A Multiplex Rupture Sequence Under Complex Fault Network Due To Preceding Earthquake Swarms During the 2024 Mw 7.5 Noto Peninsula, Japan, Earthquake

• Published in: Geophysical research letters Vol. 51; no. 11
• Main Authors: Okuwaki, Ryo, Yagi, Yuji, Murakami, Asuka, Fukahata, Yukitoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.06.2024; Wiley
• Subjects: Building damage; Complexity; Compression; Deformation; Earthquake damage; earthquake rupture process; earthquake source inversion; earthquake swarms; Earthquakes; fault geometry; Fault lines; Fluid injection; fluids; Geological hazards; Ground motion; Hazard assessment; Noto Peninsula; Offshore; Pattern analysis; Physics; Rupture; Seismic activity; Seismic hazard; Tensors; Wave data; Noto Peninsula; Japan
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/2024GL109224

A devastating earthquake with moment magnitude 7.5 occurred in the Noto Peninsula in central Japan on 1 January 2024. We estimate the rupture evolution of this earthquake from teleseismic P‐wave data using the potency‐density tensor inversion method, which provides information on the spatiotemporal slip distribution including fault orientations. The results show a long and quiet initial rupture phase that overlaps with regions of preceding earthquake swarms and associated aseismic deformation. The following three major rupture episodes evolve on segmented, differently oriented faults bounded by the initial rupture region. The irregular initial rupture process followed by the multi‐scale rupture growth is considered to be controlled by the preceding seismic and aseismic processes and the geometric complexity of the fault system. Such a discrete rupture scenario, including the triggering of an isolated fault rupture, adds critical inputs on the assessment of strong ground motion and associated damages for future earthquakes. Plain Language Summary On 1 January 2024, a moment magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurred in the northern Noto Peninsula, Japan. The strong ground motion and tsunami associated with the earthquake caused severe damage to buildings and infrastructure, resulting in at least 245 causalities in the affected areas. The Noto Peninsula is affected by northwest‐southeast compression, and active reverse faults are known along the northern coast of the peninsula and its offshore region. Before the 2024 earthquake, the source region experienced long‐lasting earthquake swarm activity, which is a set of seismic events without an obvious mainshock‐aftershock pattern. Our seismological analysis found that there was a 10‐s‐long initial rupture episode around the hypocenter that overlapped with the earthquake swarm region. The initial rupture was followed by a series of three different rupture episodes on differently oriented fault segments. This earthquake highlights a multi‐scale rupture growth across a segmented fault network after a very quiet initial rupture process that was controlled by the preceding earthquake swarms and associated aseismic deformation related to fluid injection from depth. The rupture process advances our understanding of earthquake source physics and can lead to a better assessment of future earthquake hazards. Key Points The 2024 Mw 7.5 Noto Peninsula earthquake involves a multi‐segmented rupture sequence on differently oriented faults The long and quiet initial rupture domain coincides with the preceding earthquake swarm region Fluid‐induced earthquake swarms and a segmented fault network control the complex earthquake rupture growth