Transient creep of the lithosphere and its role in geodynamics

Laboratory experiments with samples of rocks show that at small strains there is transient creep, at which the strain grows with time, and the strain rate decreases. Plate tectonics allows only small strains in the lithospheric plates, so that the lithosphere creep is transient. In geodynamics, the lithosphere is regarded as a cold boundary layer formed by mantle convection. If we assume that the lithosphere has a steady-state creep, which is described by power-law non-Newtonian rheological model, the low effective viscosity of the lower layers of the lithosphere, obtained by data on small-scale postglacial flows, is possible only at high strain rates in these layers. However, the high strain rates in the lithosphere induce large strains that contradict plate tectonics. Transient creep of the lithosphere leads to its mobility at small strains, removing the discrepancy between thermal convection in the mantle and plate tectonics, which holds in the case of power-law rheological model of the lithosphere.     

A preliminary model for 3-D rheological structure of the lithosphere in North China

3-D rheological structure is mainly the spatial distribution of lithospheric strength or viscos-ity, its strength and viscosity are indispensable parameters in quantitative study of the lithosphere deformation. Plate tectonics theory initially divided the…     

A mechanical model for deformation and earthquakes on strike-slip faults

A two-dimensional model for stress accumulation and earthquake instability associated with strike-slip faults is considered. The model consists of an elastic lithosphere overlying a viscous asthenosphere, and a fault of finite width with an upper brittle zone having an elastoplastic response and a lower ductile zone having an elastoviscoplastic response. For the brittle, or seismic, zone the behavior of the fault material is assumed to be governed by a relation which involves strain hardening followed by a softening regime, with strength increasing with depth. For the fault material in the ductile, or aseismic, section, the viscous effect is included through use of a nonlinear creep law, and the strength is assumed to decrease with depth. Hence, because of the lesser strength and the viscous effect, continuous flow occurs at great depths, causing stress accumulation at the upper portion of the fault and leading to failure at the bottom of the brittle zone. The failure is initially due to localized strain softening but, with further flow, the material above the softened zone reaches its maximum strength and begins to soften. This process accelerates and may result in an unstable upward rupture propagation.Relations are developed for the history of deformation within the lithosphere, specifically for the velocity of particles within the fault and at the ground surface. The boundary-element method is used for a quantitative study, and numerical results are obtained and compared with the recorded surface deformation of the San Andreas fault. The effects of geometry and material properties on instability, on the history of the surface deformation, and on the earthquake recurrence time are studied. The results are presented in terms of variations of ground-surface shear strain and shear strain rate, and velocity of points within the fault at various times during the earthquake cycle.It is found that the location of rupture initiation, the possibility of a sudden rupture as opposed to stable creep, and also the ground deformation pattern and its history, all critically depend on the mechanical response of the material within the fault zone, especially that of the brittle section. Shorter earthquake recurrence times are obtained for shallower brittle zones and for a stiffer lithosphere. Lower viscosities of the aseismic zone and the absence of asthenospheric coupling tend to suppress instability and promote stable creep. The model results thus suggest that the overall viscosity of the ductile creeping zone must exceed a minimum value for a sudden upward propagating rupture to take place within the seismic section.     

Constitutive relations for fault slip and earthquake instabilities

Constitutive relations for fault slip are described and adopted as a basis for analyzing slip motion and its instability in the form of earthquakes on crustal faults. The constitutive relations discussed include simple rate-independent slip-weakening models, in which shear strength degrades with ongoing slip to a residual frictional strength, and also more realistic but as yet less extensively applied slip-rate and surface-state-dependent relations. For the latter the state of the surface is characterized by one or more variables that evolve with ongoing slip, seeking values consistent with the current slip rate. Models of crustal faults range from simple, single-degree-of-freedom spring-slider systems to more complex continuous systems that incorporate nonuniform slip and locked patches on faults of depth-dependent constitutive properties within elastic lithospheric plates that may be coupled to a viscoelastic asthenosphere. Most progress for the rate and state-dependent constitutive relations is at present limited to single-degree-of-freedom systems. Results for stable and unstable slip with the various constitutive models are summarized. Instability conditions are compared for spatially uniform versus nonuniform slip, including the elastic — brittle crack limit of the nonuniform mode. Inferences of constitutive and fracture parameters are discussed, based on earthquake data for large ruptures that begin with slip at depth, concentrating stress on locked regions within a brittle upper crust. Results of nonlinear stability theory, including regimes of complex sustained stress and slip rate oscillations, are outlined for rate and state-dependent constitutive relations, and the manner in which these allow phenomena like time-dependent failure, restrengthening in nearly stationary contact, and weakening in rapidly accelerated slip, is discussed.     

中国大陆及邻区岩石圈三维流变结构

依据地震波速得到的上地幔温度和气象台站记录的地表温度为约束,结合地表热流和热导率观测数据,利用有限元方法计算了中国大陆及邻区岩石圈三维热结构.基于此温度结果和GPS观测得到的应变率数据,以滑动摩擦、脆性破裂和蠕变三种强度机制为约束,计算得到了中国大陆及邻区岩石圈三维流变结构.结果显示:弱强度和低等效黏滞性系数的下地壳在中国大陆及邻区普遍存在,并且下地壳的流变强度和等效黏滞性系数比上地壳和岩石圈地幔一般要低1~2个数量级;中国大陆范围内青藏高原存在着厚度最大、强度最低的下地壳;青藏高原的岩石圈强度和等效黏滞性系数比华北、华南和印度板块的都要低;岩石圈流变结构的横向分布特征与重力梯度带和地形过渡带比较一致.     

岩石圈结构对大地震震后形变的影响——以1976年唐山大地震和2001年昆仑山大地震为例

大地震发生之后通常会诱发一系列的余震序列,对比1976年M_S7.8唐山大地震和2001年M_S8.1昆仑山大地震周边区域的地震事件可以看出,唐山大地震余震活动时间要明显长于昆仑山大地震余震活动时间.余震序列往往与震后形变密切相关,而影响震后形变的因素不仅与地震发震断层和震级有关,同时与岩石圈的结构有关.考虑到唐山大地震的发震区华北地块和昆仑山大地震的发震区青藏高原有着较大的岩石圈结构差异,本文采用PSGRN/PSCMP软件计算了岩石圈分层模型的大地震同震和震后形变,分析了地壳弹性模量、弹性厚度以及黏滞性系数对同震和震后形变的影响,进而讨论了影响唐山地震和昆仑山地震余震序列差异的原因.计算结果显示,震后形变会在黏弹性效应的作用下逐渐调整,震后形变的持续时间与地壳弹性模量、地壳弹性厚度和下地壳黏滞性系数有关.上地壳和下地壳弹性模量越大,震后形变达到稳定值的时间越短,弹性模量对震后形变稳定值影响很小.地壳弹性厚度越大,震后形变达到稳定值的时间越短,当断层面底端深度小于地壳弹性厚度时,地壳弹性厚度的增加会引起震后形变稳定值的减小;下地壳厚度对震后形变达到稳定值的时间和稳定值基本无影响.下地壳黏滞性系数越大,震后形变达到稳定值的时间越长,反之亦然.结合唐山地震区的华北地块和昆仑山地震的青藏高原深部结构发现,两者之间的上地壳弹性模型差别不大,唐山地震区地壳弹性厚度略大于昆仑山地震区,但昆仑山地震区下地壳黏滞性系数明显低于唐山地震区.这些因素均决定了昆仑山地震的震后形变持续时间短（余震时间序列短）而唐山地震的震后形变持续时间长（余震时间序列长）.由此可见,岩石圈结构差异可能是导致唐山地震和昆仑山地震余震序列差异的主要因素之一.     

三维黏弹性数值模拟华北盆地地震空间分布与构造应力积累关系

华北盆地为我国板内地震多发区域,历史以来相继发生多次破坏性大地震.前人地震勘探与震源定位结果揭示了华北地震的空间分布特征:横向上,华北地震基本发生在地壳的薄弱地带(Moho面上隆),或者地壳厚度的急剧变化带;纵向上,华北地震在地壳一定深度范围内呈现成层分布特征;主震一般在上地壳底部9~15 km深度范围,余震多发生在大约深5~25 km的上地壳与中地壳范围内,在中地壳下层与下地壳中仅有少量或者鲜见有余震发生.为研究解释华北盆地地震空间分布的以上特征,本文建立了华北盆地岩石圈三维黏弹性有限元模型.震源机制和GPS反映华北盆地处于NNE最大主压应力方向挤压,因此对模型边界施以恒定的位移速率边界条件;数值模拟华北岩石圈各层位在数百年以上长期匀速构造挤压作用下的应力积累特征,分析了华北地震空间分布与构造应力积累速率的关系,探讨了地壳结构与地壳分层流变性质对地壳应力积累的影响.计算结果表明,Moho面的隆起与地壳各层位岩石介质的黏滞系数是华北盆地地震孕育的重要因素.华北盆地在构造挤压的持续作用下,Moho面隆起处产生明显应力集中现象.该区域应力在长时期的积累过程中,在脆性的上地壳与中地壳上层,应力表现近于线性增长趋势,上地壳底部较其它深度有最大的应力增长率,其主震可以在应力积累至岩石破裂强度时发生;在脆、韧性转换的中地壳下层,应力增长速率次之,华北地震的大部分余震可能在该层位为主震所触发;而在柔性的下地壳应力增长近于指数形式,稳定状态之后其应力增长速率近于零,而鲜有地震发生.地壳各层位的应力增长率差异与地震成层分布的现象揭示了华北地壳的分层流变性质:脆性(上地壳)-较弱脆性(中地壳上层)-较弱韧性(中地壳下层)-较强韧性(下地壳)-韧性(岩石圈上地幔)的分层流变结构.     

A thin elastic core can control large-scale patterns of lithosphere shortening

Peak lithospheric strength should reside in the rocks that, under the applied stress, cannot either creep (due to low temperature) or break (due to high confining pressure). The greatest resistance comes from dry olivine/pyroxene-rich upper mantle/lowermost crust at Moho conditions (400–600 °C and > 1 GPa). We have conducted laboratory experiments to investigate the importance of the unbreakable core of the lithosphere in between its brittle and ductile parts and conclude that it can control the large-scale lithospheric deformation pattern under shortening. Regardless of the thickness of the unbreakable core, it acts as a restraining layer that is easily flexed but is unstretchable. This eliminates large scale brittle faulting or homogeneous thickening as available shortening modes and results in irregular wrinkling of the unbreakable layer. We discuss geodynamic implications of our laboratory experiments and advocate studies of large scale buckling of the lithosphere as a relevant shortening mode.     

断层脆塑性转化带的强度与变形机制及其流体和应变速率的影响

野外、实验和地震数据表明:浅部地壳的变形以脆性破裂为主,深部地壳的变形以晶体塑性流动为主.在这种认识的基础上,提出了地壳变形的2种机制模型,即发生脆性变形的上部地壳强度基于Byerlee摩擦定律以及发生塑性变形的下部地壳强度基于幂次蠕变定律.而位于其间的脆塑性转化带的深度与浅源地震深度的下限具有很好的一致性.然而,二元结构的流变模型局限性在于其力学模型过于简单,往往过高估计了脆塑性转化带的强度.问题的根源在于对脆塑性转化带的变形机制的研究已有很多,但没有定量的力学方程来描述脆塑性转化带强度;而且以往对断层脆塑性转化带的研究主要集中在温度引起的脆塑性转化方面,对因应变速率和流体对脆塑性转化的影响方面的研究也比较薄弱.对断层带内矿物变形机制研究表明,某些断层带脆塑性转化发生在相同深度(温度和压力)内,发生脆塑性转化的原因是应变速率的变化,而这种变化被认为与地震周期的同震、震后-间震期蠕变有关,这种变化得到了主震-余震深度分布变化的证实.对断层流体特征分析表明,断层带内可能存在高压流体,这种高压流体会随断裂带的破裂及愈合而周期性变化,在地震孕育及循环中起着关键性作用.高压流体的形成(裂隙愈合)有多种机理,其中,压溶是断层带裂隙愈合的主导机制之一.研究在水作用下的压溶,可以对传统的摩擦-流变二元地壳强度结构及其断层强度进行补充与修正.通过以上分析,认为有必要通过野外变形样品和高温高压实验,深入研究应变速率及流体压力对断层脆塑性转化的影响,同时,通过实验建立压溶蠕变的方程,近似地估计脆塑性转化带的强度.     

Thermally induced brittle deformation in oceanic lithosphere and the spacing of fracture zones

Brittle deformation of oceanic lithosphere due to thermal stress is explored with a numerical model, with an emphasis on the spacing of fracture zones. Brittle deformation is represented by localized plastic strain within a material having an elasto-visco-plastic rheology with strain softening. We show that crustal thickness, creep strength, and the rule governing plastic flow control the formation of cracks. The spacing of primary crack decreases with crustal thickness as long as it is smaller than a threshold value. Creep strength shifts the threshold such that crust with strong creep strength develops primary cracks regardless of crustal thicknesses, while only a thin crust can have primary cracks if its creep strength is low. For a thin crust, the spacing of primary cracks is inversely proportional to the creep strength, suggesting that creep strength might independently contribute to the degree of brittle deformation. Through finite versus zero dilatation in plastic strain, associated and non-associated flow rule results in nearly vertical and V-shaped cracks, respectively. Changes in the tectonic environment of a ridge system can be reflected in variation in crustal thickness, and thus related to brittle deformation. The fracture zone-free Reykjanes ridge is known to have a uniformly thick crust. The Australian-Antarctic Discordance has multiple fracture zones and thin crust. These syntheses are consistent with enhanced brittle deformation of oceanic lithosphere when the crust is thin and vice versa.     

地壳流变结构控制作用下的龙门山断裂带地震发生机理

青藏高原东缘低地形变速率的龙门山断裂带上相继发生了2008汶川M_w7.9级地震和2013芦山M_w6.6级地震.地震勘探与震源定位结果揭示了龙门山区域地震空间分布特征：纵向上,龙门山断裂带这两次地震主震均发生在龙门山断裂带上地壳的底部（14~19 km）,绝大部分余震均发生在上地壳范围（5~25 km）,而在其中、下地壳深度范围内鲜见余震发生;横向上,地震（M_w>3）在龙门山断裂带青藏高原一侧密集分布且曾有大震发生,而四川盆地地震稀少（M_w>3）.为探讨龙门山断裂带地震发生机理,并解释以上龙门山区域地震空间分布特征,本文建立了龙门山断裂带西南段跨芦山地震震中区域的四种不同流变结构的龙门山断裂带三维岩石圈模型,以地表GPS观测资料为约束边界条件,数值模拟龙门山断裂带岩石圈在数千年以上长期匀速构造挤压作用下的应力积累特征,探讨了地壳分层流变性质对地壳应力积累的影响,分析了该区域地震空间分布与构造应力积累速率的关系.计算结果表明：该区域在数千年的应力积累过程中,脆性上地壳中应力表现近于恒定值的线性增长趋势,龙门山断裂带上地壳底部出现应力集中积累现象,这一应力集中现象可以解释龙门山断裂带汶川地震与芦山地震主震的发生,及其大部分余震在脆性上地壳中的触发;青藏高原一侧上地壳应力积累速率远远高于四川盆地的应力积累速率,这一应力积累分布现象可以解释龙门山区域青藏高原一侧地震密集而四川盆地地震稀少的地震空间分布特征;通过比较不同流变结构模型中的应力积累状态,认为导致这一应力积累空间分布状态的重要控制因素在于青藏高原中、下地壳较低的黏滞系数与四川盆地中、下地壳较高的黏滞系数的差异.在柔性的中、下地壳内,应力增长近于指数形式,稳定状态之后其应力增长速率近于零,构造应力积累难以达到岩石破裂强度,因而鲜见地震发生.地壳各层位的应力增长率差异与地震成层分布的现象共同揭示了龙门山区域岩石圈分层流变结构：脆性上地壳、韧性中、下地壳（青藏高原一侧较弱,四川盆地一侧较强）、韧性岩石圈上地幔.     

Andrade Creep at the Isostasy Recovering Flows in the Mantle

The laboratory experiments with rock samples show that creep under small strains is transient and can be described by the linear hereditary rheological Andrade model. The flows that recover isostasy (including the postglacial rebound flows) cause the strains in the crust and mantle, which are as low as at most 10^–3 and, hence, demonstrate transient creep. The effective viscosity characterizing the transient creep is lower than that at the steady creep and depends on the characteristic time of the considered process. The characteristic time of restoration of isostatic equilibrium (isostatic rebound) after the initial perturbation of the Earth’s surface topography is at most 10 kyr and, therefore, the distribution of the rheological properties along the depth of the mantle and the crust differs from the distribution that corresponds to the slow geological processes. When considering the process of isostatic rebound, the upper crust can be modeled by a thin elastic plate, whereas the underlying crust and the mantle can be modeled by the halfspace with transient creep in which the rheological parameter is inhomogeneous with depth. For this system, the continuum mechanics equations are solved by means of the Fourier and Laplace transforms. The vertical displacements that violate the isostasy propagate from the area of the initial perturbation along the Earth’s surface and can be considered as the mechanism of the present-day vertical movements of the crust. Comparing the obtained results with the observation data allows estimating the Andrade parameter. The use of the Andrade rheological model makes it possible to quantify the relationship between the effective viscosity of the asthenosphere corresponding to the postglacial flows and the seismic Q-factor of this layer.     

震源区的断层构造与震源应力积累过程关系的实验研究

本实验研究了地壳内对压组合构造和对张组合构造中垂断层蠕滑,破裂错动时对主震断层(底断层)应力积累过程的影响,并结合实际地震活动中的一些现象进行了讨论。所得结论如下: 1.当垂断层蠕滑时,对压组合构造中垂直于底断层的压应力增大,它可以延迟主震发生但增大发震的能量;对张组合构造中垂直于底断层的压应力减小,剪应力略有增大,因而可以促使主震发生。2.如果垂断层某一部分为原来锁住的愈合断层或为完整介质,当其突然破裂错动时,可以使对张组合构造中的底断层的剪应力突然增大,同时压应力减小,因此前震序列中这类垂断层上的较大前震可看作底断层上主震即将来临的信号。3.由垂断层破裂前后单轴压力不变和位移不变的实验结果说明了地壳中主震断层应力集中的过程。4.底断层的主震破裂可以使处于引张状态的垂断层上余震发育甚至发生强余震。本文还应用实验结果对前震活动的条带现象进行了解释,这将有助于判定对压组合构造中主震的断层面。     

地壳主要岩石流变参数及华北地壳流变性质研究

岩石流变参数和变形机制是根据断层摩擦和岩石幂次流动本构关系建立岩石圈强度剖面的基础。近 30年来 ,高温高压实验取得了很大进展 ,获得了大量地壳矿物和岩石流变资料。本文系统总结了这些流变实验资料 ,并应用流变数据结合地震震源深度分布 ,对华北地壳流变性质进行了研究。结果表明 ,以花岗岩和低级变质岩为代表的上地壳为脆性破裂 ,其强度受断层摩擦约束 ,以长英质片麻岩为主的中地壳和以中性麻粒岩为主的下地壳上层处于塑性流变状态 ,由干的基性麻粒岩组成的下地壳下层处于脆性向塑性流变的过渡状态。华北地壳的这种物质组成和流变为地壳不同层次的解耦和强震孕育提供了力学条件 ,也构成了不同尺度块体的底边界     

Coupling of tectonic loading and earthquake fault slips at subduction zones

Because of the viscoelastic behaviour of the earth, accumulation of elastic strain energy by tectonic loading and release of such energy by earthquake fault slips at subduction zones may take place on different spatial scales. If the lithospheric plate is acted upon by distant tectonic forces, strain accumulation must occur in a broad region. However, an earthquake releases strain only in a region comparable to the size of the rupture area. A two-dimensional finite-element model of a subduction zone with viscoelastic rheology has been used to investigate the coupling of tectonic loading and earthquake fault slips. A fault lock-and-unlock technique is employed so that the amount of fault slip in an earthquake is not prescribed, but determined by the accumulated stress. The amount of earthquake fault slip as a fraction of the total relative plate motion depends on the relative sizes of the earthquake rupture area and the region of tectonic strain accumulation, as well as the rheology of the rock material. The larger the region of strain accumulation is compared to the earthquake rupture, the smaller is the earthquake fault slip. The reason for the limited earthquake fault slip is that the elastic shear stress in the asthenosphere induced by the earthquake resists the elastic rebound of the overlying plate. Since rapid permanent plate shortening is not observed at subduction zones, there must be either strain release over a large region or strain accumulation over a small region over earthquake cycles. The former can be achieved only by significant aseismic fault slip between large subduction earthquakes. The most likely mechanism for the latter is the accumulation of elastic strain around isolated locked asperities of the fault, which requires significant aseismic fault slip between asperities.     

Continental subduction and exhumation of high-pressure rocks: insights from thermo-mechanical laboratory modelling

Thermo-mechanical physical modelling of continental subduction is performed to investigate the exhumation of deeply subducted continental crust. The model consists of two lithospheric plates made of new temperature sensitive analogue materials. The lithosphere is underlain by liquid asthenosphere. The continental lithosphere contains three layers: the weak sedimentary layer, the crust made of a stronger material, and of a still stronger lithospheric mantle. The whole model is subjected to a constant vertical thermal gradient, causing the strength reduction with depth in each lithospheric layer. Subduction is driven by both push force and pull force. During subduction, the subducting lithosphere is heating and the strength of its layers reduces. The weakening continental crust reaches maximal depth of about 120 km and cannot subduct deeper because its frontal part starts to flow up. The subducted crust undergoes complex deformation, including indicated upward ductile flow of the most deeply subducted portions and localised failure of the subducted upper crust at about 50-km depth. This failure results in the formation of the first crustal slice which rises up between the plates under the buoyancy force. This process is accompanied by the delamination of the crustal and mantle layers of the subducting lithosphere. The delamination front propagates upwards into the interplate zone resulting in the formation of two other crustal slices that also rise up between the plates. Average equivalent exhumation rate of the crustal material during delamination is about 1 cm/year. The crust-asthenosphere boundary near the interplate zone is uplifted. The subducted mantle layer then breaks off, removing the pull force and thereby stopping the delamination and increasing horizontal compression of the lithosphere. The latter produces shortening of the formed orogen and the growth of relief. The modelling reveals an interesting burial/exhumation evolution of the sedimentary cover. During initial stages of continental subduction the sediments of the continental margin are dragged to the overriding plate base and are partially accreted at the deep part of the interplate zone (at 60-70 km-depth). These sediments remain there until the beginning of delamination during which the pressure between the subducted crust and the overriding plate increases. This results in squeezing the underplated sediments out. Part of them is extruded upwards along the interplate zone to about 30-km depth at an equivalent rate of 5-10 cm/year.     

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。     

巴颜喀拉地块东部及邻区重力均衡与岩石圈有效弹性厚度

基于SIO(Scripps Institute of Oceanography)最新全球重力和高程模型,计算了巴颜喀拉地块东部及邻区的布格重力异常、均衡重力异常、岩石圈有效弹性厚度及荷载比.结合大地热流、地震速度结构、地震活动和断裂构造分布等,分析了地壳均衡状态和岩石圈有效弹性厚度、地质构造单元间的差异及与地震活动的相关性特征.研究结果表明,该区域布格重力变化范围约为-500～0mGal(1mGal=10~(-5)m·s~(-2),下同),在巴颜喀拉块体东部区域形成弧形重力梯度带,近年来的中强地震活动频发于该梯度带不同部位,应与其应力依次释放有关;均衡重力异常结果表明,其变化范围约为-80～+100mGal,且大部分区域处于±20mGal以内的被认为处于重力均衡的状态,重力非均衡(正或负)多出现于块体边界带附近,地震多发生在靠近块体边界的均衡重力异常(正或负,主要为正)区域内;巴颜喀拉地块东部及邻区岩石圈有效弹性厚度(T_e)为10～65km,不同构造单元之间T_e空间分布差异明显,较低的T_e值出现在龙门山构造带附近,T_e值为20km左右,岩石圈荷载加载比为0.5～0.8,表明现今的岩石圈挠曲状态主要由莫霍面加载形成.进一步分析表明,巴颜喀拉地块东部挤压增生与横向流动同时发生,是造成该区域地震发生与重力均衡异常高值重合、岩石圈有效弹性厚度和大地热流值较低的主要原因.本文获得的地壳均衡特征及岩石圈有效弹性强度结果,加深了对巴颜喀拉东部及邻区岩石圈构造演化过程的认识.     

2018年永清MW 4.3地震前后岩石圈磁场变化特征

选取华北部分地区2016—2019年流动地磁矢量资料,分析2018年2月12日永清M_W 4.3地震前后岩石圈磁场变化特征。结果表明,地震前岩石圈磁场变化异常特征显著,震后异常消失。在震前岩石圈磁场变化中,磁场的D、I、F、H、Z分量出现不同程度的异常特征,这些震前异常呈现出相同的、相似的变化趋势。在震前随着时间的不断累积,岩石圈磁场变化异常愈加显著,其中震前1.5年期各分量震磁异常显著。与震前相比,震后岩石圈磁场变化特征及趋势发生了较大改变。     

Mechanical model of precursory source process for strong earthquakes in western Yunnan area—concept and numerical simulation

The strong earthquakes in western Yunnan area, mainly occur along great interplate strike-slip faults and have a dominant depth-layer about 10–20 km; the seismic rupture is characterized by strike-slip rupture. Considering the Yunnan lithospheric structure and dynamic background, we think that earthquakes occurring at this area might have such a kind of nucleation process: because of the multi-layers and heterogeneities of lithospheric structure, a zone of concentrated shear strain or of slip might be formed at the moderate or deep portions of lithosphere, and spread upward along faulting boundary, toward the earth’s surface under the background field of tectonic movement of lithospheric plates. The slip front will encounter the maximum shear resistance zone on the fault surface in this process, be barried and blocked, and form a seismic gap. With the increase of tectonic load, this slip zone will continuously spread forward, traverse and lead to instable crack of the whole blocked zone, and cause a great earthquake. We have derived an approximate integral equation describing this seismic process; the numerical results show that the model has an instable nonlinear accelerating evolution period which might have important significance for the generation of earthquake precursors.