Electromagnetic imaging reveals insufficient fluids to explain shallow megathrust creep at the Shumagin Gap

The Shumagin Gap, a creeping segment of the Alaska subduction zone characterized by tsunamigenic structures, experienced a deep rupture during the July 2020 M7.8 earthquake. However, shallow slip behavior and the upper boundary of the rupture remain poorly understood. Here we utilize controlled-source electromagnetic data to image subsurface electrical resistivity, investigating the role of fluids in modulating megathrust locking state within the Shumagin Gap. Results reveal pronounced trench-normal heterogeneity in electrical resistivity both along the shallow plate interface and within the overriding plate, showing fluid presence but low overall porosity at the interface. An observed conductive channel extending into the overriding plate may facilitate upward fluid drainage. Our findings suggest that the volumes of fluids and inferred pore pressures are not sufficient to explain megathrust creep at the Shumagin Gap. Rather, the intricate interplay between heterogeneous structure and fluid distribution contributes to the region’s seismogenic behavior and tsunami hazards, particularly in the shallow portion of the megathrust.