Active blocks and strong seismic activity in North China region

The active North China block consists of three second-order blocks: Ordos, North China Plain, and East Shandong-Huanghai Sea blocks. Two active tectonic zones, the Anyang-Heze-Linyi and Tangshan-Cixian zones, exist in the active North China Plain block and have separated the active block into 3 third-order active blocks, Taihangshan, Hebei-Shandong, and Henan-Huai blocks. The 3 third-order active blocks are characterized by their entire motion and are clearly different in their Cenozoic structures and deep structures. The active boundary tectonic zones between the third-order active blocks are less than those between the first- and second-order active blocks in their movement strength, extent, and seismic activity. The density of M· ·6 earthquakes in the boundary zones between active blocks is higher than that within the blocks by 9–22 times in the North China region, up to one order of magnitude on average. M· · 7 earthquakes occurred basically in the boundary zones between active blocks. The difference is not occasional, but reflects the nature of intraplate movement and the characteristics of strong seismic activity and is the powerful evidence for hypothesis of active blocks.     

华北块体中等地震活动平静特征

采用累计频度方法,对华北活动地块Ms≥5．5地震前中等地震聚集活动区的地震做了时空扫描,并对平静现象进行了定量分析,结果表明：对各Ⅱ级活动地块采用不同的扫描方法．在强震前都表现出明显的增强、平静过程,平静的时间长短与所给定的构造区域有关。本文给出了华北3个Ⅱ级活动地块的发震模式。对各活动地块分别进行了R值检验,表明3个活动地块采用不同的发震模式均具有较高的预报效能。     

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.     

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．      

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 …     

强震造成的活动地块地壳形变差异探讨

20 0 1年 11月 14日发生在昆仑山口西的 8 1级地震 ,在地表产生了长度大于 35 0km的破裂带 ,最大水平位移 6m左右 ,为左旋走滑断层。在昆仑山口西 8 1级地震周围不同活动地块内不同构造部位布设的GPS基准站对地震的响应存在明显的差异。其中位于柴达木活动地块内部的德令哈基准站在地震的当天观测到 7 5mm的同震位移 ,位于川滇活动地块西南边界带的下关基准站在震后 3d发生了 6 8mm以上的明显位移 ,而位于同一地块内部的昆明基准站和位于祁连山活动地块内的西宁基准站、位于拉萨活动地块内的拉萨基准站震时和震后都没有产生明显的位移。GPS基准站的观测资料表明 ,强震所处的活动地块和其相邻活动地块对强震有明显的响应 ,如果相隔一活动地块 ,则受强震的影响较小 ;在活动地块内 ,活动强烈的边界带或其它活动较强的部位对强震引起的地壳形变的响应明显大于活动强度较弱的部位 ;强震对相邻活动地块影响的差异 ,主要与强震所处活动地块运动时对其产生的作用方式的差异有关     

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.     

华北成组强震孕育过程及预测研究

利用华北丰富的历史地震资料, 通过研究地震与块体活动的联系, 揭示了地震高潮期的形成过程。 认为地震高潮期成组强震的孕育与区域块体的运动方式相联系。 一个地震活动期可分为二个阶段, 在前期块体边界的运动是很不平衡的, 各组地震主要是由于各局部范围若干闭锁段破裂和破裂间相互作用的结果, 当沿块体边界的破裂发展到一定程度时, 这些边界所围的地块就会进入以整体运动为主的阶段, 这时块体边界的运动具有一定程度的同步性, 加之闭锁段破裂后不再重新闭锁, 从而导致块体边界闭锁段由弱到强渐进式的破裂过程, 直至一组强闭锁段完成破裂, 形成地震活动高潮。 这是成组强震形成的根本原因, 另外强震间的诱发作用也是强震成组发生的重要原因。 最后概述了如何利用以上模式预测地震高潮期的时间、 强度和主体活动场所。     

Basic characteristics of active tectonics of China

Active tectonics is inferred to all the structures which have been active since the late Pleisto-cene, 100—120 ka B.P., are still active recently, and will be active in a certain time period in the future, such as active faults, active folds, active basi…     

Characteristics of Horizontal Crustal Movement in the North China Region in the Last Decade

Based on high-precision data obtained in the past decade from GPS re-measurement in the North China Network, the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) and GPS measurement along the Shanxi graben zone, the status and evolution of horizontal crustal movement in the North China region are analyzed. The results show that (1) the Yanshan tectonic zone (Zhangjiakou-Bohai Sea zone)is an active one with the largest horizontal strain in the North China region; The largest tendency differential movement of adjacent blocks is seen between the Yanshan block and the North China plain block; about 2mm/a (left lateral) ; (2)The significant horizontal differential movement along the boundaries of the North China region is characterized by right-lateral strike-slip movement at the middle-north segment on its west boundary (composed of Yinchuan and other active tectonic zones) and compressive movement at the south segment; while the Yinshan rift zone located along the west segment on its north boundary is dominated by tensile movement. Other boundaries and zones have no obvious differential movement; (3) On the whole, measurements of each period differ from one another, which might result from the nonlinear movement component as well as from the error effect. In the paper, results of the relative movement and strain in different periods are given for different blocks and boundary zones.     

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.     

华北地区强震活动特点研究

华北地区是我国的政治、 经济和文化中心, 也是我国地震多发地区之一。 华北地区历史地震资料记载时间较早且较为连续, 是研究我国强震活动的理想试验场。 选取第三、 第四活动期M≥6.0地震目录作为基础资料研究华北地区强震活动特点。 首先探讨华北地区强震活动与活动地块、 边界带的关系, 然后从时间和空间上分析华北地区强震活动的轮回性阶段及其期幕活动特点, 最后计算未来5年华北地区发生下一次M≥6.0地震的累积概率和条件概率。 研究结果表明: ① 华北地区M≥6.0地震活动主要集中在活动地块的边界带, M≥7.0地震则全部发生在活动地块的边界带上, 同时华北地区地震应变释放速率与边界带的构造活动速率呈线性相关; ② 第四活动期各活跃幕的能量释放均低于第三活动期, 因此华北地区未来仍可能发生M≥6.0地震; ③ 第三、 第四活动期的主体活动区存在显著差异, 且第四活动期的强震活动较第三活动期向东迁移; ④ 在2020年年初发生第四活动期闭幕M≥6.0地震的累积概率为80%左右, 而在2022年年底前发生M≥6.0地震的条件概率为50%。 本研究可为华北地区地震大形势分析和中长期地震危险性预测提供重要参考。     

汶川8．0级特大地震前地震活动的显著特征

2008年5月12日四川省汶川县发生了MS8．0特大地震（本文震级均为MS）,该地震是中国大陆内部活动地块边界带的特大地震,它发生在青藏、华南一级活动地块区边界交汇部位的龙门山断裂带。本文结合活动地块划分结果阐述了汶川8．0级特大地震前7级强震格局,探讨了该特大地震前可能的动力学变化过程;以中国大陆地区为研究对象,分析...     

天山地块强震活动的时空特征研究

通过对天山地块近百年地震活动时空特征分析表明: ① M_S≥7.0地震沿块体边界成带分布, 南边界带强于北边界带, 南、 北边界带的西部强于东部, 南天山西段是地震活动水平最高、 复发周期最短、 强震序列类型最复杂、 地震危险性最大的地区; ② 地震活动在时间上显示出准周期性, 表现为M_S≥7.0地震具有活跃与平静的交替性及5级以上地震活动度曲线的起伏变化; 最大熵谱计算地震活动度的显著周期为40年, 小波分析给出40年左右周期系数的时间曲线表明, 7级以上地震都发生在曲线由最高值至最低值的下降段, 而上升段为强震的平静期; ③ 在强震活跃期及平静期, 中强以上地震(M_S≥5.0)在块体的不同部位(地块南、 北边界带及块体内部)的分布状态和活动水平存在明显的差异, 在活跃期南、 北边界带中强以上地震的集中性和成带性强, 且彼此活动水平差异小, 但与块体内部差异大; 而在平静期南、 北边界带的活动水平差异大, 块体内部地震活动显著增强; ④ 在活跃期, 天山地块南、 北边界带强震活动存在一定的呼应关系, 当一个边发生强震后, 另一边在数天至数年也存在发生强震的可能。     

吴忠—灵武地区地震活动性与强震危险性分析

通过吴忠—灵武地区现有的地震活动性资料,并结合该区域过去的几次中强震震例和已有的研究结果,本文梳理与总结了中强震前该区域地震活动乃至中国大陆大震活动的时空特征,而且基于最小完整性震级分析了1970—2019年该区域中小地震的地震活动性特点。综合认为,吴忠—灵武地区中强震的广义前震和中小地震的活动性具有较为鲜明的特征,中强震发生前1—2年内该区域及邻区形成M_L2.0以上地震集中区或其西北方向的阿左旗腰坝区域大都出现M_L3.0以上信号震,而且一年前其主震的广义前震的确比较发育,存在一定程度的地震增强;地震序列统计分析表明,该区域的多重共轭构造可能是其主要原因,其多震型、双震型和震群型占有相对较高的比例。另外,从大形势角度来看,过去大部分5级以上中强震发生的主导因素很可能由华北地块主导的强震活跃幕引起,该区域的强震危险性不仅仅和局部特殊构造特征、区域前震活动变化有关,更重要的是,华北—东北亚地块大震活动对其也起到了较大的影响作用,相比而言,青藏高原、龙门山断裂带及祁连山构造带等区域的大震活动对吴忠—灵武地区中强地震触发影响不显著,而且吴忠—灵武地区的中强地震活动和华北—东北亚地块的大震活动可能存在一定的构造响应。      

日本内陆地震活动的迁移与扩散

本文研究了日本内陆及其外围海域发生大地震后的地震活动迁移现象。在所研究的6个震例中,一个共同的特点是,地震活动的迁移总是沿着地壳内的活动地质构造带发生。有时可以根据地震活动的迁移来进一步确定活动构造带的存在。把板块边缘地区的地震活动类比为沿着力学偶合平面迁移和扩散,我们可以认为,岛上的活动构造带对应着地壳块体的力学相互作用边界。地震迁移的形式可能不只一种。在我们所研究的震例中发现了以下特征:地震迁移速度约为几km/年;大地震震源区之间存在着地震空区;在每一条地震带上有一定的地震活动周期。地震迁移的一种可能机制是:由于地壳块体的相对运动,在其边界上的凹凸不平区造成了构造应力集中,这些凹凸不平区相继地发生破裂,形成了地震迁移。     

由跨断层形变测量反映的华北地块近期断裂活动特征

通过对华北地块不同构造部位、不同地震活动时段的跨断层测量资料研究表明，华北地块对于NE走向断裂作用为主的构造单元(包括地块和边界带)的强震活跃时段的断层运动速率明显小于强震不活跃时段；对于NW走向断裂作用为主的构造单元，其强震活跃时段的断层运动速率明显大于强震不活跃时段；对于NE、NW走向断裂共同作用的构造单元，断层运动速率变化特征类似于NW走向断裂作用为主的构造单元。结果还表明，华北地块现今强震活动主要受NW走向断裂的控制。     

中国东部海域断裂构造格架与地震活动研究

渤海、黄海和东海等中国东部海域在地质构造上是大陆向海的自然延伸，海域内的构造方向与大陆一致，均为NNE-NE向，但属于不同的二级大地构造单元，渤海和北黄海属于华北地块，南黄海属于扬子地块，东海属于华南地块。由于各地块与现今活动板块边界位置不同，构造与地震活动性差异较大，渤海和北黄海地区地震活动主要受印度板块与欧亚板块碰撞形成的东喜马拉雅构造节远场效应影响，地震活动强烈；南黄海地区以中强地震活动为主；东海地区地震活动主要受菲律宾海板块与欧亚板块碰撞形成的琉球俯冲带影响。冲绳海槽是正在形成的（活动的）边缘海盆地，不仅有浅源地震，且有中源地震活动。东海陆架盆地由于受冲绳海槽扩张的影响，停止发育，构造与地震活动相对较弱。     

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.     

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.