Coseismic Gravity Changes and Crustal Deformation Induced by the 2018 Fiji Deep-Focus Earthquake Observed by GRACE and GRACE-FO Satellites

Earthquakes at depths of >= 300 km are generally called deep-focus earthquakes. Only two deep-focus earthquakes with Mw 8.0 or more have occurred in this century-the 2013 Okhotsk earthquake (Mw 8.3) and the 2018 Fiji earthquake (Mw 8.2) on 19 August 2018. However, the 2018 Fiji earthquake was only reported on seismographs, and the related crustal deformations were not observed by the Global Navigation Satellite System because the observation network did not exist around the epicenter. This study analyzed the time series of gravity data observed by the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) and its successor, GRACE Follow-On, and detected the spatial distribution of coseismic gravity changes mainly due to crustal deformation by the 2018 Fiji earthquake. The results in this study were not consistent with the numerical calculation of gravity changes when using the fault parameters estimated by the data of seismic waves. Thus, numerical calculations were used to construct a uniform slip rectangle fault model to explain coseismic gravity changes and provide a spatial distribution map of crustal deformation. However, this fault model is only based on gravity changes; thus, new research combining satellite gravimetry and seismic wave data will be necessary in the future.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the time series of gravity data observed by the GRACE and GRACE Follow-On satellites and detected the spatial distribution of coseismic gravity changes mainly due to crustal deformation by the 2018 Fiji earthquake. The results were inconsistent with the numerical calculation using seismic wave data, highlighting the need for future research combining satellite gravimetry and seismic wave data to explain crustal deformation.