TITLE:
Seismicity in the Antarctic Continent and Surrounding Ocean
AUTHORS:
Masaki Kanao
KEYWORDS:
Seismicity; Antarctic Plate; Antarctic Continent; Southern Ocean; Tectonic Stress
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Earthquake Research,
Vol.3 No.1,
February
18,
2014
ABSTRACT: Seismicity in the Antarctic and surrounding ocean is evaluated based on the compiling data by the International Seismological Centre (ISC). The Antarctic continent and surrounding ocean have been believed to be one of the aseismic regions of the Earth for many decades. However, according to the development of Global Seismic Networks and local seismic arrays, the number of tectonic earthquakes detected in and around the Antarctic continent has been increased. A total of 13 seismicity areas are classified into the Antarctic continent (3 areas) and oceanic regions within the Antarctic Plate (10 areas). In general, seismic activity in the continental areas is very low in Antarctica. However, a few small earthquakes are identified. Wilkes Land in East Antarctica is the most tectonically active area in the continent, with several small earthquake events having been detected during the last four decades. In the oceanic region, in contrast, seismic activity in the area of 120?-60? W sector is three times higher than that in the other oceanic areas. This may be considered to be involved in a tectonic stress concentration toward the Easter Island Triple Junction between the Antarctic Plate, the Pacific Plate and the Nazu- ca micro-Plate. Three volcanic areas, moreover, the Deception Island, the Mts. Erebus and Melbourn, are also found to be high seismic activities in contrast with surrounding vicinity areas.