Water hammers tremors during plate convergence

Abstract

Research Article| October 23, 2018 Water hammers tremors during plate convergence An Yin An Yin * 1Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-156702, USA *E-mail: ayin54@gmail.com Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2018) 46 (12): 1031–1034. https://doi.org/10.1130/G45261.1 Article history received: 12 Jun 2018 rev-recd: 19 Sep 2018 accepted: 25 Sep 2018 first online: 23 Oct 2018 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation An Yin; Water hammers tremors during plate convergence. Geology 2018;; 46 (12): 1031–1034. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G45261.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract In this study, I show that rapid (∼100 km/h) dip-parallel tremor migration at seismic-aseismic transition depths (15–55 km) of a convergent margin can result from pressure-wave propagation in an anisotropic viscoplastic shear zone. The anisotropy is characterized by slip-parallel conduits in the dip direction composed of high-permeability brittle mafic rocks embedded in low-permeability ductile felsic materials. At the onset of a slow-slip event, the initial compaction of a mafic conduit causes permeability reduction that in turn can lead to partial or complete blockage of flow path. Due to the water-hammer effect, the sudden blockage of flow paths can trigger a propagating pressure wave with an elevated pore-fluid pressure, which is capable of initiating a progressive shear failure expressed as migrating tectonic tremors along the conduit. For a mafic conduit with a pre-slip static permeability of ∼10−13 m2 and a syn-slip dynamic permeability of 10−15 m2, the water-hammer model generates a pressure jump of up to 50 kPa, sufficient to initiate tremors along subduction zones and shear-zone deformation during the same slow-slip event. You do not currently have access to this article.