Premium
Depth dependence of rupture velocity in deep earthquakes
Author(s) -
Suzuki Mitsuru,
Yagi Yuji
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2011gl046807
Subject(s) - seismology , geology , induced seismicity , shear (geology) , range (aeronautics) , seismic wave , acceleration , petrology , materials science , physics , classical mechanics , composite material
Explaining deep seismicity is a long‐standing challenge in earth science. Between 300 and 700 km depth, earthquakes are scarce except between ∼530 and ∼600 km, where the majority of events occur. By imaging the seismic rupture process for a set of recent deep earthquakes using the back projection of teleseismic P‐waves, we found that the rupture velocities are less than 60% of the shear wave velocity except in the depth range of 530 to 610 km. We propose that large fracture surface energy ( G c ) values for deep earthquakes generally prevent the acceleration of dynamic rupture propagation and generation of earthquakes between 300 and 700 km depth, whereas small G c value in the exceptional depth range promote dynamic rupture propagation and explain the seismicity peak near 600 km.