Abstract
The discovery of double-planed zones of intermediate-depth seismicity associated with subducting oceanic lithosphere (refs 1–7 and L.S.H. and K.H.J., in preparation) has generated much interest in the origin and distribution of stresses in descending plates. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain why double zones occur8. Here we investigate the role of thermal stresses for the state of stress in a descending plate and test whether they can account for the observed characteristics of double seismic zones. By modelling the descending slab as a thin elastic plate and using the temperatures in the slab estimated by Toksöz et al.9, we find that the polarities of thermally generated stresses agree with those obtained from the focal mechanisms of earthquakes in the two zones. Thermal stresses also can explain the separation between the two zones of seismicity at shallow depths and their gradual merging at greater depth.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Sykes, L. R. J. geophys. Res. 71, 2981–3006 (1966).
Veith, K. F. thesis, Southern Methodist Univ. (1974); EOS 58, 1232 (1977).
Isacks, B. L. & Barazangi, M. Island Arcs, Deep Sea Trenches and Back-Arc Basins Vol. 1, 99–114 (American Geophysical Union, Washington DC 1977).
Engdahl, E. R. & Scholz, C. H. Geophys. Res. Lett. 4, 473–476 (1977).
Hasegawa, A., Umino, N. & Takagi, A. Tectonophysics 47, 43–58 (1978).
Samowitz, I. & Forsyth, D. J. geophys. Res. 86, 7013–7021 (1981).
Reyners, M. & Coles, K. J. geophys. Res. 87, 356–366 (1982).
Fujita, K. & Kanamori, H. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 66, 131–156 (1981).
Toksöz, M. N., Minear, J. W. & Julian, B. R. J. geophys. Res. 76, 1113–1138 (1971).
Timoshenko, S. P. & Goodier, J. N. Theory of Elasticity 3rd edn, 435–436 (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1970).
Resnick, R. & Halliday, D. Physics Vol. 1, 543 (Wiley, New York, 1966).
Skinner, B. J. Mem. geol. Soc. Am. 97, 78–96 (1966).
Birch, F. Mem. geol. Soc. Am. 97, 107–173 (1966).
Bodine, J. H., Steckler, M. S. & Watts, A. B. J. geophys. Res. 86, 3695–3707 (1981).
Goetze, C. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A288, 99–119 (1978).
Wyss, M. & Molnar, P. Phys. Earth planet. Inter. 6, 279–292 (1972).
Chung, W.-Y. & Kanamori, H. Phys. Earth planet. Inter. 23, 134–159 (1980).
Yang, M., Toksöz, M. N. & Smith, A. T. EOS 58, 1233–1234 (1977).
Hamaguchi, H., Goto, K. & Suzuki, Z. IASPEI 21st Assembly, Pap. A4.26 (Department of Geophysics, University of W. Ontario, London, Ontario 1981).
Richter, F. & McKenzie, D. J. Geophys. 44, 441–471 (1978).
Sleep, N. H. J. geophys. Res. 84, 4565–4571 (1979).
Davies, G. F. J. geophys. Res. 85, 6304–6318 (1980).
Turcotte, D. L. & Schubert, G. J. geophys. Res. 78, 5876–5886 (1973).
Anderson, R. N., DeLong, S. E. & Schwarz, W. M. J. Geol. 88, 445–451 (1980).
Hsui, A. T. & Toksöz, M. N. Tectonophysics 60, 43–60 (1979).
Davies, J., Sykes, L., House, L. & Jacob, K. J. geophys. Res. 86, 3821–3855 (1981).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
House, L., Jacob, K. Thermal stresses in subducting lithosphere can explain double seismic zones. Nature 295, 587–589 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/295587a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/295587a0
This article is cited by
-
Hypocenter distribution of plate boundary zone off Fukushima, Japan, derived from ocean bottom seismometer data
Earth, Planets and Space (2005)
-
Subduction zone seismicity and the thermo-mechanical evolution of downgoing lithosphere
Pure and Applied Geophysics PAGEOPH (1988)
-
Double seismic zone in Tonga
Nature (1985)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.