arXiv subjects

Hideo Aochi

Publications and source records attributed to Hideo Aochi.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Tidal sensitivity of tremors in a mixed fast and slow earthquake system in northeastern Japan

Tidal modulation of tectonic tremors provides a sensitive measure of fault response to small stress perturbations, yet how this response varies in a mixed fast and slow earthquake system remains unclear. Here we present the first systematic investigation of tremor tidal sensitivity in such a system, focusing on tectonic tremors along the northeastern Japan subduction zone. Using a tremor catalog from 2016 to 2024, we show that the southern end of the Kuril Trench, characterized by tremor migration and relatively weak seismicity, exhibits the strongest tidal sensitivity, whereas the northern Japan Trench shows the weakest response. Spatial analysis further reveals that areas with weaker tidal sensitivity tend to coincide with more earthquakes ($M_j \geq 4$) and denser tremor activity. In addition, tidal sensitivity at the southern end of the Kuril Trench increases from the early to later stages in tremor migration, potentially reflecting changes associated with underlying slow slip processes. Together, these spatial and temporal patterns suggest that tremor tidal sensitivity may be influenced by the relative contribution of other ongoing perturbations. These results highlight tidal sensitivity as a useful probe of the underlying perturbation environment and provide insight into the possible influence of slow slip processes, earthquakes, and other stress changes on tremor-generating regions.

physics.geo-ph↗

arXiv2026

Theoretical constraints on tidal triggering of slow earthquakes

Tidal stress is a globally acting perturbation driven primarily by the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun. Understanding how tidal stresses can trigger seismic events is essential for constraining tectonic environments that are sensitive to small stress perturbations. Here, employing a spring-block model with rate-and-state friction, we investigate tidal triggering on velocity-weakening stable sliding faults with stiffness slightly exceeding the critical stiffness. We first apply a step and a boxcar with finite duration normal stress perturbation to demonstrate a resonance-like amplification of slip velocity for specific boxcar durations. Next, we perform nondimensional analyses and numerical simulations with harmonic perturbations to identify the key parameters controlling tidal triggering and their admissible ranges. Triggered slip events are further characterized using physically observable quantities, including radiation efficiency and tidal phase. Our results show that even small stress perturbations can trigger periodic as well as temporally complex slip events on stable sliding faults. The triggering behavior is primarily controlled by the normalized perturbation period and the normalized perturbation amplitude. An increase in the normalized period shifts event timing from the peak of tidal stress toward the peak of stress rate, whereas increasing the normalized amplitude promotes a transition from slow to fast events. This framework helps explain the period-dependent sensitivity and the observed phase preference between tidal stress and maximum slip velocity. Comparison between observed and model-predicted tidal correlation patterns may therefore help constrain the instantaneous frictional strength of the interface, as well as the characteristic slip distance for frictional weakening.

physics.geo-ph↗

arXiv2026

Supershear Rupture Indicator in Near-fault Particle Motion

Earthquake rupture propagation speed is an essential source parameter that fundamentally controls hazard and risk. In this paper, we develop and demonstrate the capability of near-fault seismic records in delineating rupture speeds of strike-slip earthquakes through inspecting displacement particle motion. We apply the new method on near-fault strong-motion data in global M7+ strike-slip earthquakes and identify diverse particle motion signatures associated with sustaining subshear rupture, sustaining supershear rupture, supershear transition, oblique slip, initial rupture expanding process, and multiple rupture fronts. This study highlights the superior application of near-fault observations in rapid rupture speed determination.

physics.geo-ph↗

arXiv2010

Numerical Simulation on Faulting: Microscopic evolution, macroscopic interaction and rupture process of earthquakes

We review the recent researches of numerical simulations on faulting, which are interpreted in this paper as the evolution of the state of the fault plane and the evolution of fault structure. The theme includes the fault constitutive (friction) law, the properties of the gauge particles, the initial phase of the rupture, the dynamic rupture process, the interaction of the fault segments, the fault zone dynamics, and so on. Many numerical methods have been developed: boundary integral equation methods (BIEM), finite difference methods (FDM), finite or spectral element methods (FEM, SEM) as well as distinct element methods (DEM), discrete element methods (again DEM) or lattice solid models (LSM). The fault dynamics should be solved as a complex non-linear system, which shows multiple hierarchical structures on its property and behavior. The researches have progressively advanced since the 1990's both numerically and physically thanks to high performance computing environments. The interaction at small scales is modeled to provide a large scale property of the fault. The dynamic rupture has been actively studied especially for the effect on the fault geometry evolution or due to the existed fault structure. The (quasi-)static and the initial processes of the fault movement have been also explored in a seismic cycle. The effect of fluid or heat has been also taken into account in the mechanics. All these efforts help us to understand the phenomena and the unified understanding (simulation) over different spacio-temporal scales is more and more expected.

physics.geo-ph↗