A STUDY REVIEW ON CHARACTERISTICS OF SEISMIC ACTIVITY OF ACTIVE-TECTONIC BLOCK BOUNDARIES IN MAINLAND CHINA

More than 80 percent of strong earthquakes(M≥7.0)occur in active-tectonic block boundaries in mainland China, and 95 percent of strong earthquake disasters also occur in these boundaries. In recent years, all strong earthquakes(M≥7.0)happened in active-tectonic block boundaries. For instance, 8 strong earthquakes(M≥7.0)occurred on the eastern, western, southern and northern boundaries of the Bayan Har block since 1997. In order to carry out the earthquake prediction research better, especially for the long-term earthquake prediction, the active-tectonic block boundaries have gradually become the key research objects of seismo-geology, geophysics, geodesy and other disciplines. This paper reviews the research results related to seismic activities in mainland China, as well as the main existing recognitions and problems as follows: 1)Most studies on seismic activities in active-tectonic block boundaries still remain at the statistical analysis level at present. However, the analysis of their working foundations or actual working conditions can help investigate deeply the seismic activities in the active-tectonic block boundaries; 2)Seismic strain release rates are determined by tectonic movement rates in active-tectonic block boundaries. Analysis of relations between seismic strain release rates and tectonic movement rates in mainland China shows that the tectonic movement rates in active-tectonic block boundaries of the eastern region are relatively slow, and the seismic strain release rates are with the smaller values too; the tectonic movement rates in active-tectonic block boundaries of the western region reveal higher values, and their seismic strain rates are larger than that of the eastern region. Earthquake recurrence periods of all 26 active-tectonic block boundaries are presented, and the reciprocals of recurrence periods represent high and low frequency of seismic activities. The research results point out that the tectonic movement rates and the reciprocals of recurrence periods for most faults in active-tectonic block boundaries exhibit linear relations. But due to the complexities of fault systems in active tectonic block boundaries, several faults obviously deviate from the linear relationship, and the relations between average earthquake recurrence periods and tectonic movement rates show larger uncertainties. The major reason is attributed to the differences existing in the results of the current earthquake recurrence studies. Furthermore, faults in active-tectonic boundaries exhibit complexities in many aspects, including different movement rates among various segments of the same fault and a certain active-tectonic block boundary contains some parallel faults with the same earthquake magnitude level. Consequently, complexities of these fault systems need to be further explored; 3)seismic activity processes in active-tectonic block boundaries present obvious regional characteristics. Active-tectonic block boundaries of the eastern mainland China except the western edge of Ordos block possess clustering features which indicate that due to the relatively low rate of crustal deformation in these areas, a long-time span is needed for fault stress-strain accumulation to show earthquake cluster activities. In addition, active-tectonic block boundaries in specific areas with low fault stress-strain accumulation rates also show seismic clustering properties, such as the clustering characteristics of strong seismic activities in Longmenshan fault zone, where a series of strong earthquakes have occurred successively, including the 2008 M8.0 Wenchuan, the 2013 M7.0 Lushan and the 2017 M7.0 Jiuzhaigou earthquakes. The north central regions of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, regarded as the second-grade active-tectonic block boundaries, are the concentration areas of large-scale strike-slip faults in mainland China, and most of seismicity sequences show quasi-period features. Besides, most regions around the first-grade active-tectonic block boundary of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau display Poisson seismic processes. On one hand, it is still necessary to investigate the physical mechanisms and dynamics of regional structures, on the other hand, most of the active-tectonic block boundaries can be considered as fault systems. However, seismic activities involved in fault systems have the characteristic of in situ recurrence of strong earthquakes in main fault segments, the possibilities of cascading rupturing for adjacent fault segments, and space-time evolution characteristics of strong earthquakes in fault systems. 4)The dynamic environment of strong earthquakes in mainland China is characterized by “layering vertically and blocking horizontally”. With the progresses in the studies of geophysics, geochemistry, geodesy, seismology and geology, the physical models of different time/space scales have guiding significance for the interpretations of preparation and occurrence of continental strong earthquakes under the active-tectonic block frame. However, since the movement and deformation of the active-tectonic blocks contain not only the rigid motion and the horizontal differences of physical properties of crust-mantle medium are universal, there is still need for improving the understanding of the dynamic processes of continental strong earthquakes. So it is necessary to conduct in-depth studies on the physical mechanism of strong earthquake preparation process under the framework of active-tectonic block theory and establish various foundation models which are similar to seismic source physical models in California of the United States, and then provide technological scientific support for earthquake prevention and disaster mitigation. Through all kinds of studies of the physical mechanisms for space-time evolution of continental strong earthquakes, it can not only promote the transition of the study of seismic activities from statistics to physics, but also persistently push the development of active-tectonic block theory.     

中国大陆构造块体的现今活动和变形

在重新对 1998年和 2 0 0 0年的中国地壳运动观测网络基准站和基本站的 2期观测资料进行预处理的基础上 ,得到了ITRF97坐标框架下 ,参考时刻分别为 1998年 9月 5日和 2 0 0 0年 6月 8日 ,分布在全国各主要构造块体上的 79个GPS站的坐标和协方差矩阵。分别以中国岩石圈动力学地图集 (马杏垣 ,1989)中的中国大陆主要构造单元 (称之为亚板块 )和张培震等 ( 2 0 0 2 )给出的中国主要活动块体为格架 ,用笔者提出的 1种推广了的QUAD方法对中国大陆的 2 0个主要构造块体逐个进行判别检验。那些现今无明显相对运动的相邻块体则被归并起来 ,从而确定了活动块体和它们的边界。采用刚体运动 +块体均匀应变 +局部变形的模型作为描述中国大陆构造块体的现今活动和变形的模型。求出了有明显相对运动块体的欧拉运动矢量和块体的整体均匀变形参数、各块体内部的不均匀局部变形以及活动边界的活动方式和强度。在此基础上 ,除了一般地指出中国大陆地壳运动西强东弱的特征之外 ,还对西部主要活动块体和边界活动强弱给出了定量比较结果 ,从而为强震危险区的判别提供了形变背景依据     

中国大陆活动地块边界带与强震活动

本文在前人对中国大陆及周边活动地块研究和划分的基础上，系统研究了6个Ⅰ级活动地块区和22个Ⅱ级活动地块之间共26个活动边界带的构造变形与强震活动，包括强震分布与活动边界带的关系，边界带构造活动速率与地震活动水平及强震复发期等的关系. 给出了边界带强震活动水平与构造活动速率之间的线性关系和强震复发期长短与构造活动速率的反向变化关系. 从而进一步揭示了中国大陆活动地块构造及其块体运动特征，以及块体边界带的构造变形对强震的控制作用.     

根据现代地壳垂直运动划分中国大陆活动地块边界的尝试.

研究了中国大陆地壳垂直运动的特征，提出利用中国大陆现代地壳垂直形变速率图划分活动地块的思路和原则，并把中国大陆划分为东西2个Ｉ级地块，东北、华北、华南、西藏、甘青藏和新疆6个Ⅱ级地块和16个Ⅲ级地块．本文划分的活动地块边界与新构造活动的图象在总体上是一致的，局部地区有些差别．这表明，中国大陆地壳现今活动是第四纪以来新构造活动的继续，但也出现了一些新的活动趋势．      

Preliminary division of active block boundary in Chinese mainland based on recent vertical crustal movement

IntroductionSituated in the southeastern part of Eurasia Plate and surrounded by the India Plate, Eurasia Plate, Pacific Plate and Philippine Sea Plate, Chinese mainland especially the area of Qinghai-Xizang (Qingzang) Plateau and the south-north tectonic zone is the area with the most intensive neotectonic deformation. The main component of tectonic activity in Chinese mainland is active blocks. Therefore, it is quite important to study active blocks in the research of tectonic activit…     

Movement of Ordos block and alternation of activity along its boundaries

The GPS data in and around the Ordos block area indicate that the left-lateral slip rate along the northern or southern margin of the Ordos block is about twice or three times as fast as the right-lateral slip rate along the eastern or western margin of the block. However, many researchers stressed the dextral-slip of the eastern or western boundaries of the Ordos block, and suggested that the block as a whole rotated counterclockwise based on the available geological data. Focusing on the inconsistency, we reexamine the late Cenozoic deformation pattern in the Ordos region based on seismicity data and geodesy data (GPS and leveling) around it. The results indicate that the rigid block-like motion appears to be the basic characteristic of the kinematics of the Ordos region, and this motion is absorbed by the displacement of the faults around the block. When the faults along the northern and southern boundaries of the Ordos block are active, its eastern boundary is inactive. However, if the faults along the eastern boundary are active, the northern and southern are inactive. In recent years, the northern and southern boundaries of the Ordos block are in active. But in the long term, the Ordos block is moving southeastward relative to the Alxa and Yinshan blocks because of the strong pushing of the Tibetan Plateau on its southwestern side, and this deformation is accommodated by the counterclockwise rotation of the block itself.     

柴达木-祁连山地块内部震间上地壳块体运动特征与变形模式研究

以青藏高原北缘及东北缘的柴达木-祁连山地块内的活动断裂、由断裂所围限的微小块体为研究对象,系统收集整理区内活动断裂定量参数和GPS速度场等资料,使用球面应变率计算方法分析研究区内GPS 速度场得到现今构造应变率场,讨论区内最大剪应变率、面膨胀率与旋转率等参数与区域构造变形之间的关系;同时,依据区内详实的活动断裂资料建立精细的微小活动块体模型,利用Backslip模型反演断裂所围限的各个块体边界断裂的滑动速率、块体内部统一应变率及块体欧拉运动学参数等,并与活动构造方法获得的滑动速率做对比;最后,讨论研究区内由GPS速度场所揭示的地壳运动变形模式.结果表明:(1)柴达木-祁连山地区地壳运动,在沿着山脉走向上具有带状区域分块运动特征,大范围内具有弥散变形特征;(2)青藏高原北部变形场应是通过不同断裂差异性相对运动、区域内部逆冲挤压和块体旋转共同作用的结果.从鄂拉山到古浪民勤一带具有强烈的逆冲活动,其两侧地壳块体分别具有逆向旋转的运动性质;(3)在研究区东部GPS速度场所呈现顺时针旋转的形态,应是处于不同地块边界处的中下地壳与地幔介质差异驱动机制对上地壳块体所产生的作用,并以近地表断层应变率积累形式表现的结果,是祁连山地块、阿拉善块体、鄂尔多斯地块等大型块体推挤旋转影响下的复杂运动学形态.     

中国大陆活动地块边界带强震活动特征的研究

在中国大陆及周边活动地块与活动地块边界带研究和划分的基础上,研究了中国陆区6个Ⅰ级活动地块区和22个Ⅱ级活动地块之间的共计24个活动边界带上的强震活动特征。从各边界带上强震活动的频次和单位时间、单位长度的地震应变能释放出发,讨论了各活动地块边界带的强震总体活动水平;并从震级频度关系出发,计算了各带的理论最大震级与复发周期。通过与实际地震记录对比发现,由中国大陆各主要活动地块边界带的地震活动参数(a/b)所推算的强震活动强度与实际地震活动强度总体上具有较好的一致性,强震复发期与构造活动速率则呈明显的反向变化关系,这也表明本研究给出的各边界带的a,b值具有一定的参考意义。文中还利用历史强震资料以及各带强震活动的离逝时间,基于泊松分布,探讨了各活动边界带的现今地震活动水平及其危险程度     

MIGRATION OF LARGE EARTHQUAKES IN TIBETAN BLOCK AREA AND DISSCUSSION ON MAJOR ACTIVE REGION IN THE FUTURE

On the basis of summarizing the circulation characteristics and mechanism of earthquakes with magnitude 7 or above in continental China, the spatial-temporal migration characteristics, mechanism and future development trend of earthquakes with magnitude above 7 in Tibetan block area are analyzed comprehensively. The results show that there are temporal clustering and spatial zoning of regional strong earthquakes and large earthquakes in continental China, and they show the characteristics of migration and circulation in time and space. In the past 100a, there are four major earthquake cluster areas that have migrated from west to east and from south to north, i.e. 1)Himalayan seismic belt and Tianshan-Baikal seismic belt; 2)Mid-north to north-south seismic belt in Tibetan block area; 3)North-south seismic belt-periphery of Assam cape; and 4)North China and Sichuan-Yunnan area. The cluster time of each area is about 20a, and a complete cycle time is about 80a. The temporal and spatial images of the migration and circulation of strong earthquakes are consistent with the motion velocity field images obtained through GPS observations in continental China. The mechanism is related to the latest tectonic activity in continental China, which is mainly affected by the continuous compression of the Indian plate to the north on the Eurasian plate, the rotation of the Tibetan plateau around the eastern Himalayan syntaxis, and the additional stress field caused by the change of the earth's rotation speed.
Since 1900AD, the Tibetan block area has experienced three periods of high tides of earthquake activity clusters(also known as earthquake series), among which the Haiyuan-Gulang earthquake series from 1920 to 1937 mainly occurred around the active block boundary structural belt on the periphery of the Tibetan block region, with the largest earthquake occurring on the large active fault zone in the northeastern boundary belt. The Chayu-Dangxiong earthquake series from 1947 to 1976 mainly occurred around the large-scale boundary active faults of Qiangtang block, Bayankala block and eastern Himalayan syntaxis within the Tibetan block area. In the 1995-present Kunlun-Wenchuan earthquake series, 8 earthquakes with M_S7.0 or above have occurred on the boundary fault zones of the Bayankala block. Therefore, the Bayankala block has become the main area of large earthquake activity on the Tibetan plateau in the past 20a. The clustering characteristic of this kind of seismic activity shows that in a certain period of time, strong earthquake activity can occur on the boundary fault zone of the same block or closely related blocks driven by a unified dynamic mechanism, reflecting the overall movement characteristics of the block. The migration images of the main active areas of the three earthquake series reflect the current tectonic deformation process of the Tibetan block region, where the tectonic activity is gradually converging inward from the boundary tectonic belt around the block, and the compression uplift and extrusion to the south and east occurs in the plateau. This mechanism of gradual migration and repeated activities from the periphery to the middle can be explained by coupled block movement and continuous deformation model, which conforms to the dynamic model of the active tectonic block hypothesis.
A comprehensive analysis shows that the Kunlun-Wenchuan earthquake series, which has lasted for more than 20a, is likely to come to an end. In the next 20a, the main active area of the major earthquakes with magnitude 7 on the continental China may migrate to the peripheral boundary zone of the Tibetan block. The focus is on the eastern boundary structural zone, i.e. the generalized north-south seismic belt. At the same time, attention should be paid to the earthquake-prone favorable regions such as the seismic empty sections of the major active faults in the northern Qaidam block boundary zone and other regions. For the northern region of the Tibetan block, the areas where the earthquakes of magnitude 7 or above are most likely to occur in the future will be the boundary structural zones of Qaidam active tectonic block, including Qilian-Haiyuan fault zone, the northern margin fault zone of western Qinling, the eastern Kunlun fault zone and the Altyn Tagh fault zone, etc., as well as the empty zones or empty fault segments with long elapse time of paleo-earthquake or no large historical earthquake rupture in their structural transformation zones. In future work, in-depth research on the seismogenic tectonic environment in the above areas should be strengthened, including fracture geometry, physical properties of media, fracture activity behavior, earthquake recurrence rule, strain accumulation degree, etc., and then targeted strengthening tracking monitoring and earthquake disaster prevention should be carried out.     

由GPS观测结果推断中国大陆活动构造边界

利用“中国地壳运动观测网络”基本网1998年和2000年两期观测数据,得到分布在全国各构造块体上的79个GPS观测站速度场，对中国大陆主要活动构造块体间的相对运动显著性进行了分析和检验. 分析结果表明，西部活动构造块体的边界有较明显的相对运动，而东部运动不明显. 根据分析得到的活动边界，将中国大陆归并为11个活动块体，逐一计算了这些块体边界的活动量大小，确定了它们最新活动的方式.     

中国及邻区现代地块运动的数值模拟

本文利用板块几何学的方法研究中国及邻区地块间的相对运动,用数值方法计算了地块运动的角速度及边界断层的滑动速率。计算结果与活断层数据相当吻合,本文还利用地块运动速度讨论了我国现代构造活动     

应用地震学方法研究中国大陆活动地块应力应变场

在中国大陆活动地块假说及活动边界研究的基础上，将中国大陆按照地震活动特征进行分区. 利用大地震的震源机制资料和历史强震资料，结合小震综合节面解，研究了各地震区的应力应变状态，给出了各地震区的平均应力主轴方向和平均应变率. 应用地震应变能积累释放模型研究了各地震区的地震活动水平. 结果表明最大剪切应变率与地震活动水平存在线性关系. 将地震资料给出的中国大陆地壳应力应变场与GPS测量给出的结果进行了比较，初步说明了两种结果存在着统一性，从而显示出活动地块运动变形与强震活动的内在联系.     

A preliminary research establishing the present-time intraplate blocks movement model on the Chinese mainland based on GPS data

The Chinese mainland is regarded as the best area for studying the continental crustal movement and dynamics. In the past, based on the ground surface observation, it was very difficult to study the movement of the intraplate blocks within a range of larger space and a time scale of several years quantitatively. In this paper, a method of calculating the Euler vectors of present-time motion among blocks by using Cardan angles has been given completely based on two periods of GPS repetition measurement data of the National Ascending Plan of China (NAPC) — the study and application of current crustal movement and geodynamics in 1994 and 1996. A present-time blocks movement model on the Chinese mainland (PBMC-1), which describes the motion of seven blocks—Tibet, Chuan-Dian, Gan-Qing, Xinjiang, South China, North China and Heilongjiang block, is established preliminarily. The velocity field of the relative motion among the intraplate blocks and boundary motion in the Chinese mainland are firstly given within several years time scale. It is shown by the results calculated with the model that the velocity-rate of each block is reduced gradually from the south to north and from the west to east, and the motion direction changes gradually from NNE to E, even SEE or SE. The collision of Indian plate plays a leading role in the movement of the intraplate blocks in the Chinese mainland, while the motion manner and velocity-rate of block boundary zone (fracture zone) depend on the motion of every block again. The present-time motion of a time scale of several years computed with the model is not only largely consistent with the average motion of a time scale of several million years derived from geology, but also very coincident with the results of geophysical and astronomic observation. It is shown preliminarily that the observed results of space geodesy techniques such as GPS etc. are capable of discovering the crustal movement at present. This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSFC), National Ascending Plan of China (NAPC) and Chinese Joint Seismological Science Foundation (CJSSF).     

青藏块体东北缘近期水平运动与变形

利用青藏块体东北缘地区13、1年GPS观测资料，给出了本区地壳水平运动速度场及视应变场分布图，提出了由位移观测值直接求解块体旋转和变形参数的方法，初步研究了本区构造块体运动与变形特征.结果表明：①本区存在整体性向东-东南方的运动(速率约mm/a)；②南部的甘肃-青海块体的运动较快，而北部的阿拉善块体的运动较慢，二者运动速率相差近6mm/a，祁连-海原断裂带左旋走滑运动显著.③自西向东存在北北东-北东东向压性运动；④阿拉善块体、甘肃-青海块体内部存在北西西向张性变形，阿拉善块体的整体张性变形更显著，鄂尔多斯块体西侧的块体交接地带为压性运动.     

青藏高原东北缘、鄂尔多斯和华北唐山震区的地壳结构差异——深地震测深的结果

划分大陆活动地块的重要标志之一是它们在地壳结构间的差异。大陆不同地块具有不同的地壳结构特征。这些结构和构造上的不同反映了它们在地壳内部的变形特征和动力过程的差异。文中利用深地震宽角反射 /折射剖面的结果 ,讨论了青藏高原东北缘东昆仑巴颜喀拉地块、鄂尔多斯地块和华北地块唐山震区地壳结构的差异。它们分别是变形强烈的活动地块、内部变形小相对稳定的地块和现代发生过强震的活动地块。在地壳结构上它们之间的差别是明显的。这些差异表现在地壳的分层性质、上地壳和下地壳的结构、地壳结构的不均匀尺度、壳 /幔分界的性质、壳内低速层的分布、地壳界面、特别是莫霍面的构造形态等方面     

Correlation between movement of tectonicblocks and earthquakes in groups

Introduction ZHANG and ZHONG (1977), ZHANG, et al (1978) and ZHANG (1984) pointed out that Chinese mainland is divided into two parts by the NS-trending tectonic belt, i.e., the eastern area and the western area, and each area is divided into tectonic blocks by faults. In the eastern area, the faults are trending NNE and NNW, mainly NNE, and the long axis strike of blocks is nearly trending NS. In the western area, faults are trending NEE and NWW, mainly NWW, long axis strike …     

地块活动与成组地震关系的初步探讨

中国大陆构造的成块性与中国地震活动的成组性构成中国地震构造和地震活动的一个突出现象．本文在前人对中国大陆地震成组划分的结果和地块划分方案的基础上,研究了中国大陆地块与成组地震活动之间的关系,发现大部分强震分布于地块边界断层上,成组地震的孕育和发生与块体活动有关．由成组地震震中分布图表现出来的地块活动方式主要有４种:单缝式活动型、单地块活动型、多地块活动型和地块内部活动型．地块活动频度以单缝式活动型为最高,在成组地震中则以单地块活动型为多．大陆内部各地块的活动性有差别,东部比较活跃的地块有太行山和华北平原地块,西部比较活跃的地块有川滇和昆仑-松潘地块．      

Active tectonic blocks and strong earthquakes in the continent of China

The primary pattern of the late Cenozoic to the present tectonic deformation of China is characterized by relative movements and interactions of tectonic blocks. Active tectonic blocks are geological units that have been separated from each other by active tectonic zones. Boundaries between blocks are the highest gradient of differential movement. Most of tectonic activity occurs on boundaries of the blocks. Earthquakes are results of abrupt releases of accumulated strain energy that reaches the threshold of strength of the earth's crust. Boundaries of tectonic blocks are the locations of most discontinuous deformation and highest gradient of stress accumulation, thus are the most likely places for strain energy accumulation and releases, and in turn, devastating earthquakes. Almost all earthquakes of magnitude greater than 8 and 80%-90% of earthquakes of magnitude over 7 occur along boundaries of active tectonic blocks. This fact indicates that differential movements and interactions of active tectonic blocks are the primary mechanism for the occurrences of devastating earthquakes.     

Movement of Ordos block and alternation of activity along its boundaries

The GPS data in and around the Ordos block area indicate that the left-lateral slip rate along the northern or southern margin of the Ordos block is about twice or three times as fast as the right-lateral slip rate along the eastern or western margin of the block. However, many researchers stressed the dextral-slip of the eastern or western boundaries of the Ordos block, and suggested that the block as a whole rotated counterclockwise based on the available geological data. Focusing on the inconsistency, we reexamine the late Cenozoic deformation pattern in the Ordos region based on seismicity data and geodesy data (GPS and leveling) around it. The results indicate that the rigid block-like motion appears to be the basic characteristic of the kinematics of the Ordos region, and this motion is absorbed by the displacement of the faults around the block. When the faults along the northern and southern boundaries of the Ordos block are active, its eastern boundary is inactive. However, if the faults along the eastern boundary are active, the northern and southern are inactive. In recent years, the northern and southern boundaries of the Ordos block are in active. But in the long term, the Ordos block is moving southeastward relative to the Alxa and Yinshan blocks because of the strong pushing of the Tibetan Plateau on its southwestern side, and this deformation is accommodated by the counterclockwise rotation of the block itself.     

中国大陆地壳水平运动速度场与应变场

收集了中国大陆及周边地区GPS网的有关数据，提出了GPS网速度场的不同融合方法；经过融合建立了中国大陆及周边地区统一的地壳运动速度场，该速度场使用的有效GPS站共423个，其覆盖面积为1200万km^2；初步总结出中国大陆及周边地区地壳水平运动空间分布的基本特征；建立了板内块体的刚性弹塑性运动应变模型，对其进行了块体应变参数唯一性与速度残差中误差最小检验；根据中国大陆及周边地区的速度场，估计了8个块体的应变参数，分析了这些块体的应变状态，估计出的各个块体的应变状态与地质学、地球物理学方法估计的结果具有很好的一致性。用喜马拉雅块体主压应变方向估计的印度板块向欧亚板块碰撞力的主方向为北东7．1度。