Spatiotemporal Variations in Slow Earthquakes Along the Mexican Subduction Zone
Abstract
Slow earthquakes in Mexico have been investigated independently in different areas. Here we review differences in tremor behavior and slow slip events along the entire subduction zone to improve our understanding of its segmentation. Some similarities are observed between the Guerrero and Oaxaca areas. By combining our improved tremor detection capabilities with previous results, we suggest that there is no gap in tremor between Guerrero and Oaxaca. However, some differences between Michoacan and Guerrero are seen (e.g., SSE magnitude, tremor zone width, and tremor rate), suggesting that these two areas behave differently. Tremor initiation shows clear tidal sensitivity along the entire subduction zone. Tremor in Guerrero is sensitive to small tidal normal stress as well as shear stress, suggesting that the subduction plane may include local variations in dip. Estimation of the energy rate shows similar values along the subduction zone interface. The scaled tremor energy estimates are similar to those calculated in Nankai and Cascadia, suggesting a common mechanism. Along-strike differences in slow deformation may be related to variations in the subduction interface that yield different geometrical and temperature profiles.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Geophysical Research (Solid Earth)
- Pub Date:
- February 2018
- DOI:
- 10.1002/2017JB014690
- Bibcode:
- 2018JGRB..123.1559M
- Keywords:
-
- tremor;
- slow earthquakes;
- tidal sensitivity;
- scaled energy;
- Mexican subduction zone