Relationship between tectonic tremors and 3-D distributions of thermal structure and dehydration in the Alaska subduction zone

Abstract

The Alaska subduction zone is characterized by a subducting oceanic plateau, which is referred to as the Yakutat terrane. Tectonic tremors occur in this zone, and there are few volcanoes above the subducted Yakutat terrane. In this study, we performed a 3-D numerical simulation of a thermal structure associated with the simultaneous subduction of the Yakutat terrane and Pacific plate to elucidate the mechanism of tectonic tremors, which typically involve the presence of water. We calculated the water content distribution near the slab surface by using the thermal structure obtained from our simulation and phase diagrams of the hydrous minerals included in the slab. As a result, dehydration from the marine sedimentary layer and oceanic crust was observed near the area where tectonic tremors occurred. Tectonic tremors occur only in the Yakutat terrane because the marine sedimentary layer and oceanic crust are thicker there, and the total amount of water content in these layers is higher; therefore, the amount of dehydration is also higher there than in the Pacific plate. Additionally, there are few volcanoes above the subducted Yakutat terrane because little water remains within the slab beneath the volcanic chain where magma is produced.