The detection of transient subduction zone interface properties using teleseismic data

The detection of transient subduction zone interface properties using teleseismic data | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article The detection of transient subduction zone interface properties using teleseismic data Francesco Rappisi, Tim Craig, Sebastian Rost This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7260983/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 13 Apr, 2026 Read the published version in Geophysical Research Letters → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The properties of the subduction interface are a key influence on seismic processes in subduction zones, governing the transition between stable aseismic slip, episodic slow slip events (SSEs), and catastrophic slip in major earthquakes. One way to study these properties, and their spatial variation, is through the seismic velocity structure of the interface itself, with ultraslow velocity layers (USVLs) along the interface being inferred to result from elevated pore fluid pressures, reducing the shear modulus, reducing fault friction, and facilitating slow slip. Temporal variations in the fluid content, and hence also in the seismic velocity, of such layers offer a route of explain the episodic, transient nature of slow slip in many subduction zones. However, monitoring offshore subduction zones is challenging, due to the inaccessibility of marine environments, where conventional geodetic and passive seismological techniques are logistically difficult. Using the Mexican subduction zone as a test case, we demonstrate that seismic signatures indicative of USVLs, observed using data from small-aperture arrays at teleseismic distances, align in space and time with SSE's documented from geodetic studies, with such signals absent outside of regions experiencing SSEs. Our findings reinforce the idea that the slab geometry modulates the distribution of fluids along the subduction interface along the Mexican subduction zone, with a corresponding geometrical control on the occurrence of slow slip. Our study establishes a replicable, cost-effective framework for observing USVLs and inferred episodic slow slip activity using remote seismic data, enabling the investigation of offshore subduction zones where geodetic methods are impractical. By extending the reach of seismic waveform analysis to underexplored marine environments, our approach offers a paradigm shift in the study of megathrust dynamics, with implications for global seismic and tsunami hazard assessment. Earth and environmental sciences/Solid Earth sciences/Seismology Earth and environmental sciences/Solid Earth sciences/Tectonics seismology subduction zones slow slip events Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files RappisietalSI.pdf Supplementary Information Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 13 Apr, 2026 Read the published version in Geophysical Research Letters → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7260983","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":495522076,"identity":"63ad3133-345a-4cc0-8a51-4ce9c95b55f0","order_by":0,"name":"Francesco Rappisi","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABBUlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBAC9gYUrgEDDz+ITijArYXnALoWSZAhCQZEawHpOgDRi1uL9OFnD35U1MnzAxmPCwrqZIzPr0788MCAQZ5fDMM4iBa+NHPDnjOHDWf2pZkbzzA4zGN24+1mCaDDDGfOTsCqxZ6HwUyase1AgsEZIIPH4ABQy9kNIC0JBrexa+HhYf8mzfivDqgFyOAxqOMxnnF28w/8WniAtjQwA7XwgGxh5jHg791GwBaeMsmeY0C/9PCUg/0icYN3m0WCgQROvwAdtk3iRw0wxICMxwV/6uz5+89uvvmjwgYYhti1IAM2ZjAlAVYpQVA5khb+A0SpHgWjYBSMgpEDAObSVAuyqLM1AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3016-671X","institution":"European Center for Geodynamics and Seismology","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Francesco","middleName":"","lastName":"Rappisi","suffix":""},{"id":495522077,"identity":"25a354e2-eb83-4593-96c8-81de01c96130","order_by":1,"name":"Tim Craig","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2198-9172","institution":"University of Leeds","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Tim","middleName":"","lastName":"Craig","suffix":""},{"id":495522078,"identity":"fd1bf0d6-55f5-4c71-8c41-3c55ed4cb932","order_by":2,"name":"Sebastian Rost","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0218-247X","institution":"University of Leeds","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sebastian","middleName":"","lastName":"Rost","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-07-31 10:10:51","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7260983/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7260983/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1029/2026GL121813","type":"published","date":"2026-04-14T00:00:00+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":106993413,"identity":"ffb4b355-f9c2-4f6f-93f9-c1ded32c0c58","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-15 14:31:47","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1429300,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"Article File","description":"","filename":"Rappisietal.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7260983/v1_covered_a0a4fe63-85f5-43d9-91fb-9d53860933f7.pdf"},{"id":89432330,"identity":"53442ad7-c9d1-4b88-bc0f-ba0b3918dfdd","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-20 00:43:10","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":952343,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"Supplementary Information","description":"","filename":"RappisietalSI.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7260983/v1/f5bba8f6e1c1d29c438bbb4b.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"There is \u003cb\u003eNO\u003c/b\u003e Competing Interest.","formattedTitle":"The detection of transient subduction zone interface properties using teleseismic data","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"seismology, subduction zones, slow slip events","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7260983/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7260983/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"The properties of the subduction interface are a key influence on seismic processes in subduction zones, governing the transition between stable aseismic slip, episodic slow slip events (SSEs), and catastrophic slip in major earthquakes. One way to study these properties, and their spatial variation, is through the seismic velocity structure of the interface itself, with ultraslow velocity layers (USVLs) along the interface being inferred to result from elevated pore fluid pressures, reducing the shear modulus, reducing fault friction, and facilitating slow slip. Temporal variations in the fluid content, and hence also in the seismic velocity, of such layers offer a route of explain the episodic, transient nature of slow slip in many subduction zones. However, monitoring offshore subduction zones is challenging, due to the inaccessibility of marine environments, where conventional geodetic and passive seismological techniques are logistically difficult. Using the Mexican subduction zone as a test case, we demonstrate that seismic signatures indicative of USVLs, observed using data from small-aperture arrays at teleseismic distances, align in space and time with SSE's documented from geodetic studies, with such signals absent outside of regions experiencing SSEs. Our findings reinforce the idea that the slab geometry modulates the distribution of fluids along the subduction interface along the Mexican subduction zone, with a corresponding geometrical control on the occurrence of slow slip. Our study establishes a replicable, cost-effective framework for observing USVLs and inferred episodic slow slip activity using remote seismic data, enabling the investigation of offshore subduction zones where geodetic methods are impractical. By extending the reach of seismic waveform analysis to underexplored marine environments, our approach offers a paradigm shift in the study of megathrust dynamics, with implications for global seismic and tsunami hazard assessment.","manuscriptTitle":"The detection of transient subduction zone interface properties using teleseismic data","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-08-20 00:43:05","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7260983/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"1837a70b-35c8-45bd-9e5b-b0a28a46d071","owner":[],"postedDate":"August 20th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[{"id":52625232,"name":"Earth and environmental sciences/Solid Earth sciences/Seismology"},{"id":52625233,"name":"Earth and environmental sciences/Solid Earth sciences/Tectonics"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-15T14:31:35+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-7260983","link":"https://doi.org/10.1029/2026GL121813","journal":{"identity":"geophysical-research-letters","isVorOnly":true,"title":"Geophysical Research Letters"},"publishedOn":"2026-04-14 00:00:00","publishedOnDateReadable":"April 14th, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-08-20 00:43:05","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1029/2026GL121813","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1029/2026GL121813","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7260983","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7260983","identity":"rs-7260983","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}