Finite element simulation of stress change for the MS7.4 Madoi earthquake and implications for regional seismic hazards

On May 22, 2021, the M_S 7.4 earthquake occurred in Madoi County, Qinghai Province; it was another strong event that occurred within the Bayan Har block after the Dari M_S 7.7 earthquake in 1947. An earthquake is bound to cast stress to the surrounding faults, thus affecting the regional seismic hazard. To understand these issues, a three-dimensional viscoelastic finite element model of the eastern Bayan Har block and its adjacent areas was constructed. Based on the co-seismic rupture model of the Madoi earthquake, we analyzed the co- and post-seismic Coulomb stress change caused by the Madoi earthquake on the surrounding major faults. The results show that the Madoi earthquake caused significant co-seismic stress increases in the Tuosuo Lake and Maqin-Maqu segments of the East Kunlun fault (>10 ?kPa), which exceeded the proposed threshold of stress triggering. By integrating the accumulation rate of the inter-seismic tectonic stress, we conclude that the Madoi earthquake caused future strong earthquakes in the Tuosuo Lake and Maqin-Maqu segments of the East Kunlun fault to advance by 55.6-623 and 24.7-123 ?a, respectively. Combined with the influence of the Madoi earthquake and the elapsed time of the last strong earthquake, these two segments have approached or even exceeded the recurrence interval of the fault prescribed by previous research. In the future, it is necessary to focus greater attention on the seismic hazard of the Maqin-Maqu and Tuosuo Lake segments. This study provides a mechanical reference to understand the seismic hazard of the East Kunlun fault in the future, particularly to determine the seismic potential region.     

FEATURES OF EARTHQUAKE CLUSTERING FROM CALCULATION OF COULOMB STRESS AROUND THE BAYAN HAR BLOCK,TIBETAN PLATEAU

Since 1997, several major earthquakes occurred around the Bayan Har block in the Tibetan plateau, providing an opportunity to further understanding the mechanism of intraplate earthquakes. What is the effect of interactions among these events on the earthquake occurrence pattern is an issue to be addressed. In this article, we use the visco-elastic Coulomb stress changes model to calculate the stress interactions among the historical events close to or large than M_S7.0 since 1893 in the Bayan Har block. We apply the relationships between the slip rate and stress accumulation rate to transform the Coulomb stress changes into the influenced time. Then we remove such influence time from the occurrence years, and analyze the effects of the earthquake interactions on the clustering patterns of the historical earthquakes in the Bayan Har block. The results show that the major earthquakes in the Bayan Har block are characterized by a quasi-period of about 16 years from 1893 to 1973 and a clustering occurrence time period from 1997 to present following a relatively long quiescence period. The Bayan Har block is still in the active period with high probabilities of major quakes. We calculate the conditional probabilities of the rupture segments that did not rupture since 1893 of the boundary faults of the Bayan Har block in the next 30 years. The following faults or fault sections seem to be of major risk:The Maqin segment and the Maqu fault of the East Kunlun fault zone, the Awanang fault, the Luocha segment of the Tazhong fault, the Moxi segment of the Xianshuihe fault, and the Dangjiang fault. Other Fault segments in the Bayan Har block without seismic events since 1893 probably also have hazard of M_S7 earthquakes in the future.     

2021年青海玛多MS7.4地震同震应力场与形变台站同震阶变分布关系探讨

利用基于升、降轨InSAR形变场及余震精定位结果反演得到的同震滑动模型,通过PSGRN/PSCMP程序获得同震水平形变场及应力场分布特征,结合玛多M_S7.4地震周边形变同震阶变台站分布特征,探讨同震应力场变化与同震阶变台站分布间的关系。模拟得到的水平形变场结果显示,此次玛多地震为左旋走滑运动特征,水平形变量主要集中在巴颜喀拉块体内,其次是北部的柴达木块体;羌塘块体以及祁连块体同震水平位移量较小;昆仑山口-江错断裂作为一条NE倾向的走滑型断裂,断层上盘区域滑动量明显大于下盘,模拟得到的最大水平形变量达1380mm;形变同震阶变的台站主要集中分布在祁连山断裂带中东段以及西秦岭等地区,祁连山断裂带中东段位于此次玛多地震同震正应力变化正值区域,而西秦岭等地区则处于玛多地震同震剪切应力变化的正值区域,即出现同震阶变的台站与同震应力场变化的正值区域具有较好的一致性。     

InSAR数据约束的2021年5月21日云南漾濞MS6.4地震发震构造研究

运用Sentinel-1A卫星数据和D-InSAR技术,获取2021-05-21云南漾濞M_S6.4地震的同震形变场。结果显示,漾濞地震同震形变场长轴近NW展布升降轨形变场符号相反,视线向最大沉降量和抬升量为0.1 m。InSAR同震形变场反演的滑动分布主要集中在沿走向2～12 km,倾向1～9 km的范围内,最大滑动量0.35 m,发震断层长9.8 km、宽4 km,滑动量主要集中在地下3～6 km范围内,滑动角-146.7°。同震位移场及滑动分布模型反映本次地震为发震断层的右旋走滑事件,地震破裂未达到地表。断层模型反演结果显示,矩震级为M_W6.1,发震断层以北西走向右旋走滑运动为主,初步认为本次M_W6.1地震发震断裂可能是一条NW向的维西—乔后断裂西侧的隐伏次生断裂。     

九寨沟M_s7.0地震的InSAR观测及发震构造分析

2017年8月8日四川省九寨沟县发生M_s7.0地震.本文基于Sentinel-1 SAR影像,利用InSAR技术获取了此次地震的同震形变场,反演获得同震滑动分布,计算了同震位错对余震分布和周边断层的静态库仑应力变化,并对发震构造进行了分析讨论.结果表明:①InSAR同震形变场显示,九寨沟地震造成地表形变最大量级约为20 cm(雷达视线方向),同震形变存在非对称性分布特征.②同震位错以左旋走滑为主,主要发生在4~16 km深度,最大滑动量约为77 cm,位于9 km深处.反演得到的矩震级为Mw6.46.同震错动未破裂到地表.③大部分余震发生在库仑应力增加区.此次地震增加了震中周边地区一些断裂的库仑应力,如东昆仑断裂带东段、龙日坝断裂、虎牙断裂等.④东昆仑断裂东段的未来地震危险性值得关注.⑤九寨沟地震的发震断层为树正断裂,可能是虎牙断裂的北西延伸隐伏部分,此次地震是巴颜喀拉块体南东向运动受到华南块体的强烈阻挡过程中发生的一次典型构造事件.     

Geodynamic and Seismotectonic Activity in Eastern Tibet in the 21st Century

At the beginning of the 21st century, a series of great earthquakes were recorded in northeastern Tibet, along the periphery of the Bayan Hara lithospheric block. An earthquake with M_S = 8.1 occurred within the East Kunlun fault zone in the Kunlun Mountains, which caused an extended surface rupture with left-lateral strike slip. An earthquake with M_S = 8 occurred in Wenchuan (China) on May 12, 2008, giving rise to an extended overthrust along the Lunmanshan fault zone. An earthquake with M_S = 7.1 occurred in Yushu (China) on April 14, 2010; its epicenter was on the Grazze–Yushu–Funchuoshan fault; a left-lateral strikeslip offset was observed on the surface. An earthquake with M_S = 7 occurred in the vicinity of Lushan on April 20, 2013; its epicenter was within the Lunmanshan fault zone, 103 km southwest of the zone of the catastrophic Wenchuan earthquake. An earthquake with M_S = 8.2 occurred in Nepal on April 25, 2015. Based on the CSN seismic catalog, the energy of all earthquakes in eastern Tibet at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries was estimated. It was found that Tibet was seismically quiet from 1980 to 2000. The beginning of the 21st century has been marked by seismic activation with earthquake sources migrating southward to surround the Bayan Hara lithospheric block from every quarter. Therefore, this block can be regarded as one of the most seismically active regions of China.     

巴颜喀拉块体北和东边界大地震序列的关联性与2008年汶川地震

2008年汶川地震发生在巴颜喀拉块体的东边界.为了探讨区域动力学背景与该地震发生的关系,本文基于活动构造、震源机制解、GPS站速度、地震破裂展布以及历史大地震活动等资料分析巴颜喀拉块体北、东两个边界断裂系统的运动、变形以及大地震序列发生的关联性.结果表明:由于受到华南地块的阻挡,巴颜喀拉块体朝东-南东方向的"逃逸"运动...     

巴颜喀拉块体东部活动块体的划分、形变特征及构造意义

基于活动块体的基本概念,综合对研究区内活动断裂带空间展布、地震活动性等资料的分析将巴颜喀拉块体东部及邻区划分为巴颜喀拉块体（I）、华南块体（Ⅱ）、川滇块体（Ⅲ）和西秦岭块体（IV）等4个一级块体.利用GPS形变场、地球物理场等资料结合F检验法,将巴颜喀拉块体划分为阿坝（I₁）、马尔康（I₂）和龙门山（I₃）3个次级块体,将西秦岭块体划分为岷县（IV₁）和礼县（IV₂） 2个次级块体.利用分布在各个块体内部的GPS测站,计算各活动块体及块体边界断裂带的运动变形特征.结果表明：各活动块体的整体运动包括平移和旋转运动;东昆仑断裂带、甘孜—玉树断裂带和鲜水河断裂带的滑动速率明显高于龙门山断裂带的滑动速率;巴颜喀拉块体东部走向北西或北西西的边界断裂表现出左旋拉张的特性;走向北东的边界断裂带,除成县—太白断裂带外,均表现出右旋走滑兼挤压的活动特征.巴颜喀拉块体的东向运动存在自西向东的速度衰减,衰减主要被龙日坝断裂带和岷江断裂带分解吸收,其中龙日坝断裂带的水平右旋分解非常明显,约为~4.8±1.6 mm/a,岷江断裂带的水平分解较弱.龙门山断裂带被马尔康、龙门山和岷县等次级块体分成南、中、北三段,龙门山断裂带中段上的主压应变率要明显小于龙门山断裂带南段上的应变率,其北西侧变形幅度从远离断裂带较大到靠近断裂带逐渐减小,表明其在震前已经积累了较高的应变能,有利于发生破裂滑动.汶川地震后,地表破裂带和余震分布揭示的断裂带运动性质自南西向北东由以逆冲运动为主,逐渐转为逆冲兼走滑的特征可能与龙门山断裂带中段所受主压应力方向自南西向北东的变化有关.马尔康、龙门山和岷县3个次级块体与华南块体之间较低的相对运动速度以及龙门山断裂带低应变率、强闭锁的特征都决定了汶川地震前龙门山断裂带低滑动速率的运动特征.     

Joint inversion of GNSS and teleseismic data for the rupture process of the 2017 <Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis><Subscript>w</Subscript>6.5 Jiuzhaigou,China, earthquake

The spatio-temporal slip distribution of the earthquake that occurred on 8 August 2017 in Jiuzhaigou, China, was estimated from the teleseismic body wave and near-field Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data (coseismic displacements and high-rate GPS data) based on a finite fault model. Compared with the inversion results from the teleseismic body waves, the near-field GNSS data can better restrain the rupture area, the maximum slip, the source time function, and the surface rupture. The results show that the maximum slip of the earthquake approaches 1.4 m, the scalar seismic moment is ~ 8.0 × 10¹⁸ N·m (M_w?≈?6.5), and the centroid depth is ~ 15 km. The slip is mainly driven by the left-lateral strike-slip and it is initially inferred that the seismogenic fault occurs in the south branch of the Tazang fault or an undetectable fault, a NW-trending left-lateral strike-slip fault, and belongs to one of the tail structures at the easternmost end of the eastern Kunlun fault zone. The earthquake rupture is mainly concentrated at depths of 5–15 km, which results in the complete rupture of the seismic gap left by the previous four earthquakes with magnitudes >?6.0 in 1973 and 1976. Therefore, the possibility of a strong aftershock on the Huya fault is low. The source duration is ~ 30 s and there are two major ruptures. The main rupture occurs in the first 10 s, 4 s after the earthquake; the second rupture peak arrives in ~ 17 s. In addition, the Coulomb stress study shows that the epicenter of the earthquake is located in the area where the static Coulomb stress change increased because of the 12 May 2017 M_w7.9 Wenchuan, China, earthquake. Therefore, the Wenchuan earthquake promoted the occurrence of the 8 August 2017 Jiuzhaigou earthquake.     

Prompt seismic data sharing for the 2021 Maduo earthquake in Qinghai province,China

An M_S7.4 earthquake struck west China in Maduo county, Guoluo prefecture, Qinghai province on May 22, 2021, at 2:04 Beijing time (18:04 UTC on May 21, 2021), which broke the quiet period of Chinese mainland for 1382 days without earthquakes of magnitude 7 or higher. The analysis of the seismic data sequence would play an important role in the in-depth study of the Maduo earthquake and the Bayan Har block. The Institute of Geophysics, China Earthquake Administration (CEA), compiled observation data recorded through 57 broadband seismometers within 500 km of the earthquake epicenter and intended to share for further researches in earthquake science community. The shared dataset included waveforms of the event and its sequence with magnitudes of 3.0 or higher that occurred between May 22–31, 2021 with a sampling rate of 100 sps along with the continuous waveforms of 20 Hz and 100 Hz. Additionally, the seismic instrument response files also were shared. The event and continuous waveform records could be downloaded by submitting a request through the web platform of the Earthquake Science Data Center of the Institute of Geophysics, CEA (www.esdc.ac.cn).     

Rupture behavior and deformation localization of the Kunlunshan earthquake (<Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">w</Emphasis></Subscript>7.8) and their tectonic implications

Earthquake surface rupture is the result of transformation from crustal elastic strain accumulation to permanent tectonic deformation. The surface rupture zone produced by the 2001 Kunlunshan earthquake (M _w 7.8) on the Kusaihu segment of the Kunlun fault extends over 426 km. It consists of three relatively independent surface rupture sections: the western strike-slip section, the middle transtensional section and the eastern strike-slip section. Hence this implies that the Kunlunshan earthquake is composed of three earthquake rupturing events, i.e. the M _w =6.8, M _w =6.2 and M _w ⩽=7.8 events, respectively. The M _w =7.8 earthquake, along the eastern section, is the main shock of the Kunlunshan earthquake, further decomposed into four rupturing subevents. Field measurements indicate that the width of a single surface break on different sections ranges from several meters to 15 m, with a maximum value of less than 30 m. The width of the surface rupture zone that consists of en echelon breaks depends on its geometric structures, especially the stepover width of the secondary surface rupture zones in en echelon, displaying a basic feature of deformation localization. Consistency between the Quaternary geologic slip rate, the GPS-monitored strain rate and the localization of the surface ruptures of the 2001 Kunlunshan earthquake may indicate that the tectonic deformation between the Bayan Har block and Qilian-Qaidam block in the northern Tibetan Plateau is characterized by strike-slip faulting along the limited width of the Kunlun fault, while the blocks themselves on both sides of the Kunlun fault are characterized by block motion. The localization of earthquake surface rupture zone is of great significance to determine the width of the fault-surface-rupture hazard zone, along which direct destruction will be caused by co-seismic surface rupturing along a strike-slip fault, that should be considered before the major engineering project, residental buildings and life line construction. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40474037) and the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2004CB418401)     

Rapid report of June 1, 2022 MW 5.9 Lushan earthquake,China with geodetic and teleseismic data

Timely response to earthquake characterization can facilitate earthquake emergency rescue and further scientific investigations. On June 1, 2022, M_W 5.9 earthquake occurred in the southern area of the Longmenshan fault zone. This event also happened at the south end of the Dayi seismic gap and is the largest earthquake that has occurred in this seismic gap since the 1970 M 6.2 event. The slip-distribution model constrained by the seismic waveforms suggests a thrust-dominated faulting mechanism. The main slip occurs at a depth of ～14 ?km, and the cumulative energy is released in the first 6 ?s. The variations of Coulomb stress caused by the mainshock show a positive change in the southwest area of the Dayi seismic gap, indicating possible activation of future earthquakes. In addition, we emphasize the importance of rapid estimation of deformation for near-field hazard delineation, especially when interferometric radar fails to image coseismic deformation in a high relief terrain.     

Frequency-dependent rupture process,stress change,and seismogenic mechanism of the 25 April 2015 Nepal Gorkha <Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis><Subscript>w</Subscript> 7.8 earthquake

On 25 April 2015, an M _w 7.8 earthquake occurred on the Main Himalaya Thrust fault with a dip angle of ~ 7° about 77 km northwest of Kathmandu, Nepal. This Nepal Gorkha event is the largest one on the Himalayan thrust belt since 1950. Here we use the compressive sensing method in the frequency domain to track the seismic radiation and rupture process of this event using teleseismic P waves recorded by array stations in North America. We also compute the distribution of static shear stress changes on the fault plane from a coseismic slip model. Our results indicate a dominant east-southeastward unilateral rupture process from the epicenter with an average rupture speed of ~3 km s^?1. Coseismic radiation of this earthquake shows clear frequency-dependent features. The lower frequency (0.05–0.3 Hz) radiation mainly originates from large coseismic slip regions with negative coseismic shear stress changes. In comparison, higher frequency (0.3–0.6 Hz) radiation appears to be from the down-dip part around the margin of large slip areas, which has been loaded and presents positive coseismic shear stress changes. We propose an asperity model to interpret this Nepal earthquake sequence and compare the frequency-dependent coseismic radiation with that in subduction zones. Such frequency-dependent radiation indicates the depth-varying frictional properties on the plate interface of the Nepal section in the main Himalaya thrust system, similar to previous findings in oceanic subduction zones. Our findings provide further evidence of the spatial correlation between changes of static stress status on the fault plane and the observed frequency-dependent coseismic radiation during large earthquakes. Our results show that the frequency-dependent coseismic radiation is not only found for megathrust earthquakes in the oceanic subduction environment, but also holds true for thrust events in the continental collision zone.     

The rupture process and asperity distribution of three great earthquakes from long-period diffracted P-waves

Maximum earthquake size varies considerably amongst the subduction zones. This has been interpreted as a variation in the seismic coupling, which is presumably related to the mechanical conditions of the fault zone. The rupture process of a great earthquake indicates the distribution of strong (asperities) and weak regions of the fault. The rupture process of three great earthquakes (1963 Kurile Islands, M_W = 8.5; 1965 Rat Islands, M_W = 8.7; 1964 Alaska, M_W = 9.2) are studied by using WWSSN stations in the core shadow zone. Diffraction around the core attenuates the P-wave amplitudes such that on-scale long-period P-waves are recorded. There are striking differences between the seismograms of the great earthquakes; the Alaskan earthquake has the largest amplitude and a very long-period nature, while the Kurile Islands earthquake appears to be a sequence of magnitude 7.5 events.The source time functions are deconvolved from the observed records. The Kurile Islands rupture process is characterized by the breaking of asperities with a length scale of 40–60 km, and for the Alaskan earthquake the dominant length scale in the epicentral region is 140–200 km. The variation of length scale and M_W suggests that larger asperities cause larger earthquakes. The source time function of the 1979 Colombia earthquake (M_W = 8.3) is also deconvolved. This earthquake is characterized by a single asperity of length scale 100–120 km, which is consistent with the above pattern, as the Colombia subduction zone was previously ruptured by a great (M_W = 8.8) earthquake in 1906.The main result is that maximum earthquake size is related to the asperity distribution on the fault. The subduction zones with the largest earthquakes have very large asperities (e.g. the Alaskan earthquake), while the zones with the smaller great earthquakes (e.g. Kurile Islands) have smaller scattered asperities.     

HOLOCENE PALAEOSEISMOLOGIC RECORD AND RUPTURE BEHAVIOR OF LARGE EARTHQUAKES ON THE XIANSHUIHE FAULT

The Xianshuihe Fault, the boundary of Bayan Har active tectonic block and Sichuan-Yunnan active tectonic block, is one of the most active fault zones in the world. In the past nearly 300 years, 9 historical earthquakes of magnitude ≥ 7 have been recorded. Since 2008, several catastrophic earthquakes, such as Wenchuan M_S8 earthquake, Yushu M_S7.1 earthquake and Lushan M_S7 earthquake, have occurred on the other Bayan Har block boundary fault zones. However, only the Kangding M_S6.3 earthquake in 2014 was documented on the Xianshuihe Fault. Thus, the study of surface deformation and rupture behavior of large earthquakes in the late Quaternary on the Xianshuihe Fault is of fundamental importance for understanding the future seismic risk of this fault, and even the entire western Sichuan region. On the basis of the former work, combined with our detailed geomorphic and geological survey, we excavated a combined trench on the Qianning segment of Xianshuihe fault zone which has a long elapse time. Charcoal and woods in the trench are abundant. 30 samples were dated to constrain the ages of the paleoseismic events. Five events were identified in the past 9  000 years, whose ages are:8070-6395 BC, 5445-5125 BC, 4355-4180 BC, 625-1240 AD and the Qianning earthquake in 1893. The large earthquake recurrence behavior on this segment does not follow the characteristic earthquake recurrence model. The recurrence interval is 1000~2000 years in early period and in turn there is a quiet period of about 5 000 years after 4355-4180 BC event. Then it enters the active period again. Two earthquakes with surface rupture occurred in the past 1000 years and the latest two earthquakes may have lower magnitude. The left-lateral coseismic displacement of the 1893 Qianning earthquake is about 2.9m.     

基于库仑应力变化分析巴颜喀拉地块东端的强震相互关系

本研究基于分层黏弹介质模型,考虑同震位错效应和震后黏滞松弛效应,分析巴颜喀拉地块东端1976年松潘地震序列、2008年汶川8.0级地震、2013年芦山7.0级地震和2017年九寨沟7.0级地震等多次大地震的可能存在的触发关系,计算大地震引起的周边各主要断裂的库仑应力变化.结果显示,1976年松潘地震序列各次地震间关系密切,存在明显的相继触发作用;综合考虑同震和震后效应,汶川8.0级地震对同属于龙门山断裂带的芦山7.0级地震有触发作用,且震后效应影响不可忽略;1976年地震序列,特别是1976年8月16日7.2级地震促进了2017年8月8日九寨沟7.0级地震的发生;汶川地震对九寨沟地震的影响研究中,采用不同的汶川地震同震位错模型,计算结果有差异.综合考虑多次大地震对周边断裂带的影响,龙门山断裂带南段、鲜水河断裂带中南段、平武—青川断裂北段、灌县—安县断裂北段、文县断裂的累积库仑应力增加显著,巴颜喀拉地块东端的东昆仑断裂带东段、迭部—白龙江断裂带西段以及金沙江断裂带库仑应力亦有所增加.综合考虑各重要断裂带已有的大地震危险性分析结果和库仑应力变化计算结果,龙门山断裂带南段、鲜水河断裂带中南段、东昆仑断裂带玛沁—玛曲段和金沙江断裂带的发震紧迫性有所增强,需引起关注.     

Correlation between the tilt anomaly on the vertical pendulum at the Songpan station and the 2021 MS7.4 Maduo earthquake in Qinghai province,China

Understanding the relationship between precursory deformation anomalies and strong earthquakes is vital for physical earthquake prediction. Six months before the 2021 M_S7.4 Maduo earthquake in Qinghai province, China, the vertical pendulum at the Songpan station was observed to tilt southward with a high rate and large amplitude. Studies conducted before the 2021 M_S7.4 Maduo earthquake inferred the tilt anomaly to be an earthquake precursor. However, after the earthquake, the relation between the earthquake and the anomaly became controversial, partly because the Songpan station is located at a great distance from the epicenter. In this study, based on the deformation anomaly characteristics, relationship between the seismogenic fault and the fault near the anomaly, and associated quantitative analyses, we concluded that this anomaly may be associated with the 2021 M_S7.4 Maduo earthquake. The duration and amplitude of this anomaly matched with the magnitude and epicenter distance of the Maduo earthquake. We have also interpreted the reason why the anomaly occurred near a fault that is obliquely intersected with the seismogenic fault and why the anomaly is located far from the earthquake epicenter.     

龙门山断裂带南段岩石圈磁场变化分析

根据巴颜喀拉块体东部2011—2014年3期岩石圈磁场年变化情况,结合地壳应力资料,重点分析龙门山断裂带南段的岩石圈磁场变化与应力积累的关系。该区域2011—2012年和2012—2013年岩石圈磁场变化明显弱于周边区域,实测地壳应力结果反映汶川M_S8.0地震震后应力积累水平很高。压磁效应分析认为汶川M_S8.0地震后该区域高应力积累、低应变率的动力学背景是控制该区域岩石圈磁场弱变化的主要因素。此外,芦山M_S7.0地震及康定M_S6.3地震前震中区存在局部岩石圈磁场水平矢量的弱变化现象,尤其是2012—2013年水平矢量大小和方向均与周边区域相比存在明显差异,这可能是两次地震的前兆异常。     

九寨沟地震发震断层属性及青藏高原东南缘现今应变状态讨论

九寨沟地震(M_s7.0或M_w6.5)震中位于青藏高原巴颜喀拉块体东缘东昆仑断裂带东端塔藏断裂、岷江断裂和虎牙断裂交汇部位,中国地震局相关科研机构的研究人员曾将该震中区判定为玛沁—玛曲高震级地震危险区.地震应急科学考察期间没有发现地震地表破裂带,但地震烈度等震线长轴方位、极震区基岩崩塌和滑坡集中带、重新定位余震空间展布和震源机制解等显示出发震断层为NNW向虎牙断裂北段,左旋走滑性质,属东昆仑断裂带东端分支断层之一.此外,汶川地震后,在青藏高原东缘和东南缘次级活动断层上发生了包括2017年九寨沟地震(Mw6.5)、2014年鲁甸(M_w6.2)、景谷(M_w6.2)、康定(M_w6.0)等多次中强地震,显示出青藏高原东缘至东南缘各块体主干边界活动断层现今处于中等偏高的应变积累状态,即在巴颜喀拉、川滇等块体主干边界活动断层上具备了发生高震级(M_w≥7.0)地震的构造应力-应变条件,未来发生高震级地震的危险性不容忽视.     

Rapid report of the 8 January 2022 ​MS 6.9 Menyuan earthquake,Qinghai, China

The M_S 6.9 Menyuan earthquake in Qinghai Province, west China is the largest earthquake by far in 2022. The earthquake occurs in a tectonically active region, with a background b-value of 0.87 within 100 ?km of the epicenter that we derived from the unified catalog produced by China Earthquake Networks Center since late 2008. Field surveys have revealed surface ruptures extending 22 ?km along strike, with a maximum ground displacement of 2.1 ?m. We construct a finite fault model with constraints from InSAR observations, which showed multiple fault segments during the Menyuan earthquake. The major slip asperity is confined within 10 ?km at depth, with the maximum slip of 3.5 ?m. Near real-time back-projection results of coseismic radiation indicate a northwest propagating rupture that lasted for ～10 ?s. Intensity estimates from the back-projection results show up to a Mercalli scale of IX near the ruptured area, consistent with instrumental measurements and the observations from the field surveys. Aftershock locations (up to January 21, 2022) exhibit two segments, extending to ～20 ?km in depth. The largest one reaches M_S 5.3, locating near the eastern end of the aftershock zone. Although the location and the approximate magnitude of the mainshock had been indicated by previous studies based on paleoearthquake records and seismic gap, as well as estimated stressing rate on faults, significant surface-breaching rupture leads to severe damage of the high-speed railway system, which poses a challenge in accurately assessing earthquake hazards and risks, and thus demands further investigations of the rupture behaviors for crustal earthquakes.