Back‐arc extension in the Andaman Sea: Tectonic and magmatic processes imaged by high‐precision teleseismic double‐difference earthquake relocation. Issue 5 (15th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Diehl, T.; Waldhauser, F.; Cochran, J. R.; Kamesh Raju, K. A.; Seeber, L.; Schaff, D.; Engdahl, E. R.
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 118:Issue 5(2013:May)
• Page Start: 2206
• Page End: 2224
• Publication Date: 2013-05-15
• Subjects: back‐arc extension -- Andaman Sea -- earthquake relocation -- earthquake swarms; Geomagnetism -- Periodicals; Geochemistry -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Periodicals; 551.1
• DOI: 10.1002/jgrb.50192
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-9313

Abstract

Abstract: [1] The geometry, kinematics, and mode of back‐arc extension along the Andaman Sea plate boundary are refined using a new set of significantly improved hypocenters, global centroid moment tensor (CMT) solutions, and high‐resolution bathymetry. By applying cross‐correlation and double‐difference (DD) algorithms to regional and teleseismic waveforms and arrival times from International Seismological Centre and National Earthquake Information Center bulletins (1964–2009), we resolve the fine‐scale structure and spatiotemporal behavior of active faults in the Andaman Sea. The new data reveal that back‐arc extension is primarily accommodated at the Andaman Back‐Arc Spreading Center (ABSC) at ~10°, which hosted three major earthquake swarms in 1984, 2006, and 2009. Short‐term spreading rates estimated from extensional moment tensors account for less than 10% of the long‐term 3.0–3.8 cm/yr spreading rate, indicating that spreading by intrusion and the formation of new crust make up for the difference. A spatiotemporal analysis of the swarms and Coulomb‐stress modeling show that dike intrusions are the primary driver for brittle failure in the ABSC. While spreading direction is close to ridge normal, it is oblique to the adjacent transforms. The resulting component of E‐W extension across the transforms is expressed by deep basins on either side of the rift and a change to extensional faulting along the West Andaman fault system after the Mw = 9.2 Sumatra‐Andaman earthquake of 2004. A possible skew in slip vectors of earthquakes in the eastern part of the ABSC indicates an en‐echelon arrangement of extensional structures, suggesting that the present segment geometry is not in equilibrium with current plate‐motion demands, and thus the ridge experiences ongoing re‐adjustment. Key Points: Deficit in seismic strain‐rate indicates intrusions at back‐arc spreading ridge Dike intrusions seen as the primary driver for earthquake swarms along the ridge Skew in slip vectors suggests ongoing re‐adjustment of the spreading ridge