Evaluating the Association Between Tectonic Tremors and Earthquakes in Taiwan From 7 Years Catalogs

Abstract

AbstractKnowledge of what governs the interaction between slow‐ and fast‐slip earthquakes is essential to understanding the nature of the earthquake cycle. In southern Taiwan, four major earthquakes (2008 Mw 5.2 Taoyuan, 2010 Mw 6.4 Jiashian, 2012 Mw 5.9 Wutai, and 2016 Mw 6.4 Meinong events) that occurred near the active tremor areas provide a unique opportunity to analyze their spatiotemporal association. With the declustered tremor catalog built in this study, we were able to statistically evaluate the possible association between tremor and mainshock‐aftershock sequences in space and time. We found that close‐by mainshocks influences tremor's timing in a matter of less than 5 days by short‐term triggering, while the 2010 ML 6.4 Jiashian earthquake appears to be most responsible for such triggering. Assuming a low dip angle thrust faulting mechanism, tremors coincided with small static stress increases (8 kPa) in the 2010 ML 6.4 Jiashian earthquake. The other three major events, however, caused either negative or neglectable stress changes in the tremor zone. The different responses of the tremors can be explained by coseismic slip‐induced static stress change. In this complex tectonic region as a boundary between continental subduction and collision, the interaction between slow‐ and fast‐slip phenomena could be facilitated by a commonly high fluid pressure environment.