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Aseismic zone and earthquake segmentation associated with a deep subducted seamount in Sumatra

Nature Geoscience volume 4, pages 308–311 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

The subduction of large topographic features such as seamounts has been linked to plate locking1,2,3,4,5,6,7, earthquake generation8 and segmentation6, as well as crustal erosion9,10,11 at subduction zones. However, the role of subducted features in the generation of megathrust earthquakes has been difficult to discern because traditional imaging techniques are limited to the upper 12 km of the Earth’s crust12, whereas these ruptures initiate at depths of 20–40 km (ref. 13). Here we use a deeply penetrating imaging technique with a low-energy source to identify a seamount 3–4 km high and 40 km wide that has been subducted to a depth of 30–40 km below the Sumatra forearc mantle. We find that the seamount has remained intact despite more than 160 km of subduction, and that there is no seismic activity either above or below the seamount. We therefore conclude that the coupling between the seamount and overriding plate is weak and aseismic14. We suggest that the subduction of a topographic feature such as a seamount could lead to the segmentation of the subduction zone, which could in turn reduce the maximum size of megathrust earthquakes in these localities.

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Figure 1: Study area and Sumatra aseismic gap.
Figure 2: Seismic Profile CGGV040.
Figure 3: Seamount Image and bathymetry profile.
Figure 4: Subducted seamount.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Chairman and CEO of CGGVeritas for supporting and funding the project. The Oxford group was partially supported by the UK Natural Environment Research Council grant NE/D004381/1. Institut de Physique du Globe contribution number 3131.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Géosciences Marines, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris 75236, France

    Satish C. Singh, Nugroho Hananto, Maruf Mukti & Ajay Chauhan

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3AN, UK

    David P. Robinson & Shamita Das

  3. Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, New York 10964-8000, USA

    Helene Carton

  4. CGGVeritas, Massy 91341, France

    Bruno Gratacos & Stephan Midnet

  5. Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), JI. MH. Thamrin 8, Jakarta 10340, Indonesia

    Yusuf Djajadihardja

  6. Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), JI. Jend. Gatot Subroto 10, Jakarta 12710, Indonesia

    Heri Harjono

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  1. Satish C. Singh
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Contributions

S.C.S. led the project and wrote the paper. N.H. participated in the experiment and in writing the paper. M.M. and S.D. participated in writing the paper. D.P.R. relocated the earthquakes and participated in writing the paper. A.C., H.C., B.G. and Y.D. participated in the experiment. S.M. helped in designing the experiment. H.H. was instrumental in obtaining permits to acquire the data.

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Correspondence to Satish C. Singh.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Singh, S., Hananto, N., Mukti, M. et al. Aseismic zone and earthquake segmentation associated with a deep subducted seamount in Sumatra. Nature Geosci 4, 308–311 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1119

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