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Abstract: The westernmost Nankai Trough, southwest Japan, exhibits a rapid along-strike reduction in plate coupling in the proximity to the subducting Kyushu-Palau ridge. Yet how and to what extent the ridge subduction impacts physical properties at the megathrust have not been investigated. Here we present high-resolution seismic P-wave velocity models along the forearc wedge in the western Nankai Trough derived from full-waveform inversion analyses of seismic refraction data. The velocity models show that where the plate coupling is weak and the plate boundary presumably hosts slow earthquakes, the upper plate exhibits lower seismic velocities indicating higher degree of fracturing over a ~ 100 km length along trough. Intriguingly, the extent of the upper-plate low-velocity features is significantly larger than the surficial width of the Kyushu-Palau ridge, and this low-velocity zone is underthrust by the slab with increased crustal thickness by 2–4 km. Seismic reflection images consistently reveal that the thicker slab crust has appreciable basement roughness extending ~ 60 km from the eastern margin of the Kyushu-Palau ridge beneath the western Shikoku basin. We suggest that such a thicker and rugged slab crust, together with the main body of the Kyushu-Palau ridge, can cause significant fracture zones in the overriding plate, decrease the interplate coupling and produce preferable conditions for shallow slow earthquakes to occur when subducted. The results may also provide structural constraints on the western limit of future megathrust earthquakes in the Nankai Trough. Graphical Abstract

We examined the possible factors affecting the spatial distribution of very low frequency earthquakes and tremors in the shallow megathrust of Nankai Trough (<30 km) using a dense network of prestack depth migrated profiles at the frontal wedge. Geometrical parameters examined were decollement roughness, taper angle, and underthrust thickness. Physical properties such as effective basal friction (μb) and pore pressure ratio (λ*) were calculated from the taper angle and p‐wave velocity. Regions of low λ* (0.39 ± 0.08) and smooth decollement showed no slow earthquake activity. In contrast, high activity of slow earthquakes was observed in areas with a rough decollement due to the presence of subducted seamounts or bathymetric highs. The low taper angle (3.8°) off Muroto where slow earthquakes also occur translates to a wide zone of low μb (0.21 ± 0.06) and high λ* (0.66 ± 0.06). However, our results also show that slow earthquakes don't always occur in areas with high λ*. Plain Language Summary: Slow earthquakes such as very low frequency earthquakes and tremors are different than typical earthquakes because they occur longer and can last for more than several days. They have been reported in numerous subduction zones around the world and the study of slow earthquakes has recently gained attention because they have been suggested as precursors to larger earthquakes albeit on rare occasions. Slow earthquakes show a clustered distribution in the Nankai Trough. We used a dense network of seismic reflection data acquired at the shallow portion of the Nankai Trough to examine why some areas have high activity and some areas have no activity. Our results showed that areas with no slow earthquake activity have a smooth decollement and low pore fluid pressure. On the other hand, areas with high slow earthquake activity have a rough decollement. The occurrence of slow earthquakes has been typically associated with high pore fluid pressure because it allows the two slabs of rock to slide easier. However, our results suggest that high pore fluid pressure may not always be a prerequisite for slow earthquakes to occur. Key Points: A smooth decollement due to absence of subducted seamounts or bathymetric highs, and low pore fluid pressure results in a slow earthquake gapSlow earthquakes don't always occur in areas of high pore pressure but in combination with other variables like decollement roughnessThe low taper angle off Muroto indicates a wide zone of low friction and high pore pressure possibly associated with subducted seamounts [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has shown that shallow tremors tend to occur in spatial association with heterogeneous conditions, which are formed by seamounts or ridges on the subducted oceanic crust. In the southern Kuril Trench, shallow tremors have been observed on the western side, although no apparent heterogeneity in the subducted oceanic crust has been identified. To investigate structures spatially associated with these shallow tremors, we processed reflection seismic data acquired along seven profiles. We examined structures ranging from the seafloor to the top of the oceanic crust, within a depth of up to 20 km. Our results reveal that undulations observed at the top of the subducted oceanic crust are related to the distribution and number of shallow tremors. The undulations would play a crucial role in the distribution of shallow tremors. Plain Language Summary: Shallow tremors, often occurring near subducted seamounts and ridges underground, are small earthquakes that take place at shallower depths of a plate boundary compared to megathrust earthquakes. While the mechanisms behind these two types of earthquakes are not yet fully comprehended, there is an observed correlation, particularly in terms of their locations. At the southern Kuril Trench, shallow tremors have only been detected on the western side, where there aren't any subducted seamounts or ridges. Seismic surveys carried out in the southern Kuril Trench have provided detailed images of the subsurface structures. These images indicate that shallow tremors are more likely to happen in areas where the subducted oceanic crust has pronounced undulations. It's worth noting that only these undulations on the oceanic crust—and not other significant structures—have been linked to the occurrence of shallow tremors. Key Points: Seismic reflection surveys in the Kuril Trench image undulations in the subducted oceanic crust, as well as strong overlying reflectorsAmplitudes and wavelengths of undulations correlate with shallow tremor occurrencesUndulations and the distribution of strong reflections on the plate boundaries shown in previous studies also generally correspond [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore crustal structures using seismic records of earthquakes, we proposed a new seismic reflection imaging method based on reverse time migration (RTM) without source information. In the proposed RTM method using multiple reflections between surface and subsurface boundaries, we correlate forward- and backward-extrapolated wavefields of the same observation records from all receivers at once. We implemented acoustic RTM based on a scalar wave equation and elastic RTM based on a velocity-stress formulation for wavefield modelling. Furthermore, we adopted scalar and vector potential formulations in elastic RTM to obtain separate P- and S-wave reflection images. In our study, numerical simulations with a regional crustal structure model were conducted to compare combinations among the synthetic data by acoustic or elastic wave modelling, observation conditions, and RTM formulations. We demonstrated the validity of the proposed method with idealised dense observations and confirmed a limitation due to quasi-realistic sparse observations. Artefacts due to the mixture of P- and S-waves in the acoustic RTM images from elastic synthetic data were attenuated by elastic RTM, which addresses the proper illumination of P- and S-wave reflections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]