Identification of active faults and tectonic features through heat flow distribution in the Nankai Trough, Japan, based on high-resolution velocity-estimated bottom-simulating reflector depths

• Published in: Earth, planets, and space planets, and space, 2023-12, Vol.75 (1), p.147-16, Article 147
• Main Authors: Takenouchi, Shuto, Tsuji, Takeshi, Shiraishi, Kazuya, Nakamura, Yasuyuki, Kodaira, Shuichi, Fujie, Gou, Mukumoto, Kota
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 4. Seismology; Active faults; Advection; Anomalies; Automated velocity analysis; Bottom-simulating reflector (BSR); Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earthquakes; Environmental aspects; Estimates; Fault detection; Fault lines; Faults (Geology); Flow distribution; Flow estimation; Fluid flow; Geological faults; Geological structures; Geology; Geophysics/Geodesy; Heat flow; Heat transfer; Heat transmission; Japan; Mathematical analysis; Ocean floor; Plates (tectonics); Plutonic rock; Reflectors; Sediments; Sediments (Geology); Seismic activity; Seismic analysis; Seismic reflection data; Seismic reflection method; Seismic surveys; Seismic waves; Seismology; Subduction (geology); Subduction zones (Geology); Tectonics; Tectonics (Geology); Velocity
• ISSN: 1880-5981; 1343-8832; 1880-5981
• DOI: 10.1186/s40623-023-01890-9

Estimates of heat flow can contribute to our understanding of geological structures in plate convergent zones that produce great earthquakes. We applied automated velocity analysis to obtain the accurate seismic profiles needed for precise heat flow estimates using six new seismic profiles acquired during R/V Kaimei KM18-10 voyage in 2018. We calculated heat flow values in the accretionary wedge of the Nankai Trough off the Kii Peninsula, Japan, from the positions of widespread bottom-simulating reflectors (BSRs) in seismic reflection profiles. Calculated conductive heat flow values from the depth of the BSR agree with previous studies where a regional trend is observed from ~ 50 mW/m 2 to