Analysis on the master event method and precise location of 1997 Jiashi strong earthquake swarm in western China

IntroductionEarthquakelocationisoneoftheoldestinverseproblemsinseismology.Preciseearthquakelocationisthebasisoftheseismicresearch.Theprecisionoftheearthquakelocationdependsonmanyfactors,suchasthequalityofthestationnetwork,theprecisionoftheseismicwavearrivaltimemeasured,andtheknowledgeaboutthecrustalvelocitystructureandsoon.AccordingtotheresearchmadebyZhao(1983),thehorizontallocationerroroftheeanhquakelocatedbythetraditionalabsolutemethodinthecentralareaofNorthChinaisabouttZkin,intheedgeregio…     

Earthquake probabilities and magnitude distribution ( M ≥6.7) along the Haiyuan fault, northwestern China

In recent years, some researchers have studied the paleoearthquake along the Haiyuan fault and revealed a lot of paleoearthquake events. All available information allows more reliable analysis of earthquake recurrence interval and earthquake rupture patterns along the Haiyuan fault. Based on this paleoseismological information, the recurrence probability and magnitude distribution for M≥6.7 earthquakes in future 100 years along the Haiyuan fault can be obtained through weighted computation by using Poisson and Brownian passage time models and considering different rupture patterns. The result shows that the recurrence probability of M _S≥6.7 earthquakes is about 0.035 in future 100 years along the Haiyuan fault. Foundation item: Joint Seismological Science Foundation of China (103034) and Major Research “Research on Assessment of Seismic Safety” from China Earthquake Administration during the tenth Five-year Plan.     

Rupture process of November 6, 1988, Lancang-Gengma, Yunnan, China, earthquake of M s=7.6 using empirical Green’s function deconvolution method

The empirical Green’s function deconvolution technique is applied to the November 6, 1998,M _s=7.6, Yunnan, China earthquake to study the rupture process of this event. An aftershock ofM _s=6.3 is taken as the empirical Green’s function. Recordings of these two events at six stations of China Digital Seismographic Network (CDSN) are employed. Deconvolution results show that this event is a relatively simple event. Directivity analysis indicates that the rupture was initiated at hypocenter and propagated bilaterally and early symmetrically towards the northwest and southeast directions with a total length of 70 km and a time duration of 19 s. The rupture velocity is estimated to be about 2.0 km/s. Contribution No. 98A01004, Institute of Geophysics, State Seismological Bureau, China. This study is supported by the Chinese Joint Seismological Science Foundation(95-07-411).     

Two-step interface and velocity inversion

This paper studies the computation method of two-step inversion of interface and velocity in a region. The 3-D interface is described by a segmented incomplete polynomial; while the reconstruction of 3-D velocity is accomplished by the principle of least squares in functional space. The computation is carried out in two steps. The first step is to inverse the shape of 3-D interface; while the second step is to do 3-D velocity inversion by distributing the remaining residual errors of travel time in accordance with their weights. The data of seismic sounding in the Tangshan-Luanxian seismic region are processed, from which the 3-D structural form in depth of the Tangshan seismic region and the 3-D velocity distribution in the crust below the Tangshan-Luanxian seismic region are obtained. The result shows that the deep 3-D structure in the Tangshan seismic region trends NE on the whole and the structure sandwiched between the NE-trending Fengtai-Yejituo fault and the NE-trending Tangshan fault is an uplifted zone of the Moho. In the 3-D velocity structure of middle-lower crust below that region, there is an obvious belt of low-velocity anomaly to exist along the NE-trending Tangshan fault, the position of which tallies with that of the Tangshan seismicity belt. The larger block of low-velocity anomaly near Shaheyi corresponds to a denser earthquake distribution. In that region, there is an NW-trending belt of high-velocity anomaly, probably a buried fault zone. The lower crust below the epicentral region of the Tangshan M _S=7.8 earthquake is a place where the NE-trending belt of low-velocity anomaly meets the NW-trending belt of high-velocity anomaly. The two sets of structures had played an important role in controlling the preparation and occurrence of the M _S=7.8 Tangshan earthquake. Contribution RCEG97006, Research Center of Exploration Geophysics, China Seismological Bureau, China. This project is supported by the Chinese Joint Seismological Science Foundation.     

Ray equation migration of wide-angle reflections in Dabie orogenic zone

Ray equation migration of wide-angle reflections in 2-D medium is one kind of Kirchhoff prestack depth migration method. Based on ray theory, this method can be used extensively in 2-D inhomogeneous medium, and shows its advantage in wide-angle reflection study. After calculating ray fields, we can get the wave fields of sources and receivers by interpolation, and the intensity (or amplitude) A _p corresponding to the depth point P at travel-time t _P =t _SP +t _PR can be found in seismograms. Ray equation migration is completed by transforming A _P according to the specific relation, migrating it to the depth point, then calculating the ray fields of lots of sources and receivers in the same way and finally stacking the outcomes. Numerical calculation has yielded satisfactory results. Data processing of the Zhuangmu-Yuexi-Huangmei-Zhanggondu profile passing through the Dabie orogenic zone provides a structural form of M-discontinuity along the profile. The result shows that the high pressure metamorphic rock zone of South Dabie rock mass is related to the uplifting of M-discontinuity here. "Mountain root" exists under North Dabie rock mass, which conforms with gravity isostasy theory. The Xiaotian-Mozitan fault is a suture zone as a result of the collision of North China plate with Yangtze plate, and extends through M-discontinuity. The abyssal fault near Liu’an is the extended eastern section of the Luonan-Minggang fault, which is also confirmed here. Contribution No. RCEG 96012, Research Center of Exploration Geophysics, SSB, China. This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Chinese Joint Seismological Science Foundation.     

The characteristics of variation in inhomogeneity of temporal-spatial distribution of short to imminent precursors before strong earthquakes

IntroductionShort-to-imminentprecursorsstillarethemainbasisforearthquakepredictioninthepresenttime.Strongquakes,especiallythosewithnoforeshocks,canbeforecastedtosomeextentbasedonabundantshoat-to-imminentprecursorsandcombiningwiththemid-to-longtermvar...     

2014年阿拉善块体西缘两次中强地震震源机制解

2014年2月12日新疆于田发生了MS7.3地震,之后在阿拉善块体西缘相继发生了蒙古4.9级、新疆哈密5.1级地震。利用甘肃"十五"数字地震台网的波形资料,采用CAP方法反演这两次地震的震源机制解。结果显示蒙古4.9级地震为走滑型,而新疆哈密5.1级属于逆冲型,表明青藏块体与阿拉善块体之间的作用增强引发了这两次地震活动。     

Application of the value of nonlinear parameters H and Δ H in strong earthquake prediction

In this paper, the relation that the curves of nonlinear parameter H and its difference ΔH bear with strong earthquakes in North China has been studied. First, the RSH algorithm has been applied to the North China region; the schemes of six quantitative prediction indexes have been studied in detail and then tested by tracing-back predictions. The result shows that all the six prediction schemes are of certain prediction efficiency and have passed the test. Among the six schemes, A and E are of the best effect, with correlation coefficients R of 0.47 and 0.48 respectively. We recommend these two schemes for practical use in prediction in the future. Furthermore, the relation between the curve of ΔH (the difference of H) and strong earthquake has been studied. Based on the above results, the RSΔH algorithm that uses the ΔH value to predict strong earthquake has been put forward and applied to predict strong earthquakes in North China. The correlation coefficient R of tracing-back prediction by this method is 0.45; this means that this method is also of better prediction efficiency. A combined application of these two algorithms has also been proposed. By the combined method, the time length spanned by false predictions can be shortened and thus the R value can be raised. Contribution No. 96A0033, Institute of Geophysics, SSB, China. This project sponsored by the Chinese Joint Seismological Science Foundation.     

Spatial and temporal characteristics of acoustic emission activity during deformation of rock samples with inhomogeneous fault under biaxial compression

The spatial and temporal distributions of acoustic emission （AE） during the deformation of samples containing an inhomogeneous fault have been studied under biaxial compression. The results show that the fault strength and the duration from loading to failure increase and the failure mode changes from abrupt instability to gradual failure with increase of lateral stress σ2. The pre-setting fault and its heterogeneity play an important role in controlling AE spatial distribution during the deformation. The basic pattern of AE spatial distribution is controlled by the pre-setting fault, especially the parts with inhomogeneous strength and the strong segment, and the localization of fracturing starts from the positions with inhomogeneous strength, With increase of σ5, the dense AE distribution area spreads from the positions with inhomogeneous strength to the whole strong segment gradually. AE temporal sequence is significantly affected by σ2. The fault shows abrupt instability in final failure, which occurs on a background of ＂enhancement-quiescence＂ in microfracturing activity at lower σ2. At higher σ5, the fault shows gradual failure, and AE occurrence rate increases continuously and AER increase exponentially before and after the failure, The effect of σ2 on b-value is also remarkable, b-value shows precursory decrease in the weakening stage when fault behavior is abrupt instability, but it shows balanced change when fault behavior is gradual failure,     

Regional characteristics of coda attenuation after the lancang-Gengma earthquake

In the light of the single scattering model of coda originating from local earthquakes, and based on the aftershock coda registered respectively at the 4 short period stations installed near the foci shortly after theM7.6 Lancang andM7.2 Gengma earthquakes, this paper has tentatively calculated the rate of amplitude attenuation and theQ _c-value of the coda in the Lancang and Gengma areas using a newly-founded synthetic determination method. Result of the study shows the rate of coda amplitude attenuation demonstrates remarkable regional differences respectively in the southern and northern areas. The southern area presents a faster attenuation (Q _c=114), whereas the northern area shows a slower attenuation (Q _c=231). The paper also discusses the reasons causing such differences. Result of the study also suggests a fairly good linear relation between the coda source factorA _o(f) and the seismic moment and the magnitude. Using the earthquake scaling law, the following formulas can be derived: lgM ₀=lgA ₀(f)+17.6,M _D=0.67lgA ₀(f)+1.21 and logM ₀=1.5M _D+15.79. In addition, the rates of amplitude attenuationβ _s andβ _m are respectively calculated using the single scattering and multiple scattering models, and the ratioβ _s/β_m=1.20−1.50 is found for the results respectively from the two models. Finally, the mean free pathL of the S-wave scattering in the southern and northern areas are determined to be 54 km and 122 km respectively by the relations which can distinguish between the inherentQ _i and scatteringQ _s, testify to this areas having lowQ-values correspond to stronger scatterings. The Chinese version of this paper appeared in the Chinese edition ofActa Seismologica Sinica,14, 71–82, 1992. This study is partly supported by the Seismological Science Foundation of the State Seismological Bureau of China, and the present English version of the paper is translated from its Chinese original by Wenyi Xia, Seismological Bureau of Yunnan Province.     

The research on relationship between wavelet transform on vertical deformation and moderate earthquakes in hexi region, Gansu Province

ＴｈｅｒｅｓｅａｒｃｈｏｎｒｅｌａｔｉｏｎｓｈｉｐｂｅｔｗｅｅｎｗａｖｅｌｅｔｔｒａｎｓｆｏｒｍｏｎｖｅｒｔｉｃａｌｄｅｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎａｎｄｍｏｄｅｒａｔｅｅａｒｔｈｑｕａｋｅｓｉｎＨｅｘｉｒｅｇｉｏｎ,ＧａｎｓｕＰｒｏｖｉｎｃｅＹＯＮＧ－ＺＨ...     

The structure and ability of the China Seismological Gravity Monitoring System

IntroductionMore than 30 years has passed since gravity method was used to Study the eanhquake prediction in China in later 1960s (In America, Germany, Japan and the former Soviet Union etC. it haspassed nearly half a century). In this 30 years the most remarkable success achieved are as follows.First, in the cognition aspect, the questions whether the gravity will change or not before earthquake and how much the magnitUde of change has been answered. TO the fial queStion, the answer is p…     

Time distribution characteristics of regional macroseismic activity in the Sichuan-Yunnan region and its significance to mid-long term prediction

IntroductionThe development and occurrence of macroseismic activity come from the specific structUreenvironment and stress condition. So the space-time distribUtion of strong quakes appears to bevery inhomogeneous. Earthquakes with Ms27.0 in a seismicity period presented often a speeding-up pattern with time in different seismic provinces. That is, the cumulative frequency of earthquakes with Ms27.0 increase with exponent N(t)=ae', in a seismicity period (ZHANG, FU, 1989).It means that t…     

High frequency fall-off of source spectra using Q -free spectra estimation

ＩｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎＴｈｅｅａｒｔｈｑｕａｋｅｓｏｕｒｃｅｓｐｅｃｔｒａｓｔｕｄｉｅｓｍａｙｂｅｔｒａｃｅｄｂａｃｋｔｏｌａｔｅ１９６０ｓ（Ａｋｉ,１９６７;Ｂｒｕｎｅ,１９７０;Ｈａｎｋｓ,１９７９）．Ｆｏｒｉｔｓｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｃｅｉｎｓｔｒ...     

Geomagnetic daily variations around Huanghai earthquake

The geomagnetic daily variations of vertical component, which were recorded by geomagnetic array in Jiangsu Province, are investigated with the method of multichannel Wiener filtering. The results show that the daily standard errors between raw data and the actual output of the filter for the nearest stations away from epicenter are obviously higher than ordinary level before the Huanghai earthquake, especially three days before, then returned to normal after the earthquake. The Chinese version of this paper appeared in the Chinese edition ofActa Seismologica Sinica,13, 76–79, 1991. The project was supported by the Chinese Joint Seismological Science Foundation.     

Study on a gravity precursor mode of the Ms=7.0 Lijiang earthquake

To study the seismogeny process or the precursory behavior of the 1976Ms=7.0 Lijiang earthquake,we analyze the repeat gravity data with high precision from the Westem Yunnan Earthquake Prediction Experiment Area(WYEPEA)and the relted results of geology and geophysics survey in this paper.Considering the gross errors caused by observation data and model difference,we have firstly inverted the slip distribution of the main active faults with time based on the robust Bayesian least squares estimation and multi-fault dislocation model.The re-sults show that the slip changes of the faults with time from 1990to 1997obviously reflect the preparation process of the Lijiang earthquake.The images of main precursor mode have the characteristic of main shock-after shock type,which is agreement to the model of coupling movement tetween crust density and crust deformation(DD mode of coupling movement).     

Attenuation characteristics of peak horizontal acceleration in Northeast and Southwest China

Regional seismic characteristics in northeastern and southwestern China are quite different. Earthquakes are more frequent in SW China than in NE China and intensity attenuates faster in SW China than in NE China. Through regression analyses of data from these two regions we have found the attenuation of peak horizontal accelerations also to be noticeably different. For northeastern China the regression is log₁₀(a) = ?0.474 + 0.613M ? 0.873 log₁₀ (R) ?0.00206R and for southwestern China, the regression is log₁₀ (a) = 0.437 + 0.454M ? 0.739 log₁₀ (R) ?0.00279R where a is acceleration in cm/sec², M is the Chinese surface wave magnitude (Institute of Geophysics, State Seismological Bureau), and R is the distance in kilometres. The formula for northeastern China has distance coefficients similar to those for Central United States as derived by Nuttli and Herrmann¹⁴.     

Ground motion attenuation relation for small to moderate earthquakes in Fujian region, China

We collect 1974 broad-band velocity records of 94 earthquakes (ML=2.8~4.9, △=13~462 km) from seven stations of the Fujian Seismic Network from March 1999 to March 2007. Using real-time simulation, we obtain the corresponding acceleration and then adopt different models to analyze the seismic data. As a result, a new attenuation relationship between PGA and PGV of the small and moderate earthquakes on bedrock site in Fujian region is established. The Yongchun earthquake occurred recently verifies the attenuation relationship well. This paper provides a new approach for studying the ground motion attenuation relationship using velocity records.     

Source time functions of the 1999, Jiji (Chi-Chi) earthquake from GDSN long period waveform data using aftershocks as empirical Green’s functions

A large earthquake (M _W=7.6) occurred in Jiji (Chi-Chi), Taiwan, China on September 20, 1999, and was followed by many moderate-size shocks in the following days. Two of the largest aftershocks with the magnitudes of M _W=6.1 and M _W=6.2, respectively, were used as empirical Green’s functions (EGFs) to obtain the source time functions (STFs) of the main shock from long-period waveform data of the Global Digital Seismograph Network (GDSN) including IRIS, GEOSCOPE and CDSN. For the M _W=6.1 aftershock of September 22, there were 97 pairs of phases clear enough from 78 recordings of 26 stations; for the M _W=6.2 aftershock of September 25, there were 81 pairs of phases clear enough from 72 recordings of 24 stations. For each station, 2 types of STFs were retrieved, which are called P-STF and S-STF due to being from P and S phases, respectively. Totally, 178 STF individuals were obtained for source-process analysis of the main shock. It was noticed that, in general, STFs from most of the stations had similarities except that those in special azimuths looked different or odd due to the mechanism difference between the main shock and the aftershocks; and in detail, the shapes of the STFs varied with azimuth. Both of them reflected the stability and reliability of the retrieved STFs. The comprehensive analysis of those STFs suggested that this event consisted of two sub-events, the total duration time was about 26 s, and on the average, the second event was about 7 s later than the first one, and the moment-rate amplitude of the first event was about 15% larger than that of the second one. Foundation item: State Natural Science Foundation of China (49904004) and IPGP of France. Contribution No. 02FE2007, Institute of Geophysics, China Seismological Bureau.