Slow Earthquakes, Preseismic Velocity Changes, and the Origin of Slow Frictional Stick-Slip

Abstract

Slow Stick-Slip While the character of slow earthquakes has been approximated for some time, precise slip histories and the underlying mechanisms have remained elusive. Kaproth and Marone (p. 1229 ; published online 15 August) have made laboratory observations of repetitive, slow stick-slip in fault-zone materials and developed a mechanical explanation for how earthquake-like dynamic slip nucleation could start and then arrest so as to produce slow slip. As preseismic slip is a precursor to rupture, temporal variations in elastic wave speeds should be monitored in regions of high seismic hazard.