Skip to main content
Figure 10 | Earth, Planets and Space

Figure 10

From: Outer-rise normal fault development and influence on near-trench décollement propagation along the Japan Trench, off Tohoku

Figure 10

A schematic model for near-trench décollement propagation. Model uses seismic line HD34B (Figure 7) with the western basement-cutting normal faults simplified to just one. (A) Early stages of the décollement step-down into a trench graben. This model is based on two fault tips and their associated tensional stress fields, both of which are found in the trench graben (décollement in red, normal faults in blue, sedimentary faults in green). Blue region is the area of vertical tension based on a 100-m buried normal fault (modified from Martel and Langley, 2006). Red dashed line is the future path of the décollement into the trench graben. (B) The future décollement step-up out of the graben. The red solid line is the current location of the décollement (Figure 7) with the red dashed section being a potential future pathway. The future ramp-up may develop from a frontal thrust. The seafloor will likely steepen (black dashed line) as the wedge advances seaward.

Back to article page