Updip Fluid Flow in the Crust of the Northeastern Noto Peninsula, Japan, Triggered the 2023 Mw 6.2 Suzu Earthquake During Swarm Activity

Abstract

Abstract An Mw 6.2 earthquake occurred in Suzu, northeastern Noto Peninsula, Japan, on 5 May 2023, followed by many aftershocks. Before this mainshock‐aftershock sequence, an intense earthquake swarm lasted in the vicinity for 2.5 years. Here, we estimated the rupture process of the Mw 6.2 mainshock and relocated >20,000 surrounding small earthquakes. The results show that systematic upward migration occurred via a complex network of faults in the preceding swarm period and that the mainshock rupture was initiated near the shallow end of the swarm earthquakes. The mainshock rupture propagated farther updip, followed by many aftershocks in the shallow extension. Upward fluid movement likely caused systematic upward earthquake migration from a depth of 18–5 km. The present results indicate the importance of monitoring swarm events since large (M > 6) and dangerous earthquakes can occur during such swarms.

Keywords

• large earthquake
• fluid
• swarm
• subduction zone
• aseismic slip
• earthquake migration