In situ stress measurements in a borehole close to the Nojima Fault

Abstract In situ stress was measured close to the fault associated with the 1995 Kobe Earthquake (Hyogo-ken Nanbu earthquake; January 1995; M 7.2) using the hydraulic fracturing method. The measurements were made approximately 2 years after the earthquake. The measured points were approximately 40 m from the fault plane at depths of about 1500 m. The maximum and the minimum horizontal compressive stresses were 45 MPa and 31 MPa, respectively. The maximum compressive stress and the maximum shear stress are very small in comparison with those of other seismically active areas. The azimuth of the maximum horizontal compressive stress was estimated from the observed azimuths of well bore breakouts at depths between 1400 m and 1600 m and was found to be N135° (clockwise). The maximum stress axis is perpendicular to the fault strike, N45°. These features are interpreted in terms of a small frictional coefficient of the fault. The shear stress on the fault was released and dropped almost to zero during the earthquake and it has not yet recovered. Zero shear stress on the fault plane resulted from the perpendicular orientation of one of the principal stress to the fault plane.     

潮汐应力与大震关系研究

选用1976—2009年全球震源深度小于70 km, M_W≥7.0的地震为研究对象, 利用震源机制解资料, 对每个地震的发震断层面进行了判断, 得到233个地震的发震断层面解。 据此, 本文讨论了发震时断层面上的地球固体潮汐剪应力方向与滑动方向的关系以及潮汐正应力在发震时所处的相位, 发震时断层面的库仑应力值。 结果表明, 当潮汐剪应力方向与滑动方向一致时触发作用最为明显, 逆断层地震与潮汐的关系最为密切; 而当潮汐剪应力方向与滑动方向相反时, 地震较少发生。     

In‐situ stress at a site close proximity to the Gofukuji Fault,central Japan,measured using drilling cores

The stress state near the Gofukuji Fault, central Japan, was estimated by simultaneously applying deformation rate analysis (DRA), the acoustic emission (AE) method, and AE rate analysis (AERA) to drilling core samples recovered from depths of 327 and 333 m at a site close to the fault. The obtained stress state was for a strike‐slip fault. It is predicted from the estimated stresses that a tensile stress of 6.4 ± 1.1 MPa acted on the borehole wall at 333 m depth during drilling. This is comparable to the typical tensile strength of granodiorite. The tensile stress estimated at 327 m depth is less than the tensile strength. This is consistent with observations of drilling‐induced tensile fracture (DITF) at depths between 329 and 334 m. Ratios of the shear stress to normal stress (normalized shear stress) acting on the fault are calculated to be 0.4–1.0, which are comparable to friction coefficients of rocks measured in laboratories. The large normalized shear stress may represent strength recovery of the Gofukuji Fault. The impendency of earthquake occurrence on this fault is evaluated to be high from the recurrence interval of earthquakes on the fault.     

四川芦山MS7.0地震余震序列双差定位、震源机制及应力场反演

2013年4月20日发生了四川芦山M_S7.0地震,主震中位于青藏地块与华南地块结合部的龙门山断裂带南端.本研究用双差定位法对芦山地震主震及余震序列进行重新定位,得到主震位置为(30.29°N,102.97°E,17.82 km)及4100多次余震重新定位结果.利用GSN/IRIS台网和国家台网及四川省区域台网的波形数据对主震及部分余震进行了震源机制解反演.结果表明,主震为一次逆冲地震,根据余震序列分布确定发震断层面走向为200°,震源机制解断层倾角为45°.基于震源断层面解和断层滑动方向,采用力轴张量计算法得到了研究区域的平均主压应力方向约为N112°E.     

DISCUSSION ON RUPTURE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 2013 TONGLIAO M5.3 EARTHQUAKE AND ITS AFTERSHOCKS

On two velocity models, the HypoDD method is used to accurately locate the Tongliao M5.3 earthquake sequence, then the CAP method is used to invert the focal mechanism solutions. The parameters of the seismogenic fault plane are fitted quantitatively by the small earthquake distribution and the regional stress field. The geometry, rupture features and possible seismogenic structure of the Tongliao M5.3 earthquake are comprehensively determined. The HypoDD relocation results show that this earthquake is located at 42.95°N, 122.37°E, the whole sequence trends in NW and major aftershocks (M_L ≥ 3.0) strike in NEE direction. With the time elapsed, the aftershocks extended to the shallow crust gradually. Comparing the focal mechanism solutions and relocation results, we determine that the fitted causative fault based on NNW-trending aftershock distribution is reliable, which has the top left corner (43.00°N, 122.35°E, depth 3.3km), lower left corner (43.00°N, 122.35°E, depth 8.9km), upper right corner (42.92°N, 122.37°E, depth 3.3km), lower right corner (42.92°N, 122.37°E, depth 8.9km), extending range 3km×7km, trending in 349° (NNW), dip angle 86° (nearly vertical), and slip angle 15°. It is inferred that whole process of main shock rupture is from the source to the NW and SE sides as a shear. The rupture degree is larger in southeast where the late rupture concentrated, and did not reach the surface.     

2021年吴忠—灵武ML3.6震群重新定位及震源机制研究

2021年7月18日—8月7日,宁夏吴忠—灵武地区发生M_L3.6显著震群活动。本文利用多阶段定位方法对该震群进行了重新定位,并根据gCAP方法反演了2021年7月20日灵武M_L3.6地震的震源机制及震源矩心深度,采用Snoke方法计算了震群中3次M_L3.0以上地震的震源机制,测定了同一地震多个震源机制的中心解。结果表明,该震群中最大的地震即7月20日02时40分M_L3.6地震的震源机制为节面Ⅰ走向289°,倾角72°,滑动角?22°,节面Ⅱ走向26°,倾角69°,滑动角?161°,震源矩心深度为12 km,初始破裂深度为12.5 km;7月20日03时15分M_L3.2地震的震源机制为节面Ⅰ走向290°,倾角82°,滑动角?2°,节面Ⅱ走向20°,倾角88°,滑动角?172°,初始破裂深度为11.9 km;7月21日04时55分M_L3.1地震的震源机制为节面Ⅰ走向285°,倾角53°,滑动角2°,节面Ⅱ走向194°,倾角88°,滑动角143°,初始破裂深度为11.6 km,这些地震震源机制的主压应力轴主要为NE向。该震群序列的震源深度主要相对集中在7—15 km之间,其中M_L3.0以上地震的震源深度主要介于11—13 km,震源深度剖面显示震群相对集中的区域由深到浅大体呈现近似于陡立的展布。本文进一步研究发现区域应力场在灵武M_L3.6地震震源机制NNE向节面产生的相对剪应力为0.393,而在NWW向节面产生的相对剪应力为0.945。结合地质构造和已有断层资料初步分析认为,若NNE向的崇兴隐伏断裂为灵武M_L3.6地震的发震断层,则表明崇兴断裂可能是一条断裂薄弱带,地震破裂方式主要为右旋走滑;若NWW向的未知隐伏断裂为发震断层,则表明NWW向断裂可能为该地震在区域应力场下的剪应力相对最大释放节面,其破裂方式为左旋走滑。      

用滑动方向拟合法反演富蕴地震断裂带应力场

本文根据野外考察测得的1931年新疆富蕴8级地震形成的地震断裂带内42组断层水平和垂直位移数据,求得42个断层面上的滑动方向.利用滑动方向拟合法(使计算的断层面上的剪切力方向与观测的滑动方向之间夹角最小)求出了断裂带上由北向南四个区段的驱动断层滑动的平均应力场.结果表明,四个区段的最大和最小主压应力轴皆水平,最大主压应力轴方位大致在 N15E 至 N30E 之间.整个断裂带的应力场相当均一,这说明富蕴大地震的发震原因不象是局部因素,而可能是大范围构造运动的结果.      

利用近场强震记录反演2016年日本熊本县地震震源破裂过程

2016年4月15日16时25分（UTC）,日本熊本县发生M_W7.1强烈地震,给当地人员、建筑及经济造成严重灾难和巨大损失.日本地震观测网F-net给出的震源机制解显示此次地震的震源位置为130.7630°E,32.7545°N,深度12.45 km,节面Ⅰ：走向N131°E、倾角53°、滑动角-7°;节面Ⅱ：走向N226°E、倾角84°、滑动角-142°.与此同时,余震的震中分布及其震源机制结果显示主震的震源机制在破裂过程中有可能发生了变化,单一的震源机制不足以充分解释观测数据.本文依据GNSS和InSAR地表形变反演结果为约束,并结合活动构造资料为参考,构建了震源机制变化的有限断层模型,采用水平层状介质模型,利用日本强震观测台网K-NET和KiK-net的近场加速度观测记录,通过多时间窗线性波形反演方法反演了此次地震的震源破裂过程.研究结果显示,这是一次沿Futagawa-Hinagu断层带发生的右旋走滑破裂事件,发震断层分为南北两段,其中北段走向N235°E、倾角60°,南段走向N205°E、倾角72°,断层深度范围和余震深度分布基本一致,断层面上滑动主要集中于断层北段,最大滑动量约7.9 m,整个断层的破裂过程持续约18 s,释放地震矩5.47×10¹⁹ N·m（M_W7.1）.     

用接收函数建立区域模型的震源机制反演及其在芦山地震序列研究中的应用

本文提出并试验了一种基于接收函数建立区域模型进行震源机制反演的方法.选取四川地震台网记录的M≥3且信噪比高的近震波形资料,反演得到了芦山地震序列中74个地震的震源机制.通过对震源深度和震源机制的综合分析,探讨了芦山地震的发震构造和区域应力场状态.采用接收函数方法反演获取了26个台站下方的S波速度结构,对不同区域的台站反演结果进行叠加平均,以此区域平均S波速度作为本文震源机制反演使用的区域模型的S波速度;区域模型的P波速度由经验公式给出.反演稳定性测试表明,使用不同模型或对原始波形记录加入随机噪声的反演结果与原始反演相比,震源深度最大误差为1km,断层面各参数误差水平也很低,且显示的发震类型是一致的,其中随机噪声带来的误差小于模型带来的误差.主震反演得到的震源机制解为:震源深度17km,矩震级6.47;节面Ⅰ走向213°,倾角51°,滑动角98°;节面Ⅱ走向20°,倾角40°,滑动角80°;显示芦山主震可视为纯逆冲型地震,发震构造可能是某个具有较大倾角的逆冲断层,而不是低缓的推覆构造的基底滑脱面.同时本文反演获取的73个M≥3余震的震源机制绝大多数也显示了类似的发震类型,逆冲型地震为67个,占92%,具有绝对优势;走滑型地震为5个,正断型地震为1个.其中5个走滑型地震中的4个均分布在震源区的东北端.整个芦山地震序列深度集中在12~20km,且沿震源区短轴的余震深度剖面有自西向东呈逐步变浅的趋势,呈现清晰的铲形断面结构,结合本地地质构造,可以推断芦山地震序列主要发生在龙门山前山断裂以东的逆冲推覆体内的一个隐伏断裂上.P轴方位角优势方位与区域应力场及汶川震源区南段的相一致,表明芦山序列地震活动主要受区域应力场控制,且汶川震后该区应该不存在应力场变化.P轴仰角随深度分布则显示了孕震层在浅部为脆性上地壳,而深部已经进入了中地壳低速层.断层面的几何形态简单,倾角均值在不同深度保持稳定在55°左右,与主震倾角接近,这与汶川震源区南段的研究结果明显不同,揭示了龙门山断裂带南段与此次芦山发震断裂在断层面几何形态上的明显差异.     

芦山7.0级地震序列的震源位置与震源机制解特征

基于中国国家和四川区域数字地震台网记录,采用HypoDD方法精确定位了四川芦山M_L2.0级以上地震序列的震源位置,采用CAP方法反演了36次M_L4.0级以上地震的最佳双力偶震源机制解,并利用小震分布和区域应力场拟合了可能存在的发震断层面参数,从而综合分析了芦山地震序列的震源深度、震源机制和震源破裂面特征,探讨可能的发震构造.结果显示,7.0级主震的震源位置为30.30°N、102.97°E,初始破裂深度为15 km左右,震源矩心深度为14 km左右,最佳双力偶震源机制解的两组节面分别为走向209°/倾角46°/滑动角94°和走向23°/倾角44°/滑动角86°,可视为纯逆冲型地震破裂,绝大多数M_L4.0级以上余震的震源机制也表现出与主震类似的逆冲破裂特征.M_L2.0级以上余震序列发生在主震两侧,集中分布的长轴为30 km左右,震源深度主要集中在5～27 km,M_L3.5级以上较大余震则集中分布在9～25 km的深度上,并揭示出发震断层倾向北西的特征.利用小震分布和区域应力场拟合得到发震断层参数为走向207°/倾角50°/滑动角92°,绝大多数余震发生在断层面附近10 km左右的区域.综合地震序列分布特征、主震震源深度和已有破裂过程研究结果,可以推测主震破裂过程自初始点沿断层的两侧扩展破裂,南侧破裂比北侧稍长,滑动量主要集中在初始破裂点附近,可能没有破裂到地表.综合本文研究成果、地震烈度分布和现有的科学考察结果,初步推测发震构造为龙门山山前断裂,也不排除主震震中东侧还存在一条未知的基底断裂发震的可能性.     

基于构造应力场资料的加卸载响应比方法研究

引入中国大陆构造应力场资料,结合区域构造及断层运动特征,根据岩石力学原理确定优质破裂面,对走滑断层、正断层和逆断层３种主要断层运动形式,推导了有效剪应力表达式;提出了新的加卸载判定,并对部分震例进行了再研究。     

2008年汶川MS8.0地震发生过程的动力学机制研究

2008年5月12日汶川地震突发在现今并不活动的龙门山断裂带上,该地震发生的动力学机制问题引起广泛关注.文中利用黏弹性接触问题的有限元方法,考虑重力作用,对青藏高原东缘的应力场空间分布及其随时间的演化进行了数值模拟,结果显示应力在空间由分散分布逐渐向龙门山及周边地区转移集中.基于前人的研究成果及计算分析,初步认为汶川地震孕育发生的动力学过程如下：青藏高原的物质东流在向东运动过程中由于受到稳定的四川盆地的阻挡,一部分东流物质在川西地区囤积,造成龙门山隆升;高角度(50°~70°)、犁状的龙门山断层面上的正应力随着川西高原向东运动而不断增大,导致该断层的闭锁性逐步加强,并且分布在断层附近的变质杂岩为存贮高密度弹性应变能提供物质保障.但另一方面随着青藏高原较柔软的下地壳物质的不断向东运动,囤积的东流物质对龙门山断裂带上盘的推挤作用会不断加强,从而导致断裂带上剪应力越来越大;当剪应力超过摩擦强度时,断层解锁产生滑动,发生地震.模拟结果还表明龙门山断层面上的摩擦系数较高,断裂带上地震的平均复发周期约为3163年,这与其他资料结果有一致性.     

CHARACTERISTICS OF TECTONIC STRESS FIELD OF THE XIAOWAN RESERVOIR BEFORE AND AFTER THE IMPOUNDMENT

Using the seismic waveform data of Xiaowan seismic network and Yunnan seismic network, we determined the focal mechanisms of 36 earthquakes(M_L ≥ 3.0)from Jun. 2005 to Dec. 2008 and 51 earthquakes(M_L ≥ 2.5)from Jan. 2009 to Dec. 2015 by generalized polarity and amplitude technique. We inverted tectonic stress field of the Xiaowan reservoir before impounding, using the focal mechanisms of 36 earthquakes(M_L ≥ 3.0)from Jun. 2005 to Dec. 2008 and CAP solutions of 58 earthquakes(M_L ≥ 4.0)collected and the solutions in the Global Centroid Moment Tensor(GCMT)catalog; We inverted local stress field of the reservoir-triggered earthquake clustering area, using 51 earthquakes(M_L ≥ 2.5)from Jan. 2009 to Dec. 2015. Focal mechanisms statistics show that, the Weixi-Qiaohou Fault is the seismic fault. Focal mechanisms were strike-slip type in initial stage, but normal fault type in later stage. Focal depths statistics of 51 earthquakes(M_L ≥ 2.5)show that, the average value of focal depths in period Ⅰ, period Ⅱ and period Ⅲ are 8.2km, 7.3km and 7.8km respectively and the standard deviations are 4.3km, 3.5km and 6.0km respectively. The average value of focal depths is basically stable in different period, only the standard deviation is slightly different. Therefore, there is not positive connection between focal depth and deviation of focal mechanisms. What's more, there are 2 earthquakes(number 46 and number 47 in Fig.5 and Table 3)with almost the same magnitude, epicenter and focal depth, but they have different faulting types as normal and strike-slip. The focal mechanism of event No.46 is strike:302°, dip:40° and rake:-97° for plane Ⅰ, however, the focal mechanism of event No.47 is strike:292°, dip:82° and rake:140° for plane Ⅰ. Likewise, earthquake of number 3 and number 18 have similar characteristic. Therefore, the obvious focal mechanism difference of similar earthquake pair indicates the complexity of Weixi-Qiaohou Fault. Considering the quiet-active character of reservoir-triggered earthquakes, we discussed the change of local stress field in different period. The σ₁ of tectonic stress field was in the near-south direction, with a dip angle of 14° before the impoundment, however, the direction of σ₁ of local stress field changed continuously, with the dip angle getting larger after the impoundment. The direction of σ₁ of local stress field of reservoir-triggered earthquake clustering area is close to the strike of Weixi-Qiaohou Fault, and reservoir impoundment increased the shear stress in the fault, so the weakening of fault was beneficial to trigger earthquakes. Comprehensive analysis suggests that fluid permeation and pore pressure diffusion caused by the water impounding, and the weakening of fault caused by local stress field are the key factors to trigger earthquake in the Xiaowan reservoir.     

唐山地震前后的应力变化

在距唐山地震震源约百公里的大港油田,以水压致裂法,在深度1000——4000米之间,测定了69次地应力值,对比了1973——1980年大地震前后八年内的应力值变化.在主震前,构造应力场出现明显变化:(1)水平应力梯度降低,即在最大与最小水平主应力方向呈现应力松弛;(2)水平应力与深度的相关系数降低,即构造应力场受到扰动;(3)断层滑动系数增高,断层出现无震蠕动.此外,结合地质构造与应力测量结果,对唐山地震发生过程中的一些异常现象,如无震蠕动、地下水位变化、浅层和外围地区的应力松弛,以及应力沿断层面向深层和闭锁区的转移等,进行了分析和讨论.      

Numerical Simulation of Displacement and Stress Fields Associated with the 1993 Kushiro-oki, Japan, Earthquake

—We constructed a three-dimensional finite element model to simulate coseismic and postseismic displacement and stress fields associated with the 1993 Kushiro-oki earthquake, which was a very large intermediate-depth earthquake that occurred within the subducted Pacific plate at a depth of 107 km beneath the southeastern part of Hokkaido, Japan. Taking the configuration of the subducted Pacific plate into account, we constructed a realistic model with lateral heterogeneity of viscoelastic structure. We assigned a variable slip distribution to the fault plane, which was obtained from inversion analysis of near-field seismic waveforms. The result shows that elastic deformation associated with the faulting reflects the assigned inhomogeneous slip distribution on the fault plane near the fault region, while it does not reflect the distribution on the free surface of the model. The calculated postseismic deformation does not reflect the slip distribution, but shows symmetric spatial patterns concerning the dipping direction of the fault both near the fault region and on the model surface. For the next 20 years following the earthquake, the amount of the calculated deformation is a fraction of the coseismic deformation. The calculated coeseismic deformation is large just above and below the fault plane, reaching 1 m, while the postseismic deformation is dominant near the upper and lower material boundaries between the subducted plate and the surrounding asthenosphere. The spatial distribution of maximum shear stress near the fault plane corresponds to the assigned slip distribution, amounting to 32 MPa. The directions of principal stress-change axes represent reverse fault type in the SSE region of the fault, whereas normal fault type is dominant in the NNW region with the exception of some asymmetrical spatial patterns of the principal stress-change axes on the fault due to the inhomogeneous slip distribution. Time variations both in the amount and the directions of stresses are minor, suggesting that the coseismic state of the stress would remain unchanged for two decades after the event.     

USE OF SEISMIC WAVEFORMS AND INSAR DATA FOR DETERMINATION OF THE SEISMOTECTONICS OF THE MAINLING MS6.9 EARTHQUAKE ON NOV.18, 2017

On November 18, 2017, a M_S6.9 earthquake struck Mainling County, Tibet, with a depth of 10km. The earthquake occurred at the eastern Himalaya syntaxis. The Namche Barwan moved northward relative to the Himalayan terrane and was subducted deeply beneath the Lhasa terrane, forming the eastern syntaxis after the collision of the Indian plate and Asian plates. Firstly, this paper uses the far and near field broadband seismic waveform for joint inversion (CAPJoint method)of the earthquake focal mechanism. Two groups of nodal planes are obtained after 1000 times Bootstrap test. The strike, dip and rake of the best solution are calculated to be 302°, 76° and 84° (the nodal plane Ⅰ)and 138°, 27° and 104° (the nodal plane Ⅱ), respectively. This event was captured by interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR)measurements from the Sentinel-1A radar satellite, which provide the opportunity to determine the fault plane, as well as the co-seismic slip distribution, and assess the seismic hazards. The overall trend of the deformation field revealed by InSAR is consistent with the GPS displacement field released by the Gan Wei-Jun's team. Geodesy (InSAR and GPS)observation of the earthquake deformation field shows the northeastern side of the epicenter uplifting and the southwestern side sinking. According to geodetic measurements and the thrust characteristics of fault deformation field, we speculate that the nodal plane Ⅰ is the true rupture plane. Secondly, based on the focal mechanism, we use InSAR data as the constraint to invert for the fine slip distribution on the fault plane. Our best model suggests that the seismogenic fault is a NW-SE striking thrust fault with a high angle. Combined with the slip distribution and aftershocks, we suggest that the earthquake is a high-angle thrust event, which is caused by the NE-dipping thrust beneath the Namche Barwa syntaxis subducted deeply beneath the Lhasa terrane.     

1975年2月4日辽宁省海城地震的震源机制

由地震纵波初动符号的资料,求得了海城地震系列中Ms≥4.0的24个地震的断层面解。主震发生于1975年2月4日,它的一个节面走向N70°W,倾向NE,倾角81°;另一个节面走向N23°E,倾向SE,倾角75°。根据余震的空间分布以及地面形变资料选取N70°W的节面为断层面,主震是发生在这个近乎直立的断层面上的左旋走向滑动,略具正的倾向滑动分量。前震及大多数余震的震源机制和主震的相似,有四个Ms≥4.0的余震的震源机制和主震的迥然不同,表现出滑动向量和主震的滑动向量相反的断层错动方式。这种情况的一种可能的解释是主震时在断层的一些地段发生错动过头。 由野外资料及余震的空间分布资料计算了主震的震源参数。主震断层长70公里,宽20公里,平均错距45厘米,地震矩2.1×10²⁶达因·厘米,应力降4.8巴,应变降7.3×10^-6。它是发生在不能积累起较高应力的薄弱地带的一次低应力降的地震。 由地震纵波初动的半周期和振幅的资料计算了81个前震和余震的震源尺度、地震矩、应力降和平均错距。结果表明前震和余震的应力降都比较低,一般在0.1-1巴之间。余震区中有两个应力降相对说来比较高（高于0.8巴）的地区,它们恰好对应于主破裂错动过头的部位。这些结果意味着震前高应力、错动过头、相对高应力降和震源机制反向四者之间     

FOCAL MECHANISM AND SEISMOGENIC STRUCTURE OF THE M5.0 YUEXI EARTHQUAKE ON 1 OCT. 2014, SOUTHWESTERN CHINA

The Oct.1,2014 M5.0 Yuexi earthquake occurred on the Daliang Shan fault zone where only several historical moderate earthquakes were recorded.Based on the waveform data from Sichuan regional seismic network,we calculated the focal mechanism solution and centroid depth of the M5.0 Yuexi earthquake by CAP (Cut and Paste) waveform inversion method,and preliminarily analyzed the seismogenic structure.We also calculated the apparent stress values of the M5.0 earthquake and other 14 M_L≥4.0 events along the Shimian-Qiaojia fault segment of the eastern boundary of the Sichuan-Yunnan block.The result indicates that the parameters of the focal mechanism solution are with a strike of 256°,dip of 62°,and slip of 167° for the nodal plane Ⅰ,and strike of 352°,dip of 79°,and slip of 29° for the nodal plane Ⅱ.The azimuth of the P axis is 121° with dip angle of 11°,the azimuth of T axis is 217° with dip angle of 28°,and the centroid depth is about 11km,and moment magnitude is M_W5.1.According to the focal mechanism solution and the fault geometry near the epicenter,we infer that the seismogenic fault is a branch fault,i.e.,the Puxiong Fault,along the central segment of the Daliang Shan fault zone.Thus,the nodal plane Ⅱ was interpreted as the coseismic rupture plane.The M5.0 Yuexi earthquake is a strike-slip faulting event with an oblique component.The above findings reveal the M5.0 Yuexi earthquake resulted from the left-lateral strike-slip faulting of the NNW Dalang Shan fault zone under the nearly horizontal principal compressive stress regime in an NWW-SEE direction.The apparent stress value of the Yuexi earthquake is 0.99MPa,higher than those of the M_L ≥ 4.0 earthquakes along the eastern boundary of the Sichuan-Yunnan block since 2008 Wenchuan M8.0 earthquake,implying a relatively high stress level on the seismogenic area and greater potential for the moderate and strong earthquake occurrence.It may also reflect the current increasing stress level of the entire area along the eastern boundary,and therefore,posing the risk of strong earthquakes there.     

FOCAL FAULTS AND STRESS FIELD CHARACTERISTICS OF M7.0 JIUZHAIGOU EARTHQUAKE SEQUENCE IN 2017

On August 8, 2017, Beijing time, an earthquake of M7.0 occurred in Jiuzhaigou County, Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, with the epicenter located at 33.20°N 103.82°E. The earthquake caused 25 people dead, 525 people injured, 6 people missing and 170000 people affected. Many houses were damaged to various degrees. Up to October 15, 2017, a total of 7679 aftershocks were recorded, including 2099 earthquakes of M ≥ 1.0. The M7.0 Jiuzhaigou earthquake occurred in the northeastern boundary belt of the Bayan Har block on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, where many active faults are developed, including the Tazhong Fault(the eastern segment of the East Kunlun Fault), the Minjiang fault zone, the Xueshan fault zone, the Huya fault zone, the Wenxian fault zone, the Guanggaishan-Daishan Fault, the Bailongjiang Fault, the Longriuba Fault and the Longmenshan Fault. As one of the important passages for the eastward extrusion movement of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(Tapponnier et al., 2001), the East Kunlun fault zone has a crucial influence on the tectonic activities of the northeastern boundary belt of Bayan Kala. Meanwhile, the Coulomb stress, fault strain and other research results show that the eastern boundary of the Bayan Har block still has a high risk of strong earthquakes in the future. So the study of the M7.0 Jiuzhaigou earthquake' seismogenic faults and stress fields is of great significance for scientific understanding of the seismogenic environment and geodynamics of the eastern boundary of Bayan Har block. In this paper, the epicenter of the main shock and its aftershocks were relocated by the double-difference relocation method and the spatial distribution of the aftershock sequence was obtained. Then we determined the focal mechanism solutions of 24 aftershocks(M ≥ 3.0)by using the CAP algorithm with the waveform records of China Digital Seismic Network. After that, we applied the sliding fitting algorithm to invert the stress field of the earthquake area based on the previous results of the mechanism solutions. Combining with the previous research results of seismogeology in this area, we discussed the seismogenic fault structure and dynamic characteristics of the M7.0 Jiuzhaigou earthquake. Our research results indicated that:1)The epicenters of the M7.0 Jiuzhaigou earthquake sequence distribute along NW-SE in a stripe pattern with a long axis of about 35km and a short axis of about 8km, and with high inclination and dipping to the southwest, the focal depths are mainly concentrated in the range of 2~25km, gradually deepening from northwest to southeast along the fault, but the dip angle does not change remarkably on the whole fault. 2)The focal mechanism solution of the M7.0 Jiuzhaigou earthquake is:strike 151°, dip 69° and rake 12° for nodal plane Ⅰ, and 245°, 78° and -158° for nodal plane Ⅱ, the main shock type is pure strike-slip and the centroid depth of the earthquake is about 5km. Most of the focal mechanism of the aftershock sequence is strike-slip type, which is consistent with the main shock's focal mechanism solution; 3)In the earthquake source area, the principal compressive stress and the principal tensile stress are both near horizontal, and the principal compressive stress is near east-west direction, while the principal tensile stress is near north-south direction. The Jiuzhaigou earthquake is a strike-slip event that occurs under the horizontal compressive stress.     

Evolution of Stress Fields and Faulting in Seismic Zones

—Measurements indicate that stress magnitudes in the crust are normally limited by the frictional equilibrium on pre-existing, optimally oriented faults. Fault zones where these limitations are frequently reached are referred to as seismic zones. Fault zones in the crust concentrate stresses because their material properties are different from those of the host rock. Most fault zones are spatially relatively stable structures, however the associated seismicity in these zones is quite variable in space and time. Here we propose that this variability is attributable to stress-concentration zones that migrate and expand through the fault zone. We suggest that following a large earthquake and the associated stress relaxation, shear stresses of a magnitude sufficient to produce earthquakes occur only in those small parts of the seismic zone that, because of material properties and boundary conditions, encourage concentration of shear stress. During the earthquake cycle, the conditions for seismogenic fault slip migrate from these stress-concentration regions throughout the entire seismic zone. Thus, while the stress-concentration regions continue to produce small slips and small earthquakes throughout the seismic cycle, the conditions for slip and earthquakes are gradually reached in larger parts of, and eventually the whole, seismogenic layer of the seismic zone. Prior to the propagation of an earthquake fracture that gives rise to a large earthquake, the stress conditions in the zone along the whole potential rupture plane must be essentially similar. This follows because if they were not, then, on entering crustal parts where the state of stress was unfavourable to this type of faulting, the fault propagation would be arrested. The proposed necessary homogenisation of the stress field in a seismic zone as a precursor to large earthquakes implies that by monitoring the state of stress in a seismic zone, its large earthquakes may possibly be forecasted. We test the model on data from Iceland and demonstrate that it broadly explains the historical, as well as the current, patterns of seismogenic faulting in the South Iceland Seismic Zone.