Electrical conductive fluid-rich zones and their influence on the earthquake initiation, growth, and arrest processes: observations from the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake sequence, Kyushu Island, Japan

Crustal earthquake ruptures tend to initiate near fluid-rich zones. However, it is relatively unknown whether fluid-rich zones can further promote or arrest these ruptures. We image the electrical resistivity structure around the focal area of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake sequence by using 200 sites broadband magnetotelluric data, and discuss its quantitative relationship to earthquake initiation, growth, and arrest processes. The ruptures that initiated along the outer edge of the low-resistivity fluid-rich zones (< 30 omega m) tended to become large earthquakes, whereas those that initiated either distal to or within the fluid-rich zones did not. The ruptures were arrested by high-temperature (> 400 degrees C) fluid-rich zones, whereas shallower low-temperature (200-400 degrees C) fluid-rich zones either promoted or arrested the ruptures. These results suggest that the distribution of mid-crustal fluids contributes to the initiation, growth, and arrest of crustal earthquakes. The pre-failure pressure/temperature gradient (spatial difference) of the pore fluids may contribute to the rupture initiation, propagation, and arrest.

Automated summary

Crustal earthquake ruptures tend to occur near fluid-rich zones, with ruptures initiated along the outer edge of low-resistivity fluid-rich zones leading to larger earthquakes. High-temperature fluid-rich zones arrest ruptures, while shallower low-temperature zones can either promote or arrest them. The distribution of mid-crustal fluids plays a role in the initiation, growth, and arrest of crustal earthquakes.