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

将在新西兰希库朗吉边缘的北方和南方近海收集热流和地震反射数据，以便对俯冲带的热结构有一个基于过程的了解。北方地区下面是一个以蠕动为主的俯冲界面，是反复发生浅（15公里深）慢滑地震（SSE）的地点。南部油田区域形成强烈对比，深（30公里）的SSE上倾推断与板块界面上的地震间耦合有关，类似于卡斯卡迪亚。获取约15个高分辨率断面将使该大陆边现有热流测量数据增加两个数量级。将利用从这一实验中获得的沉积物地震速度和热导率，通过对与水合物有关的海底模拟层位进行区域观测，扩大热流覆盖范围，该项目将解决有关俯冲板块界面上的地震活动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。学生培训将涵盖一系列技术，从海洋数据收集和分析到数值建模。研究结果将纳入大学课程，并纳入社区科学外联工作。

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.