Newly detected earthquakes in the Cascadia subduction zone linked to seamount subduction and deformed upper plate

Data from an amphibious seismic network in Cascadia (northwest North America) provide unique near-source observations to assess the influence of subducting topography on seismicity. Using subspace detection, we detect and locate 222 events in two separate clusters, near a subducted seamount and a possibly accreted seamount. Seismicity in both clusters is largely shallower than the plate interface and exhibits occasional swarm-like behavior. This implies that the seamount is subducting aseismically via weak coupling with the overriding plate, while earthquakes in the upper plate arise from a high degree of fracturing due to seamount interaction, and the accreted seamount induced similar fracturing before off-scraping.