Collaborative Research: The Thermal Regime of the Hikurangi Subduction Zone and Shallow Slow Slip Events, New Zealand

热流和地震反射数据将在新西兰北部和南部的Hikurangi边缘近海收集，以发展对俯冲带热结构的基于过程的理解。北部地区是一个以地震蠕动为主的俯冲界面，是反复发生浅层（15 km深）慢滑地震的地点。南部地区对比强烈，深（30公里）的上倾推断与板块界面的地震间耦合有关，类似于卡斯卡迪亚。获得约15个高分辨率样条将使该大陆边缘可用的热流测量数量增加2个数量级。利用从本实验中获得的沉积物地震速度和热导率，将利用与水合物相关的底部模拟层的区域观测扩大热流覆盖范围。该项目解决了关于俯冲板块界面上地震活动性和变形过程的基本问题，以及它们如何与水文和地球动力学过程联系起来。学生的培训将涵盖一系列技术，从海洋数据收集和分析到数值模拟。研究结果将纳入大学课程，并纳入社区科学推广工作。

Heat flow and seismic reflection data will be collected offshore the northern and southern Hikurangi margin in New Zealand, to develop a process-based understanding of the thermal structure of the subduction zone. The northern area is underlain by an aseismic creep-dominated subduction interface and is the site of repeated shallow ( 15 km depth) slow slip earthquakes (SSEs). The southern field area contrasts strongly, with deep ( 30 km) SSEs updip inferred to be associated with interseismic coupling on the plate interface, similar to Cascadia. Acquisition of ~15 high-resolution transects will increase the number of available heat flow measurements from this continental margin by 2 orders of magnitude. Using sediment seismic velocities and thermal conductivities obtained from this experiment, heatflow coverage will be expanded using regional observations of hydrate-related bottom simulating horizons.The project addresses fundamental questions about seismicity and deformation processes on a subduction plate interface, and how they may be linked to hydrologic and geodynamic processes. Students training will cover a range of techniques, from marine data collection and analysis to numerical modeling. Results of the study will be incorporated in university courses as well as included in community science outreach efforts.