Pervasive deformation of an oceanic plate and relationship to large >Mw 8 intraplate earthquakes: The northern Wharton Basin, Indian Ocean

Large-magnitude intraplate earthquakes within the ocean basins are not well understood. The Mw 8.6 and Mw 8.2 strike-slip intraplate earthquakes on 11 April 2012, while clearly occurring in the equatorial Indian Ocean diffuse plate boundary zone, are a case in point, with disagreement on the nature of the focal mechanisms and the faults that ruptured. We use bathymetric and seismic reflection data from the rupture area of the earthquakes in the northern Wharton Basin to demonstrate pervasive brittle deformation between the Ninetyeast Ridge and the Sunda subduction zone. In addition to evidence of recent strike-slip deformation along approximately north-south–trending fossil fracture zones, we identify a new type of deformation structure in the Indian Ocean: conjugate Riedel shears limited to the sediment section and oriented oblique to the north-south fracture zones. The Riedel shears developed in the Miocene, at a similar time to the onset of diffuse deformation in the central Indian Ocean. However, left-lateral strike-slip reactivation of existing fracture zones started earlier, in the Paleocene to early Eocene, and compartmentalizes the Wharton Basin. Modeled rupture during the 11 April 2012 intraplate earthquakes is consistent with the location of two reactivated, closely spaced, approximately north-south–trending fracture zones. However, we find no evidence for WNW-ESE–trending faults in the shallow crust, which is at variance with most of the earthquake fault models

Controls on spatial and temporal evolution of prism faulting and relationships to plate boundary slip offshore north-central Sumatra

Across- and along-strike variations in the morphology and structure of the north-central Sumatran forearc (~1.5°S to 1°N) are broadly coincident with subducting plate topography and an earthquake segment boundary zone below the Batu Islands. We present a detailed interpretation of multichannel streamer seismic reflection data collected offshore north-central Sumatra, to better characterize the morphological and structural variations, provide insight into fault development, and relate structure to plate boundary rupture and seismicity patterns. We interpret two relatively continuous, major fault structures that divide the prism into three strike-parallel belts that can be characterized by the relative fault slip rates along major and minor fault structures. The midslope break fault(s) and upper slope-bounding fault(s) are major, potentially out-of-sequence thrusts accommodating a significant component of the compressional strain. We propose that the upper slope-bounding fault represents the more mature end-member of an evolving fault system. Landward vergent structures are associated with a relatively thin sedimentary section near the deformation front in the center of our study area and suggest a potentially weak shallow plate boundary associated with the subducting Wharton Fossil Ridge

Listric normal faulting on the Cascadia continental margin

Analysis of multichannel seismic reflection profiles reveals that listric normal faulting is widespread on the northern Oregon and Washington continental shelf and upper slope, suggesting E-W extension in this region. Fault activity began in the late Miocene and, in some cases, has continued into the Holocene. Most listric faults sole out into a subhorizontal décollement coincident with the upper contact of an Eocene to middle Miocene mélange and broken formation (MBF), known as the Hoh rock assemblage onshore, whereas other faults penetrate and offset the top of the MBF. The areal distribution of extensional faulting on the shelf and upper slope is similar to the subsurface distribution of the MBF. Evidence onshore and on the continental shelf suggests that the MBF is overpressured and mobile. For listric faults which become subhorizontal at depth, these elevated pore pressures may be sufficient to reduce effective stress and to allow downslope movement of the overlying stratigraphic section along a low-angle (0.1°-2.5°) detachment coincident with the upper MBF contact. Mobilization, extension, and unconstrained westward movement of the MBF may also contribute to brittle extension of the overlying sediments. No Pliocene or Quaternary extensional faults have been identified off the central Oregon or northernmost Washington coast, where the shelf is underlain by the rigid basaltic basement of the Siletzia terrane. Quaternary extension of the shelf and upper slope is contemporaneous with active accretion and thrust faulting on the lower slope, suggesting that the shelf and upper slope are decoupled from subduction-related compression

The Messinian Salinity Crisis as a trigger for high pore pressure development in the Western Mediterranean

Evaporites are typically described as impermeable seals that create some of the world’s highest reservoir pressures beneath the salt seal. However, several laboratory studies demonstrate that evaporites can retain open pore spaces that hydraulically connect the sediments above and below them in sedimentary basins. During the Messinian Salinity Crisis (5.97 to 5.33 Ma), up to 2400 m thickness of evaporites were rapidly deposited in the Western Mediterranean, which may have generated high pore fluid overpressure in the basin sediments. Here we use one‐dimensional numerical modelling to quantify the temporal evolution of overpressure at two distinct locations of the Western Mediterranean, the Liguro‐Provençal and Algero‐Balearic basins, from the Miocene to Present. We reconstruct the sedimentation history of the basin, considering disequilibrium compaction as an overpressure mechanism and constraining model parameters (such as permeability and porosity) using laboratory experiments and the literature. In the Liguro‐Provençal basin the highest overpressure of 11.2 MPa occurs within the halite during deposition of Pliocene to Quaternary sediment, while in the Algero‐Balearic basin at the base of the Emile Baudot Escarpment, the highest overpressure of 3.1 MPa also occurs within the halite but during stage 3 of the Messinian Salinity Crisis (5.55 to 5.33 Ma). In the Algero‐Balearic basin an overpressure of 3.1 MPa could have been sufficient to hydro fracture the sediments, which agrees with the development of fluid escape features observed on seismic reflection profiles. In general, our models with evaporite deposition rates above 20 m kyr‐1 and permeabilities below 10‐18 m2, suggest that high overpressure, approaching lithostatic, can be generated in salt basins

A qualitative evaluation of a novel intervention using insight into tobacco industry tactics to prevent the uptake of smoking in school-aged children

Background: Evidence from the US Truth campaign suggests that interventions focusing on tobacco industry tactics can be effective in preventing smoking uptake by children. Operation Smoke Storm is the first school-based intervention based on this premise and comprises three classroom sessions in which students act as secret agents uncovering tobacco industry tactics through videos, quizzes, discussions, and presentations. We report a qualitative evaluation of its acceptability. Methods: We conducted eight focus groups with 79 students aged 11-12 who participated in Operation Smoke Storm at two UK schools in Autumn 2013, and 20 interviews with teachers who delivered the intervention. These were digitally audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using the framework method. Results: Students enjoyed the secret agent scenario and reported acquiring new knowledge about smoking and the tobacco industry, which seemed to strengthen their aversion to smoking. Teachers felt confident delivering the ‘off the shelf’ resource, although they would have welcomed more background information about the topic and guidance on steering discussions. Teachers highlighted a need for the resource to be flexible and not dependent on lesson length, teacher confidence, or expertise. Students and teachers endorsed the idea of developing a booster component for older students and supported the development of printed information complementing the resource to encourage parents to support their child not to smoke. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that Operation Smoke Storm can be delivered by teachers to raise awareness about smoking-related issues. The ideas and issues raised are now being used to improve and extend the resource for further evaluation

Rapid spatiotemporal variations in rift structure during development of the Corinth Rift, central Greece

The Corinth Rift, central Greece, enables analysis of early rift development as it is young (<5Ma) and highly active and its full history is recorded at high resolution by sedimentary systems. A complete compilation of marine geophysical data, complemented by onshore data, is used to develop a high-resolution chronostratigraphy and detailed fault history for the offshore Corinth Rift, integrating interpretations and reconciling previous discrepancies. Rift migration and localization of deformation have been significant within the rift since inception. Over the last circa 2Myr the rift transitioned from a spatially complex rift to a uniform asymmetric rift, but this transition did not occur synchronously along strike. Isochore maps at circa 100kyr intervals illustrate a change in fault polarity within the short interval circa 620-340ka, characterized by progressive transfer of activity from major south dipping faults to north dipping faults and southward migration of discrete depocenters at ~30m/kyr. Since circa 340ka there has been localization and linkage of the dominant north dipping border fault system along the southern rift margin, demonstrated by lateral growth of discrete depocenters at ~40m/kyr. A single central depocenter formed by circa 130ka, indicating full fault linkage. These results indicate that rift localization is progressive (not instantaneous) and can be synchronous once a rift border fault system is established. This study illustrates that development processes within young rifts occur at 100kyr timescales, including rapid changes in rift symmetry and growth and linkage of major rift faults

Release of mineral-bound water prior to subduction tied to shallow seismogenic slip off Sumatra

Plate-boundary fault rupture during the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman subduction earthquake extended closer to the trench than expected, increasing earthquake and tsunami size. International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 362 sampled incoming sediments offshore northern Sumatra, revealing recent release of fresh water within the deep sediments. Thermal modeling links this freshening to amorphous silica dehydration driven by rapid burial-induced temperature increases in the past 9 million years. Complete dehydration of silicates is expected before plate subduction, contrasting with prevailing models for subduction seismogenesis calling for fluid production during subduction. Shallow slip offshore Sumatra appears driven by diagenetic strengthening of deeply buried fault-forming sediments, contrasting with weakening proposed for the shallow Tohoku-Oki 2011 rupture, but our results are applicable to other thickly sedimented subduction zones including those with limited earthquake records