Slow slip on the northern Hikurangi subduction interface, New Zealand

Abstract

In October 2002, a surface displacement episode of 20–30 mm magnitude was observed over a ∼10 day period on two continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) instruments near Gisborne, North Island, New Zealand. We interpret this to result from slow slip on the northern Hikurangi subduction interface. Using ten years of regional campaign GPS (1995–2004) and recent continuous GPS data, we estimate the recurrence interval for similar events to be 2–3 yrs. In November 2004, a similar slow slip event occurred within this recurrence period. The 2002 event can be modeled by ∼18 cm of slow slip near the down‐dip end of the seismogenic zone on the subduction interface offshore of Gisborne. The campaign GPS data show that the 2002 slow slip event had little effect on regional strain patterns.