more polarized conditions for decreasing plate coupling and increasing interplate ruptures. It is thus imperative to improve model representation and more realistically represent how drivers of slab geometry affect metamorphic transitions and the occurrence of earthquakes at megathrusts.
基金benefited from the financial support of the CAS Pioneer Hundred Talents Program and the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (2019QZKK0708)。
文摘Throughout the 20th century, several large megathrust earthquakes were observed in the Colombia–Ecuador subduction zone which widely ruptured plate interfaces, causing considerable damage and loss of life. The occurrence of earthquakes in subduction zones is thought to be closely related to the thermal structure of the incoming plate. However, in the case of the subducting Nazca Plate beneath the Colombia–Ecuador zone, the thermal structure remains unclear, especially its hydraulic distribution. On the basis of 3D thermal models, we present new insights into the plate interface conditions of Colombia–Ecuador interplate and megathrust earthquakes. We show that the plate geometry strongly affects the along-strike thermal structure of the slab beneath Colombia and Ecuador, with the subduction of the Carnegie Ridge playing an important role. Our results further reveal that the unique geometry of the Nazca Plate is the primary reason for the relatively high temperatures of the slab beneath Colombia. We suggest that the positions of the100–200 ℃ and 350–450 ℃ isotherms on the plate interface determine the updip and downdip limits of the seismogenic zone. For Colombia–Ecuador interplate earthquakes, the released fluids control the distribution of shallow-depth earthquakes, whereas the age and geometry of the slab control the distribution of intermediate-depth earthquakes. The average temperature of the plate interface at the upper limit of large megathrust earthquakes is hotter than previously thought, which is more consistent with our understanding of the Colombia–Ecuador subduction zone. We predict that the potential location of future large seismic events could be in the rupture zone of past seismic events or offshore of northern Colombia.
