Publication Date:
1994-01-01
Description:
We have applied an inverse method to P and S wave arrival time data observed at 52 seismic stations for 349 local earthquakes in order to estimate a three-dimensional (3-D) velocity structure beneath northern Japan. The method is characterized by a simultaneous determination of the two-dimensional depth distributions of velocity boundaries, 3-D velocity distribution and station corrections as well as hypocenter parameters of earthquakes. The Moho discontinuity under eastern Hokkaido is inclined from a depth of 32 km beneath the Hidaka Mountains to 20 kmbeneath the Konsen Plateau, while the thick crust with a thickness of 30-36 km distributes widely in western Hokkaido and the Tohoku region. The dip direction of the Moho in eastern Hokkaido is approximately perpendicular to the range of the Hidaka Mountains. The upper boundary of the subducting Pacific plate distributes in the depth range from 50 to 170 km in the surveyed area and the dip angle of the plate boundary in eastern Hokkaido (the Kurile arc) is slightly larger than that in the Tohoku region (the northeastern Japan arc). Estimated P (S) wave velocities are 5.8-7.0 km/s (3.4-4.1 km/s) in the crust, 7.4-8.0 km/s (4.2-4.5 km/s) in the upper mantle, and 8.1-8.6 km/s (4.6-4.9 km/s) in the plate, respectively. The velocities in the crust beneath northern Hokkaido are lower than those beneath eastern Hokkaido and the Tohoku region. The upper mantle has velocities which gradually increase with depth, and the subducted plate contains a high velocity zone with a P wave velocity faster than 8.3 km/s. VP/FSratios derived from P and S wave velocities generally range from 1.75 to 1.80 in the crust and upper mantle, while the ratios in the high velocity zone within the plate are less than 1.75. These results suggest that the plate is composed of two layers: the first layer is a low-velocity and hig-VP/FSzone with a thickness less than 20 km, and the second layer is a thick high-velocity and low VP/FSzone. The estimated plate thickness is about 90 km in the Kurile arc and about 110 km in the northeastern Japan arc. The relocated hypocenter distribution beneath Hokkaido clearly shows the double seismic plane in the subducting plate. The upper seismic plane is located in the first. © 1994, The Seismological Society of Japan, The Volcanological Society of Japan, The Geodetic Society of Japan. All rights reserved.
Print ISSN:
0022-3743
Electronic ISSN:
1884-2305
Topics:
Geosciences
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