image: Visualization of thermal state and slab depth in the Makran Subduction Zone Fig 1 tectonic map of the Makran Subduction Zone. Background colors indicate the surface topography (ETOPO; Smith and Sandwell, 1997). The white curved lines indicate the isodepth contours of the upper surfaces of the Arabian and Indian Plates at intervals of 20 km (interpolation from Slab2; Hayes et al., 2018). The dashed light blue lines represent the model region for the subducting Arabian Plate. The colored circles show the distributions of the epicenters of M >3 earthquakes recorded by the IRIS seismic monitor (Trabant et al., 2012) from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2009. The magnitudes are represented in proportion to the radius of the solid circles, and their colors indicate hypocenter depths (white indicates >60 km). The yellow arrows illustrate the motion of the Arabian Plate with respect to the Eurasian Plate. The red triangles indicate active volcanoes (Siebert et al., 2011). Eq: Earthquake; Topo: Topography.
Credit: Beijing Zhongke Journal Publising Co. Ltd.
The Makran Subduction Zone, located in the northeastern Arabian Sea, is an active tectonic region where the Arabian Plate is subducting beneath the Eurasian Plate. This research employs advanced 3-D thermal modeling to analyze the thermal state of the subducting slab and its interaction with overlying materials. By examining slab metamorphism and fluid release patterns, we aim to uncover the links between thermal variations, metamorphic reactions, and seismicity. The results offer new perspectives on the behavior of subduction zones, particularly in regions where significant seismic events occur due to slab dehydration and other related processes. This work contributes to the broader understanding of subduction dynamics and provides valuable data for seismic hazard assessment in the Makran region.
Article Title
Subduction thermal state, slab metamorphism, and seismicity in the Makran Subduction Zone
Article Publication Date
4-Mar-2025