Subduction Zone Obliquity Dictates Global Trench-Parallel Inner Forearc Deformation

Abstract

Although subduction zones are characterized by convergence, the upper plates of subduction zones exhibit a diverse range of deformation styles that are often inconsistent with regional convergence. While several theories have been proposed to explain these variations, the underlying factors driving these differences are still not fully understood. In this study, we analyze $\sim$24,000 km of active global subduction zones around the globe to determine how subduction zone obliquity affects deformation in the trench-parallel and horizontal directions on land above subduction zones. We take advantage of recently published worldwide data sets of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) velocities and global active fault catalogs in order to examine deformation at 13 of the world's forearcs. We analyze deformation over both short (decadal) timescales, captured by GNSS, and long (millennial to million-year) timescales, observed through trench-parallel active forearc faults. The results reveal a strong link between subduction obliquity and both the sense and amount of forearc rotation detected by GNSS, as well as the sense and rate of deformation along trench-parallel strike-slip faults. Unlike previous studies indicating that subduction obliquity affects forearc deformation only beyond a certain threshold, we demonstrate that even low to moderate obliquity significantly influences the observed deformation.