Table Of ContentSubduction Zones
Part II
Edited by
Larry J. Ruff
Hiroo Kanamori
1989 Birkhauser Verlag
Basel . Boston . Berlin
Reprint from Pure and Applied Geophysics
(PAGEOPH), Volume 129 (1989), No. 112
Editors' addresses:
Prof. L. J. Ruff Prof. H. Kanamori
Dept. of Geological Sciences Seismological Laboratory
University of Michigan California Institute of Technology
Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Pasadena, CA 91125
USA USA
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Subduction zones 1 edited by Larry J. Ruff, Hiroo Kanamori.
p.cm.
»Reprint from Pure and applied geophysics (PAGEOPH), volume 128
(1988), no. 3/4« - -T. p. verso.
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
1. Plate tectonics. I. Ruff, Larry J., 1952 - II. Kanamori,
H. (Hiroo), 1936- III. Pure and applied geophysics.
QE511.4.S93 1989 551.1 '36 - - dc 19 88-39469
(Revised for vol. 2)
Subduction zones.
Reprint from Pure and applied geophysics
(PAGEOPH), volume 128 (1988), no. 3/4 and
volume 129 (1989), no. 112.
Includes bibliographies and indexes.
1. Plate tectonics. I. Ruff, Larry J.,
1952- II. Kanamori, H. (Hiroo),
1936- III. Pure and applied geophysics.
QE511.4.S93 1989 551.1'36 88-39469
CIP-TItelaufnahme der Deutschen Bibliothek
Subduction zones 1 ed. by Larry J. Ruff; Hiroo Kanamori. -
Reprint. - Basel; Boston; Berlin: Birkhiiuser.
NE: Ruff, Larry J. [Hrsg.]
Reprint
Pt. 2 (1989)
Aus: Pure and applied geophysics ; Vol. 129
ISBN-13: 978-3-7643-2272-4 e-ISBN-13: 978-3-0348-9140-0
001: 10.1007/978-3-0348-9140-0
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© 1989 Birkhiiuser Verlag Basel
Contents
1 Introduction to subduction zones, L. 1. Ruff and H. Kanamori
7 On the initiation of subduction zones, S. Cloetingh, R. Wortel and N. J.
Vlaar
27 Seismotectonics at the Trench-Trench-Trench triple junction off central
Honshu, T. Seno and T. Takano
41 Morphologic and geologic effects of the subduction of bathymetric highs,
W. R. McCann and R. E. Habermann
71 Large earthquakes in the Macquarie Ridge Complex: Transitional tectonics
and subduction initiation, L. J. Ruff, J. W. Given, C. O. Sanders and C. M.
Sperber
131 Estimation of strong ground motions from hypothetical earthquakes on the
Cascadia subduction zone, Pacific Northwest, T. H. Heaton and S. H.
Hartzell
203 Subduction and back-arc activity at the Hikurangi convergent margin, New
Zealand, E. G. C. Smith, T. Stern and M. Reyners
233 An unusual zone of seismic coupling in the Bonin Arc: The 1972 Hachijo
Oki earthquakes and related seismicity, T. Moriyama, F. Tajima and T.
Seno
263 Do trench sediments affect great earthquake occurence in subduction zones?
L. J. Ruff
PAGEOPH, Vol. 129, Nos. 1/2 (1989) 0033-4553/89/020001--05$1.50 + 0.20/0
© 1989 Birkhiiuser Verlag, Basel
Introduction to Subduction Zones
LARRY J. RUFF) and HIROO KANAMORI2
Subduction zones present many fa~ades to those that observe them. From
obvious features to obscure yet important processes, there are many aspects of
subduction zones to observe and explain. Notable examples of obvious features are
volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain belts, and deep sea trenches; while on the other
hand, the unseen process of sediment subduction can produce long-term effects on
the Earth's geochemical reservoirs. Indeed, most disciplines of the earth sciences
have reasons to study subduction zones, and consequently all disciplines can make
contributions to our understanding of subduction zones.
Each discipline has its own view of the subduction process. To volcanologists,
subduction zones are the sites of volcanoes. The active volcanic belt is a ubiquitous
feature of subduction zones; volcanoes may be built on continental or oceanic
lithosphere. In addition, volcanism is associated with back-arc spreading. There is
a considerable range in the composition of volcanic products in subduction zones.
Many subduction zone volcanoes also represent great hazards to local populations,
and violent eruptions may even cause global-scale variations in the atmosphere. To
seismologists, subduction zones generate earthquakes, and are the most important
tectonic setting for seismicity (see Figure 1). To geologists, subduction zones
produce quite a diversity of geologic terranes and rock deformation, the settings
vary from accretionary prisms to back-arc thrust regimes. To geodicists, subduction
zones are the sites of some of the largest deviations in the gravity field as well as
regions of dramatic horizontal strain and vertical uplift and subsidence.
But to plate tectonicists, subduction zones are relatively simple: subduction
zones are convergent plate boundaries where oceanic lithosphere is consumed (see
Figure 2). To embellish this "definition" from the perspective of global dynamics:
subduction zones are regions where the cold upper thermal boundary layer of the
convecting Earth sinks back into the hot mantle. The above definitions would seem
to explain both the kinematic and dynamic role of subduction zones. But do these
definitions explain why subduction zones are located where they are? what the
I Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, U.S.A.
2 Seismological Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, U.S.A.
N ~ ..., ..., '< !-;:0::1 I:: ::tj Il> =' 0. X §' o ;<: Il> =' Il> 3 o ::l. ~ o tTl o ." .X
.. ' l '\ -¥.x .. x.# .. -. I()I( .. ~x'" xZa x :Ie I( .lw # )I . . ., . . J'~ N~LlT '" )NZ . .. Xxx . \J' * t .1 sc1 .. • /. MR \ '. '. Figure I Global seismicity and subduction zones. The mercator projection extends from 65°S to 65°N, while the left and right margins are at 200W. The continents and major islands are outlined, and major trench axes are also shown. Events in the Harvard CMT catalog from 1981 to 1986 are plotted as the crosses. Subduction zone segments are identified as follows together with the interacting plate pair (first named plate subducts beneath the second, ? where uncertain): He, Africa-Eurasia?; Za, Arabia-Eurasia; Su and Jv, India/Australia-Eurasia; So, Solomon-Pacific?; NH, Hellenic are, Zagros, Sumatra and Java, Solomon, India/Australia-Fiji/pacific?; T, Ke, and NZ, Pacific-India/Australia; MR, New Hebrides, Tonga, Kermadec, and New Zealand (North Island), Macquarie India/Australia-Pacific; Ph, Philippine-Eurasia?; R, Philippine-Eurasia; N, Philippine Ridge, Philippines (eastern margin), Ryukyu, Nankai (southern Honshu), Eurasia; Ma and IZ, Pacific-Philippine; J, Pacific-Eurasia? KI, Marianas and Izu-Bonin, Japan (northern Honshu), Kurile Islands (and Hokkaido), Pacific-North America?; Ka, Pacific-North America?; At and Ak, Pacific-North America; Ca, Kamchatka, Aleutians and Alaska, Cascades (Oregon-Washing Juan de Fuca-North.America; Me, Cocos-North America; CA, Cocos-Caribbean; EC, P, NC, CC, and SC, ton-British Columbia), Mexico, Central America, Nazca-South America; South America-Scotia?; LA, Ecuador-Colombia, Peru, northern Chile, central Chile, and southern Chile, Scotia, Lesser Antilles, Sc, South America? North America?-Caribbean. In addition to the above listed segments, there are several smaller subduction zones in the complex region of Southeast Asia. Most of the above-listed subduction zones receive some attention in this special issue.
Vol. 129, 1989 Introduction to Subduction Zones 3
geometry of subduction zone segments will be? the physiography of island arcs? the
generation of island arc volcanoes? back-arc spreading? the diversity of earthquake
occurrence? style of accretionary prisms?--clearly not. While plate tectonics pro
vides the underlying kinematic role of subduction zones, it does not explain the
great variety of phenomena associated with subduction zones. Although earth
quakes, volcanoes, trenches, and global recycling might be second-order phenomena
within the plate tectonics scenario, they are still first-order problems within earth
sciences. Researchers in their various fields must go beyond plate tectonics and
global dynamics to make progress in explaining the great diversity of phenomena
associated with subduction zones.
The diverse contributions in this special issue reflect the many fa~ades of
subduction zones. The style of the contributions also varies from review papers to
speculative accounts of obscure processes. The special issue is divided into two
volumes with a total of four different sections: in Volume I (I) global-scale reviews,
(2) accretionary prism processes, and in Volume II, (3) tectonics and subduction
initiation, and (4) earthquake occurrence. While the size of this special issue
requires the division into two volumes, there is considerable linkage between the
two parts. Indeed, several papers could appear in more than one section. In the
global-scale review section of Volume I: CLOOS and SHREVE present a two-part
comprehensive description of accretionary prism and their model which explains
several features; VASSILIOU and HAGER treat the problem of Wadati-Benioff zone
seismicity and slab penetration with extensive modeling of stress regimes; WORTEL
and VLAAR also treat Wadati-Benioff zone seismicity from the perspective of
pressure-temperature controls on seismic/aseismic behavior; HSUI reviews some of
the contributions of fluid mechanics to various processes associated with subduction
zones; and McLENNAN discusses the role of subduction zones in global geochemi
cal cycling. Taken together, these global-scale discussions clearly indicate that many
important present-day characteristics of subduction need to be better understood,
not to mention the properties of subduction zones through time. In the accretionary
prism processes section of Volume I: BRAY and KARIG examine the physical
processes occurring in accretionary prisms, they focus on the dewatering process;
SHI and WANG also present physical models of the accretionary prism with
emphasis on heat flow; then COCHRANE et al. show the results of seismic experi
ments along the Cascades subduction zone to identify the deformational styles.
Volume II is more focused on large-scale tectonics and/or seismicity. In the
tectonics and subduction initiation section: CLOETINGH et al. treat the question of
passive margin vulnerability to subduction initiation; SENO and T AKANO look at
the remarkably complex triple junction interaction in central Honshu; MCCANN
and HABERMANN present a model for the influence of ocean floor topography on
segmentation of island arc platforms; while RUFF et a/. present a seismotectonic
study of the Macquarie Ridge complex and discuss the nature of subduction
initiation. In the earthquake occurrence section of Volume II: HEATON and
4 Larry J. Ruff and Hiroo Kanamori PAGEOPH,
-/-
*
100 km
Figure 2
Two views of subduction zones. The map view at top depicts the role of subduction zones in plate
tectonics; they are convergent plate boundaries where oceanic lithosphere is consumed. Upon closer
examination (bottom), subduction zones display many features and processes of interest to many
branches of earth science. Several of the important shallow features of subduction zones are repre
sented in the cross-section: the oceanic lithosphere deforms as it subducts with normal faulting in the
outer-rise and downward kinks at the trench axis and at a depth of ~ 40 km; seismicity is represented
by the stars; large underthrusting earthquakes (large star) occur on the plate contact interface, but
only in a certain depth range that extends down to about 40 km; below this depth, seismicity occurs
within the downgoing oceanic crust and upper mantle which also experience phase changes; "double
Benioff zones" have been observed in the intermediate depth range; the deepest extent of the Wadati
Benioff zone varies from a hundred to seven hundred kilometers; there is also scattered seismicity in
the outer-rise and in the upper plate above the "critical" isotherm (dashed line); the accretionary prism
is a dynamic system between the trench axis and coastline with faulting, material flow, sediment
subduction, underplating, and basin formation; dewatering and sediment metamorphism also occur in
this environment; a volcanic belt occurs above the apex of the corner flow where the asthenosphere
beneath the upper plate is viscously coupled to the downgoing plate; back-arc spreading occurs behind
the volcanic arc. The cross-section is highly stylized-not all subduction zones display these features.
An essential characteristic of subduction zones is their variability, thus it is important to add the third
dimension to the stylized subduction zone. All of the above discussed features vary along arc strike,
and furthermore, subduction zones evolve with time. Most of the above-mentioned characteristics and
processes are addressed in this special issue.
Vol. 129, 1989 Introduction to Subduction Zones 5
HARTZELL give a detailed assessment of the anticipated strong motions from a
hypothetical future great earthquake along the Cascades subduction zone; SMITH et
al. present a comprehensive geophysical study of the North Island (New Zealand)
subduction complex and earthquake occurrence; MORIYAMA et al. propose that a
zone of unusual seismic coupling exists in the lzu-Bonin arc; and RUFF presents a
"comparative subductology" approach to the speculative connection between sedi
ment subduction and great earthquake occurrence.
It is worth repeating that the diversity of contributions in this special issue
reflects the diversity of interesting and unexplained aspects of subduction. Of the
many fa~ades that subduction zones present to us, the kinematic role in plate
tectonics is the best understood aspect. Many of the primary geological, geochemi
cal, and geophysical characteristics of subduction zones stilI require explanation. It
is our hope that this issue will help spark further scientific exchange and interaction
throughout the earth sciences-the surest path to new knowledge about subduction
zones.
