Sampling the intermediate loop of the subduction factory at Nankai: The mud volcanoes of the Kumano Basin, Japan

2011年摧毁日本的大地震起源于太平洋岛屿以西的俯冲带。 断层带上的流体和被困在岩石中的流体多次有助于润滑滑动，或者在应力作用下，导致地壳超压和破裂，导致断层运动和地震。 了解形成俯冲带的增生楔中流体的起源可以帮助我们更好地理解断层和地震动力学。 这项研究涉及测量一个主要国际项目区域的泥火山产生的流体通量的速率，该项目正在研究与南海俯冲带（Nantroseize）滑动相关的断层和变形。 这笔资金允许一位美国科学家参加一次国际海洋学巡航，在那里他的流体测量仪将被部署来收集一组时间序列的流体样本，用于以后在实验室进行地球化学分析。 此外，还将采集岩心，以便对沉积物和相关孔隙沃茨进行研究。 这两个装置的样品将被分析各种关键的化学元素和特征，这些化学元素和特征将阐明流体的来源以及泥火山和沉积物中发生的化学反应。 该项目的更广泛的影响包括增加我们对大地震可能触发因素的了解，早期职业调查员的支持，对NSF免费利用船舶时间，与德国和日本科学家的国际合作，以及通过当地水族馆进行公众宣传。 公共宣传活动包括科学家和水族馆工作人员的互动，以及为K-12学生编写学习材料。 在劳动力培训方面，将涉及一名研究生和一名本科生。

The major 2011 earthquake that devastated Japan has its origins in the subduction zone just west of the island in the Pacific Ocean. The presence of fluids on fault zones and trapped in rocks many times helps to lubricate slip or, when under stress, cause overpressuring and fracturing of the crust, resulting in fault motion and earthquakes. Knowing the origin of fluids in accretionary wedges that form just shoreward of subduction zones can help us better understand fault and earthquake dynamics. This research involves measuring the rate of fluid fluxes emanating from mud volcanoes in the area of a major international program that is studying the faulting and deformation associated with slip in the Nankai subduction zone (NanTroSEIZE). This funding allows a US scientist to participate in an international oceanographic cruise where his fluid meters will be deployed to collect a time-series set of fluid samples for later geochemical analysis in the laboratory. In addition cores will be taken to allow the study of sediments and associated pore waters. Samples from both devices will be analyzed for various key chemical elements and signatures that will illuminate the source of fluids and the chemical reactions going on in the mud volcanoes and sediments. The broader impacts of this project include increasing our knowledge of possible triggers of major earthquakes, support of an early career investigator, leveraging of ship time at no cost to NSF, international collaboration with German and Japanese scientists, and public outreach through a local aquarium. Public outreach activities include the interaction of scientists and aquarium staff and the development of learning materials for K-12 students. In terms of workforce training, a graduate student and undergraduates will be involved.