Interaction Between Aseismic Slip and Fluid Invasion in Earthquake Swarms Revealed by Dense Geodetic and Seismic Observations

Recent seismic and geodetic observations suggest the involvement of pressurized fluid and aseismic slip during earthquake swarms. However, the interaction between these two factors is not fully understood. In this study, we show geodetic signals induced by aseismic opening and shear dislocation on a fault, accompanied by hypocenter migration during an earthquake swarm in the Hakone volcano, central Japan. The hypocenters were concentrated on a vertical plane, and the focal mechanisms were strike-slip faults whose nodal planes were consistent with the hypocenter distribution. Precursory seismicity occurred 1 week before the main swarm. We observed a complex pattern of hypocenter migration during the seismic sequence; namely, the lower limit of the seismicity appears to expand downward during the precursory seismicity, followed by an upward hypocenter diffusion. We also observed tilt changes that could be explained by opening and shear dislocation on the fault plane inferred from the planar hypocenter distribution. Furthermore, we identified several groups of repeating earthquakes. The average aseismic slip history inferred from the repeating earthquakes indicated a minor aseismic slip of 0.4 mm during the precursory seismic activity, which accelerated by up to 3 mm during the main swarm. The total cumulative slip was consistent with the geodetic model results. These observations may suggest that fluid intrusion caused the aseismic slip, and the complex migration of the hypocenters reflects the aseismic slip propagation. We hypothesize that aseismic deformation acts as the driving force for the earthquake swarms together with the intrusion of pressurized fluid.

Automated summary

Recent seismic and geodetic observations indicate the involvement of pressurized fluid and aseismic slip during earthquake swarms. However, the interaction between these two factors is not fully understood. In this study, the researchers observed geodetic signals induced by aseismic opening and shear dislocation, as well as hypocenter migration during an earthquake swarm in the Hakone volcano, central Japan. The observations suggest that fluid intrusion caused the aseismic slip, and the complex migration of the hypocenters reflects the propagation of aseismic slip.