A reciprocity‐based efficient method for improved source parameter estimation of submarine earthquakes with hybrid 3‐D teleseismic Green’s functions

Abstract

Accurate source parameters of global submarine earthquakes are essential for understanding earthquake mechanics and tectonic dynamics. Previous studies have demonstrated that teleseismic P coda waveform complexities due to near-source 3-D structures are highly sensitive to source parameters of marine earthquakes. Leveraging these sensitivities, we can improve the accuracy of source parameter inversion compared to traditional 1-D methods. However, modeling these intricate 3-D effects poses significant computational challenges. To address this issue, we propose a novel reciprocity-based hybrid method for computing 3-D teleseismic Green's functions. Based on this method, we develop a grid-search inversion workflow for determining reliable source parameters of moderate-sized submarine earthquakes. The method is tested and proven on five Mw5+ earthquakes at the Blanco oceanic transform fault (OTF) with ground truth locations resolved by a local ocean bottom seismometer array, using ambient noise correlation and surface-wave relocation techniques. Our results show that fitting P coda waveforms through 3-D Green's functions can effectively improve the source location accuracy, especially for the centroid depth. Our improved centroid depths indicate that all the five Mw5+ earthquakes on the Blanco transform fault ruptured mainly above the depth of 600°C isotherm predicted by the half-space cooling model. This finding aligns with the hypothesis that the rupture zone of large earthquakes at OTFs is confined by the 600°C isotherm. However, it is noted that the Blanco transform fault serves as a case study. Our 3-D source inversion method offers a promising tool for systematically investigating global oceanic earthquakes using teleseismic waves.