Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

20th-century strain accumulation on the Lesser Antilles megathrust based on coral microatolls

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Anne-Sophie Meriaux

Downloads


Licence

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

© 2021The seismic potential of the Lesser Antilles megathrust remains poorly known, despite the potential hazard it poses to numerous island populations and its proximity to the Americas. As it has not produced any large earthquakes in the instrumental era, the megathrust is often assumed to be aseismic. However, historical records of great earthquakes in the 19th century and earlier, which were most likely megathrust ruptures, demonstrate that the subduction is not entirely aseismic. Recent occurrences of giant earthquakes in areas where such events were previously thought to be improbable have illustrated the importance of critically evaluating the seismic potential of other “low-hazard” subduction zones, such as the Lesser Antilles. Using the method of coral microatoll paleogeodesy developed in Sumatra, we examine 20th-century vertical deformation on the forearc islands of the Lesser Antilles and model the underlying strain accumulation on the megathrust. Our data indicate that the eastern coasts of the forearc islands have been subsiding by up to ∼8 mm/yr relative to sites closer to the arc, suggesting that on the time scale of the 20th century, a portion of the megathrust just east of the forearc islands has been locked. Our findings are in contrast to recent models based on satellite geodesy that suggest little or no strain accumulation anywhere along the Lesser Antilles megathrust. This discrepancy is potentially explained by the different time scales of measurement, as recent studies elsewhere have indicated that interseismic coupling patterns may vary on decadal time scales and that century-scale or longer records are required to fully assess seismic potential. The accumulated strain we have detected will likely be released in future megathrust earthquakes, uplifting previously subsiding areas and potentially causing widespread damage from strong ground motion and tsunami waves.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Philibosian B, Feuillet N, Weil-Accardo J, Jacques E, Guihou A, Meriaux A-S, Anglade A, Saurel J-M, Deroussi S

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Earth and Planetary Science Letters

Year: 2022

Volume: 579

Print publication date: 01/02/2022

Online publication date: 03/01/2022

Acceptance date: 10/12/2021

Date deposited: 08/06/2023

ISSN (print): 0012-821X

Publisher: Elsevier B.V.

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2021.117343

DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2021.117343


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Share