Crustal Structure of the Hikurangi Margin From SHIRE Seismic Data and the Relationship Between Forearc Structure and Shallow Megathrust Slip Behavior

Abstract

Marine multichannel and wide-angle seismic data constrain crustal structure along a 530 km margin-parallel transect of the Hikurangi subduction zone. The subducting Hikurangi Plateau crust (VP 5.0–7.4 km/s) is ∼1 km thicker (11 ± 1 km) and mantle velocities are ∼0.2 km/s higher (VP 8.3–8.5 km/s) beneath south/central Hikurangi relative to north Hikurangi. In the overthrusting plate, an abrupt 0.5 km/s south-to-north reduction in forearc wavespeeds occurs in concert with a change in seismic reflection character. We analyze legacy seismic data to show that the forearc transition likely reflects lateral variability in the updip extent of the Torlesse Backstop. Furthermore, we map this unit along-strike and note a broad correlation between the backstop and down-dip extent of shallow slow-slip. We propose that the geological architecture of the overthrusting plate contributes to spatial variability in the location of shallow frictional transitions along the Hikurangi margin, impacting both seismic and tsunami hazard.