N. Kato et T. Hirasawa, Effect of a large outer rise earthquake on seismic cycles of interplate earthquakes: A model study, J GEO R-SOL, 105(B1), 2000, pp. 653-662
A numerical simulation of the sliding process of a plate interface is perfo
rmed to investigate the effect of stress perturbation due to a large outer
rise earthquake on seismic cycles of large interplate earthquakes in a subd
uction zone. A two-dimensional model of uniform elastic half-space is set u
p for repeatedly occurring large interplate earthquakes by assuming that th
e frictional stress on the plate interface obeys a rate- and state-dependen
t friction law derived from laboratory experiments. An increase in shear st
ress on a shallow part of the plate interface due to a tensional outer rise
earthquake promotes aseismic sliding on the shallower aseismic zone of the
plate interface. This aseismic sliding advances the occurrence time of the
next interplate earthquake. On the other hand, a compressional outer rise
earthquake tends to delay the occurrence time of the next interplate earthq
uake. The magnitude of time advance or delay of the next interplate earthqu
ake depends on the time of the outer rise earthquake in a seismic cycle due
mainly to the complex behavior in propagation of aseismic sliding governed
By the rate- and state-dependent friction law.