Along-Strike Variations of Alaska Subduction Zone Structure and Hydration Determined From Amphibious Seismic Data

We develop a 3-D isotropic shear velocity model for the Alaska subduction zone using data from seafloor and land-based seismographs to investigate along-strike variations in structure. By applying ambient noise and teleseismic Helmholtz tomography, we derive Rayleigh wave group and phase velocity dispersion maps, then invert them for shear velocity structure using a Bayesian Monte Carlo algorithm. For land-based stations, we perform a joint inversion of receiver functions and dispersion curves. The forearc crust is relatively thick (35-42 km) and has reduced lower crustal velocities beneath the Kodiak and Semidi segments, which may promote higher seismic coupling. Bristol Bay Basin crust is relatively thin and has a high-velocity lower layer, suggesting a dense mafic lower crust emplaced by the rifting processes. The incoming plate shows low uppermost mantle velocities, indicating serpentinization. This hydration is more pronounced in the Shumagin segment, with greater velocity reduction extending to 18 +/- 3 km depth, compared to the Semidi segment, showing smaller reductions extending to 14 +/- 3 km depth. Our estimates of percent serpentinization from VS reduction and VP/VS are larger than those determined using VP reduction in prior studies, likely due to water in cracks affecting VS more than VP. Revised estimates of serpentinization show that more water subducts than previous studies, and that twice as much mantle water is subducted in the Shumagin segment compared to the Semidi segment. Together with estimates from other subduction zones, the results indicate a wide variation in subducted mantle water between different subduction segments. This study uses seismic data from the 2018-2019 Alaska Amphibious Community Seismic Experiment and other land stations to image the 3-D seismic velocity structure of the Alaska subduction zone. The analysis combines constraints from both Rayleigh waves and converted body waves. The results provide insight into the distinct lateral variations observed for many properties of the subduction zone. Thick, low-velocity forearc crust is found beneath the Kodiak and Semidi segments, which may be related to the higher seismic coupling in these regions. The Bristol Bay Basin has a thin crust with a high velocity lower layer, suggesting a dense mafic lower crust emplaced by the extensional processes that formed the basin. Low velocities in the incoming plate near the trench in the Shumagin segment indicate pronounced mantle hydration, extending to about 18 km below the Moho. Together with estimates from other subduction zones, the results indicate a wide variation in subducted mantle water between different subduction segments. Crustal thickness of the inner forearc (35-42 km) generally exceeds that of the volcanic arc, but becomes variable in the Shumagin segment The Shumagin segment has more incoming plate mantle hydration than the Semidi segment, aligning with abundant plate bending normal faults Hydration extends to depths of 18 km below the Moho, indicating more water subducts than most previous estimates