Shallow Creep in the Leaky Stress Shadow of Locked Zones of Subduction Megathrust
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: In some subduction zones such as Nankai, creeping of the shallow part of the megathrust in the stress shadow of deeper locked zones is detected by seafloor geodetic measurements and/or reflected by slow earthquakes (SEQs). Here we explain that shallow creep occurs in the stress shadow for two reasons: (a) prolonged afterslip and (b) a leaky stress shadow due to off‐fault elastic interseismic deformation around locked patches. Relative to the size of the locked patches, a larger shadow zone endures longer duration of afterslip and greater stress leakage. With rate‐state friction modeling, we show that the shallow creep and accompanying SEQs at Nankai likely indicate a combination of the two mechanisms. The paucity of evidence for shallow creep at Cascadia likely indicates that the shadow zones are very small or, in some areas, absent.
Source: Geophysical Research Letters
DOI: 10.1029/2025gl120927
Authors: Kelin Wang, Yajing Liu, Tianhaozhe Sun
Language: English
Subfield: Geophysics
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,190
OpenAlex ID: W7155646907