Subducted seamounts and recent earthquakes beneath the central Cascadia forearc

Geology
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Abstract

Bathymetry and magnetic anomalies indicate that a seamount on the Juan de Fuca plate has been subducted beneath the central Cascadia accretionary complex and is now located ∼45 km landward of the deformation front. Passage of this seamount through the accretionary complex has resulted in a pattern of uplift followed by subsidence that has had a profound influence on slope morphology, gas hydrate stability, and sedimentation. Based on potential-field data and a new three-dimensional seismic velocity model, we infer that this is the most recent of several seamounts subducted over the past several million years beneath this segment of Cascadia. More deeply subducted seamounts may be responsible for recent earthquake activity on the plate boundary in this region and for along-strike variations in the thickness of the subduction channel, which may affect coupling across the plate boundary.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Subducted seamounts and recent earthquakes beneath the central Cascadia forearc
Series title Geology
DOI 10.1130/G32460.1
Volume 40
Issue 2
Year Published 2012
Language English
Publisher Geology
Contributing office(s) Geology and Geophysics Science Center
Description 4 p.
First page 103
Last page 106
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