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Issue Information

  •  27 October 2021
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The Role of Along‐Fault Dilatancy in Fault Slip Behavior

  •  25 October 2021

Key Points

  • A discrete element model is used to investigate earthquake nucleation mechanisms

  • Fault geometry and precursory dilation/contraction patterns along strike might be predictive by controlling the earthquake energy balance

  • Slow events in dilated zones bounded by neutral areas turn into earthquakes whereas those in alternating dilated/contracted zones stop

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Shear Velocity Structure Beneath the Central United States From the Inversion of Rayleigh Wave Phase Velocities

  •  21 October 2021

Key Points

  • We present a 3-D Vs model for the upper mantle in the central United States by inverting Rayleigh wave phase velocities

  • A low Vs anomaly is imaged below the Reelfoot Rift, which is the uppermost portion of a prominent LVZ in previous tomographic studies

  • Low Vs anomalies are found in the mantle below the Ste. Genevieve and Wabash Valley seismic zones

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Controls on Seasonal Variations of Crustal Seismic Velocity in Taiwan Using Single‐Station Cross‐Component Analysis of Ambient Noise Interferometry

  •  21 October 2021

Key Points

  • We observe both coseismic dv/v drops and strong seasonal dv/v variations through a 20-year systematic analysis in Taiwan

  • The rainfall-induced pore pressure change is likely the primary control of the seasonal dv/v variations in the crust

  • Evaluating the environmental influences on dv/v allows us to isolate crustal damage related to earthquakes

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3‐D Magnetic Unstructured Inversion

  •  21 October 2021

Key Points

  • A 3-D magnetic numerical forward modeling method that discretizes arbitrary geometries by unstructured tetrahedrons is proposed

  • A 3-D magnetic unstructured grid inversion method is proposed based on a partial differential equation framework

  • The approaches significantly improve the inversion accuracy and flexibility and are suitable for local- and global-scale magnetic surveys

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Damage Evolution of Onnagawa Shale by Postmortem Thresholding of X‐Ray Computed Tomography

  •  20 October 2021

Key Points

  • Fracture network extracted by a residual analysis has been calibrated by pycnometer and thickness gauge volume estimations

  • Segments of the fracture network are visualized by post peak thresholding of the residual histogram

  • Fracture network is sensitive to the choice of threshold and provide insights to compute possible fracture evolution within the damaged zone

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Mapping the Pacific Slab Edge and Toroidal Mantle Flow Beneath Kamchatka

  •  20 October 2021

Key Points

  • A new 3-D anisotropic shear-wave velocity model beneath Kamchatka is determined

  • Distinct azimuthal anisotropies occur in the slab and its adjacent upper mantle

  • Toroidal mantle flow around the slab edge may deform and heat or melt the slab

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Direct Comparison of the Tsunami‐Generated Magnetic Field With Sea Level Change for the 2009 Samoa and 2010 Chile Tsunamis

  •  18 October 2021

Key Points

  • Direct comparison of the observed tsunami magnetic field with tsunami sea level change for the 2009 Samoa and 2010 Chile tsunamis

  • Estimation of the tsunami wave height by the tsunami-generated magnetic field

  • 3-D time domain simulation of both tsunami sea level change and magnetic field for the 2009 Samoa and 2010 Chile tsunamis

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Origin of Three‐Dimensional Crustal Stress Over the Conterminous United States

  •  15 October 2021

Key Points

  • We use data-oriented geodynamic models with 3D lithospheric and mantle structures to investigate the crustal stress field

  • A dense mantle lithosphere beneath the central and eastern U.S. is required to reproduce the observed topographic variation

  • SHmax orientations over the U.S. primarily reflect contributions from mantle convection with local modification from the lithosphere

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New Paleomagnetic Constraints on the Cretaceous Tectonic Framework of the Antarctic Peninsula

  •  15 October 2021

Key Points

  • We have obtained a key mid-Cretaceous paleopole (58.1°S, 354.3°E, A95 = 6.3°) from the Byers Peninsula, South Shetland Islands

  • South Shetland Islands located at the Pacific margin of southern Patagonia-Fuegian Andes during the Early to mid-Cretaceous

  • Consistent almost northward paleomagnetic declination support an autochthonous model for most part of the Antarctic Peninsula

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Carbonate Mineralogy in Mantle Peridotites of the Atlantis Massif (IODP Expedition 357)

  •  5 November 2021

Key Points

  • Carbonate precipitation is controlled by fluid composition and flow, temperature, and the presence of mafic intrusions

  • Magnesite and dolomite formed at high Mg/Ca ratios and zones of channelized flow in serpentinized peridotites at the Atlantis Massif

  • CO2 capture is limited in the shallower crust, concentrated around Lost City, but may be more extended in deeper circulation

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Moho Changes Beneath the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau Revealed by Multiple Geodetic Datasets

  •  5 November 2021

Key Points

  • Hydrological and tectonic gravitational signals in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau(NETP) are identified from multi-source data

  • Obvious positive gravitational signals appeared in NETP suggest material accumulation in this area

  • Uplift rates of the Moho and Earth's surface and the crustal thickness changes in NETP are estimated

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Lower mantle melting: experiments and thermodynamic modelling in the system MgO‐SiO2

  •  5 November 2021

Key Points

  • Multi-anvil press experiments in the system MgSiO3-SiO2 at 24 GPa located the eutectic at 53 mol% SiO2 and 2750 K

  • We build a thermodynamic model for MgO-SiO2 based on the data and other constraints that allows extrapolation to the core-mantle boundary

  • Based on melting curves of MgO and SiO2 and their liquid interaction parameter, the model predicts eutectic temperatures and compositions

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Integrated Sentinel‐1 InSAR and GNSS time‐series along the San Andreas fault system

  •  5 November 2021

Key Points

  • A practical approach is developed to integrate Sentinel-1 InSAR and GNSS time-series over the entire San Andreas fault system

  • The product is used to estimate fault creep and three components of horizontal crustal strain rate which shows notable off-fault portion

  • Challenges remain in seperating tectonic and hydrologic sources and whether hydrologic strain will increase seismic hazards

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Major mineral fraction and physical properties of carbonated peridotite (listvenite) from ICDP Oman Drilling Project Hole BT1B inferred from X‐ray CT core images

  •  5 November 2021

Key points

  • A method was developed to determine the downhole mineral fractions of drill cores from continuous X-ray CT images

  • Quartz–magnesite–dolomite fractions were estimated from X-ray CT images of listvenite cores from ICDP Oman Drilling Project Hole BT1B

  • Results indicate limited material transfer during carbonation and hydration of the Samail ophiolite, except for Ca, CO2, and H2O

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The magmatic architecture of continental flood basalts I : Observations from the Deccan Traps

  •  4 November 2021

Key Points

  • We compile diverse observations from geochronology, geochemistry, volcanology for the Deccan Traps to constrain magmatic architecture

  • These different datasets consistently suggest large, frequent eruptions for Deccan Traps (and potentially other CFBs)

  • Constraints from Deccan eruptive tempo, geophysics, and geochemistry are inconsistent with the large crustal magma reservoir model

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Dilatancy toughening of shear cracks and implications for slow rupture propagation

  •  4 November 2021

Key Points

  • Dilatancy strengthening leads to an increase in toughness of expanding shear cracks, which grows with increasing rupture speed

  • Crack propagation can be limited by the rate of fluid recharge far behind the crack tip

  • Dilatancy effect with reasonable parameter values is consistent with the dynamics of slow slip in subduction zones

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Distributed Acoustic Sensing in Volcano‐Glacial Environments ‐ Mount Meager, British Columbia

  •  4 November 2021

Key Points

  • We demonstrate the feasibility and potential of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) in alpine volcano-glacial environments

  • The DAS experiment at Mount Meager reveals unexpected volcanic tremor and volcanic earthquake swarms related to geothermal fluids

  • Mount Meager is significantly more active than previously estimated on the basis of conventional seismic instruments in the area

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The Spatial Relationship Between Contemporaneous Tremor Detections in Relatively Low‐ and High‐Frequency Bands

  •  3 November 2021

Key Points

  • Coherent tremor signals are detected and located separately in relatively high-frequency (1.25-6.5 Hz) and low-frequency (0.5-1.25 Hz) bands

  • LF signals seem to consistently lag contemporaneous HF signals by ∼500 m relative to the propagating fronts of rapid tremor migrations

  • Persistent offsets suggest that LF signals may have a source distinct from just the temporal overlapping of typical higher-frequency LFEs

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Strong seasonal variations of seismic velocity in eastern margin of Tibetan Plateau and Sichuan Basin from ambient noise interferometry

  •  3 November 2021

Key Points

  • Strong seasonal variations in seismic velocity are observed in Sichuan, China from ambient noise interferometry

  • The seasonality varies in strength, amplitude, phase, periods, and location

  • The cause of the seasonality is likely the effects of elastic loading from the precipitation

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The development and evaluation of the Earth Gravitational Model 2008 (EGM2008)

Key Points

  • Document the development of first ever gravity model to degree 2190
  • Demonstrate EGM2008's performance
  • Compare EGM2008 with other models

Open access

ITRF2014: A new release of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame modeling nonlinear station motions

Key Points

  • ITRF2014 benefits from accurate modeling of station annual and semiannual displacements
  • ITRF2014 benefits from accurate modeling of postseismic deformations for sites affected by major earthquakes
  • Leading to the determination of accurate and robust secular frame and site velocities

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Dynamic weakening of serpentinite gouges and bare surfaces at seismic slip rates

Key Points

  • Gouge friction approaches that of bare surfaces at high normal stress
  • Dehydration reactions and bulk melting in serpentinite in < 1 m of slip
  • Flash heating causes dynamic frictional weakening in gouge and bare surfaces

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Mapping Deep Electrical Conductivity Structure in the Mount Isa region, Northern Australia: Implications for Mineral Prospectivity

Key Points

  • Magnetotelluric data reveal crustal architecture of the eastern margin of the Proterozoic Mount Isa Province
  • Magnetotelluric models demonstrate spatial correlation between the crustal-scale Carpentaria conductivity anomaly and the Gidyea Suture zone
  • Crustal-penetrating structures act as potential pathways for transporting metalliferous fluids to form mineral deposits in the upper crust

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Three‐Dimensional Crustal Architecture Beneath the Sikkim Himalaya and Its Relationship to Active Deformation

Key Points

  • Importance of the 3-D deformation of the crust in the continent-continent collision regime is highlighted
  • Clear observation of the ramp-flat-ramp geometry of the MHT has been made as well that of the regional scale heterogeneity within the crust
  • The Role of transverse tectonics in shaping the observed structure in the Sikkim Himalaya is proposed

Plain Language Summary

Sikkim is an Indian state between Nepal and Bhutan. The style of convergence between India and Eurasia changes from head-on collision (Nepal Himalaya) to oblique convergence (Eastern Himalaya) across this region (Sikkim Himalaya). We study the crustal structure of this region using broadband seismological data recorded by a local network of stations. The Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT) separates the downgoing Indian Plate from the overriding Himalayan wedge. The MHT and the other major discontinuities within the crust, viz., the Moho and the midcrustal discontinuity are seen to dip northward. But all of these discontinuities also have higher-order lateral variations. The MHT has a ramp-flat-ramp geometry with two ramps in the Lesser Himalaya and the Tethyan Himalaya, respectively. The ramp in the Lesser Himalaya is like a dome and upwarps the overlying thrust faults. The thickness and average shear wave velocity of underthrusting Indian crust is very similar to that of the Peninsular Indian crust. The Moho also has dome-like structure separated by elongated, deeper sections trending NW-SE. We conjecture that these alternate shallow and deep segments of the Moho are a consequence of several cycles of strike-slip displacements on transverse faults known to be active here.

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Philippine Sea and East Asian plate tectonics since 52 Ma constrained by new subducted slab reconstruction methods

Key Points

  • Twenty-eight East Asia subducted slabs mapped from tomography and unfolded to constrain plate reconstructions
  • Slab evidence for a subducted 8000 × 2500 km “East Asian Sea” that existed between the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the early Cenozoic
  • Miocene arc-arc collision between the northern Philippine Sea plate and the Ryukyu-SW Japan Eurasian margin ~15–20 Ma

free access

The development and evaluation of the Earth Gravitational Model 2008 (EGM2008)

Key Points

  • Document the development of first ever gravity model to degree 2190
  • Demonstrate EGM2008's performance
  • Compare EGM2008 with other models

full access

Evidence for the Innermost Inner Core: Robust Parameter Search for Radially Varying Anisotropy Using the Neighborhood Algorithm

Key Points

  • The “neighborhood algorithm” provides a robust methodology for testing layered anisotropy in the Earth's inner core

  • There is no significant change observed in the strength of anisotropy with depth in the inner core

  • The innermost inner core is defined as a gradual change in the slow propagation direction of anisotropy

Open access

ITRF2014: A new release of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame modeling nonlinear station motions

Key Points

  • ITRF2014 benefits from accurate modeling of station annual and semiannual displacements
  • ITRF2014 benefits from accurate modeling of postseismic deformations for sites affected by major earthquakes
  • Leading to the determination of accurate and robust secular frame and site velocities

full access

Over a Century of Sinking in Mexico City: No Hope for Significant Elevation and Storage Capacity Recovery

Key Points

  • Integration of 115 years of deformation data reveals subsidence up 50 cm/year in Mexico City

  • The majority of the subsidence is irreversible and its rates are linearly correlated to the thickness of the upper aquitard

  • Migration of low-quality water to the productive aquifer sets the stage for a water crisis, which influences the socioeconomic landscape

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