Controlling factor of incoming plate hydration at the north-western Pacific margin

Hydration of the subducting oceanic plate determines the amount of water transported from Earth’s surface into its interior, and plate bending-related faulting (bend faulting) just prior to subduction is considered to promote hydration. Bend faulting shows significant spatial variation, but its contribution to hydration is still poorly understood. Here we present the results of controlled-source seismic surveys around the junction of the Japan and Kuril trenches. We found structural changes caused by bend faulting before subduction differed distinctly between both trenches and were well correlated with plate hydration after subduction, suggesting the bend faulting controls spatial variations in plate hydration. Differences in bend faulting are closely related to the angle between the current trench and the ancient spreading ridge, and the hydration is more extensive where this trench-ridge angle is oblique in the study area. Thus, we propose this angle is a major factor controlling plate hydration.