Role of crustal fluids in triggering the West Bohemia/Vogtland earthquake swarms: Just what we know (a review)

We summarise the results of seismological studies related to triggering mechanisms, driving forces and source processes of the West Bohemia/Vogtland earthquake swarms with the aim to disclose the role of crustal fluids in the preparation, triggering and governing of the swarms. We present basic characteristics distinguishing earthquake swarms from tectonic mainshock-aftershock sequences and introduce existing earthquakes swarm models. From the statistical characteristics and time-space distribution of the foci we infer that self-organization is a peculiarity of West Bohemia/Vogtland swarms. We discuss possible causes of the foci migration in these swarms from the viewpoint of co-seismic and/or post-seismic stress changes and diffusion of the pressurized fluids, and we summarize hitherto published models of triggering the 2000-swarm. Attention is paid to the source mechanisms, particularly to their non-shear components. We consider possible causes of different source mechanisms of the 1997-and 2000-swarms and infer that pure shear processes controlled solely by the regional tectonic stress prevail in them, and that additional tensile forces may appear only at unfavourably oriented faults. On data from the fluid injection experiment at the HDR site Soultz (Alsace), we also show that earthquakes triggered by fluids can represent purely shear processes. Thus we conclude that increased pore pressure of crustal fluids in the region plays a key role in bringing the faults from the subcritical to critical state. The swarm activities are mainly driven by stress changes due to co-seismic and post-seismic slips, which considerably depend on the frictional conditions at the fault; crustal fluids keep the fault in a critical state. An open question still remains the cause of the repeatedly observed almost simultaneous occurrence of seismic activity in different focal zones in a wider area of West Bohemia/Vogtland. The analysis of the space-time relations of seismicity in the area between 1991 and 2007 revealed that during a significant part of this time span the seismicity was switching among distant focal zones. This indicates a common triggering force which might be the effect of an increase of crustal-fluid pore-pressure affecting a wider epicentral region.     

南北地震带地壳结构多参数成像及强震触发机制研究

通过反演由大量的纵、横波地震数据组成的综合数据集,获得了南北地震带地壳的多参数三维精细结构,探讨和分析了南北地震带的高地震活动性和强震频发的原因.成像结果表明,尽管1976年松潘一平武地震(M7.2)与2008年汶川地震(M8.0)以及2013年芦山地震(M7.0)均发生在高速、低泊松比异常区域,并且在其震源的下方均有一低速、高泊松比异常区域.我们认为,上述三个地震的触发与流体侵入导致的地壳形变之间有密切的联系.1955年炉霍地震(M7.4)和1973年康定地震(M7.1)均发生在鲜水河断裂带上,其震源中心区域表现为低速、高泊松比异常,可以解释为下地壳中的流体沿断层面上涌.在震源区的周边区域兼有高速、高泊松比异常,低速、高泊松比异常以及高速、低泊松比异常,可能分别与含流体的岩石、沿断裂带发育的变质岩以及坚硬的克拉通块体对应.流体的侵入不仅能够改变断层面上的应力情况,还能降低岩石骨架的岩石力学强度,进而触发地震.1970年云南通海大地震(M7.1)发生在哀牢山一红河断裂带附近的曲江断裂上,其震源处于高速度、低泊松比异常与低速度、高泊松比异常之间的边界区域,被认为是流体挤压后的应变能积累,最终导致脆性破裂,以至于发生地震.根据本次研究获得的多参数结构图像,结合前人的研究成果,我们认为南北地震带地壳强烈形变与流体侵入是造成该区域地震活动性较高及强震频发的两个主要因素.     

基于b值的晋冀鲁豫交界区强震背景研究

以晋冀鲁豫交界区为研究对象, 利用古登堡的频次与震级关系式, 计算1970年1月~2018年6月该区b值, 进而判断未来强震危险地段。 计算结果显示, 邢台震源区西南端的未破裂区域为低b值异常区。 进一步研究该区的地壳物性结构等资料, 认为其具有高低速相间的地壳介质、 深切地幔的断裂、 大地震破裂空段等利于能量积累、 发生强震的特性。 综合分析认为, 低b值异常区附近的紫山西断裂与曲陌断裂交会区, 是未来晋冀鲁豫交界区最有可能发生强震的区域。     

川滇地区7级大震前中强震震源机制变化

分析了 70年代以来 ,川滇地区发生的 8次 7级大震前 5年内 ,发生在大震孕震区和震源区内的中强震震源机制解时空分布。结果表明 ,最早中强震发生在大震震源区或其附近 ,其发震应力场与区域构造应力场一致 ,与大多数大震发震应力场一致或接近。大多数中强震震源破裂特征与大震明显不同。之后有多次中强震发生在距大震震源区较远的大震孕震区内其他地方 ,它们的发震应力场往往经历了与区域构造应力场和大震应力场一致与不一致的多次交替变化。大震前最后 1个中强震也发生在距大震震源区较近的地方 ,其发震应力场与大震发震应力场明显不一致 ,偏转了 30°～ 5 0° ,或更多 ,大多数也与区域构造应力场不一致 ,有的中强震发震断裂破裂特征与大震不一致。大震前中强震震源机制的变化 ,反映了大震孕育过程的不同阶段 ,区域构造应力场的时空调整变化和增强过程 ,以及由此引发的构造断裂异常活动 ,揭示出与大震发生有关的应力场和震源破裂特征信息     

Connection between earthquakes and deep fluids revealed by magnetotelluric imaging in Songyuan,China

Songyuan is the most earthquake prone area in northeast China.Since 2006,earthquakes have occurred in the area in the form of swarms,with a maximum magnitude of M_L5.8.There is much controversy about the cause of the Songyuan earthquakes.We attempted to determine the cause using a three-dimensional electrical conductivity structure inverted from a regional network of magnetotelluric data in the Songyuan area.The L-BFGS inversion method was applied,with a fullimpedance tensor data set used as the inversion input.Combined with an evaluation of the earthquake locations,the resistivity model revealed a northeast-oriented hidden fault running through the Songyuan earthquake area(SEA),which was speculated to be the preexisting Fuyu-Zhaodong Fault(FZF).Our resistivity model also found an apparent lithospheric low-resistivity anomaly beneath the earthquake area,which breached the high-resistivity lithospheric mantle and stalled at the base of the crust.A petrophysical analysis showed that this lower crustal low-resistivity anomaly was most likely attributed to hydrated partial melting,which could release water into the lower crust during later magma emplacements.While weakening the strength of the FZF,these ascending fluids also increased the pore pressure in the fault,further reducing the shear strength of the fault.Shear stress action(a fault strike component of the east-west regional compress),together with possible near-surface disturbances,may drive the fault to slip and trigger the earthquakes in Songyuan.It is possible that the continuous replenishment of fluids from the deeper mantle forces the Songyuan earthquakes into the form of swarms.We infer that the Songyuan earthquakes could be attributed to a combination of preexisting faults,regional stress,and deep fluids associated with plate subduction,and near surface disturbances might induce the earthquakes in advance.The Songyuan earthquakes are inherently induced earthquakes,fed by deep fluids.     

山东地区地壳三维纵横波速度和泊松比结构及其对地震活动性的影响

基于山东及邻区丰富的P波和S波到时数据反演获得了研究区内高精度的三维纵横波速度结构和泊松比异常分布形态。结果表明:2020年济南长清M_S4.1地震震中位于P波、S波高低速异常和高低泊松比异常过渡带,可能是区域构造应力下长清断裂发生左旋走滑运动的结果;2003年青岛崂山M_L4.1地震、崂山震群、乳山震群和长岛震群等的发生可能都受到流体的强烈影响,流体沿已有的较大断裂或相对完整岩体内的裂隙侵入,诱发断裂活动或裂隙破裂,从而导致中强地震或震群活动的发生。      

关于2021年5月滇西漾濞MS6.4地震序列特征及成因的初步研究

2021年5月21日21时48分在滇西苍山西麓漾濞地区发生MS6.4(MW6.1)强震,相关地震活动表现为一个典型的前震-主震-余震序列.本研究分别就该地震序列的构造背景、M1.0以上地震的双差定位、主要地震的矩张量反演和破裂传播方向、应力场反演及断层滑动趋势以及潮汐作用等方面进行了初步分析.矩张量反演结果表明,矩心深...     

1992年美国加州兰德斯地震——地壳结构不均匀性对地震发生的影响

为了理解地震的发生和地壳结构不均匀性的关系,利用南加州地震台网的固定台和临时台所记录的2863个兰德斯余震和区域地震,共计107401个P波和19624个S波高质量的到时数据,采用地震层析成像方法得到了兰德斯地震区P波和S波的精细的三维速度结构和泊松比分布．结果显示,地震的发生和分布与地壳结构的横向不均匀性有密切的关系．总体上看,兰德斯地震区余震成丛分布,并被低速块体截断,其中4级以上地震大多分布于P波高、低速异常过渡区域或偏向高速块体一侧,这可能是因为高速区多属地壳脆性介质,易于造成应力集中,导致地震;反之,低速度区则可能代表破碎程度较高、富含流体或温度较高区域,因而更倾向于产生无震变形．基于兰德斯地震区强震震源位置、地震区P波、S波速度异常与泊松比分布推断,兰德斯地震区可能有流体存在．地壳流体易使地壳岩石弱化,从而引发大地震．     

龙陵-澜沧新生断裂带地震破裂分段与地震预测研究

龙陵 -澜沧新生断裂带的地震活动具频度高、强度大、周期短等特征 ,并以双震或震群型为主。断裂带由多条次级新生断层组成 ,呈斜列或共轭式展布 ,根据结构、规模、地震活动差异等因素把断裂带划分为 4个一级段、13个二级段 ,其中有 4个二级段又可划分出 8个三级段。历史上发生过大震、强震并有地震断层伴生的断层段为地震破裂单元 ;断裂带上晚第四纪有活动并有古地震事件 ,但无历史地震记载的地段为断层闭锁单元 ;次级断层之间的阶区或连接点为障碍体单元。从地震破裂特征分析 ,断裂带由破裂、闭锁、障碍体单元组成 ,根据地震、古地震、活断层、断层阶区的活动规律 ,断裂带可划分出 9个破裂单元、8个闭锁单元、10个障碍体单元。三者之间呈迁移、触发和转换能量的关系。根据这些关系和地震构造标志 ,对断裂带上未来可能发生大震、强震、中强震的地区分别作了预测。预测的危险区有 9个 ,其中大震区 1个 (永康 -永德地区 ) ,强震区 3个 (马站、石灰窑、酒房-勐混 ) ,中强震区 5个 (下顺江、里仁、大岗山、南明 -澜沧、勐遮     

区域应力作用引起的北天山地区地下流体异常特征分析

大量观测事实表明 ,赋存于地壳深部的流体 (水、气、油 )作为弹性介质 ,对深层地壳应力的分布、变化、转移过程及地震孕育、发生等有着较为灵敏的反映。地震的形成与区域构造应力活动强度密切相关 ,这种大范围的区域应力作用会形成多个应力集中点 ,在众多应力集中点上可产生地下流体前兆异常变化。在对新疆地下流体数十年的监测中 ,发现强震前出现大量与地震有关的由区域构造应力活动引起的前兆异常 ,异常范围广且种类繁多 ,它们在成因、特征上与震源应力活动的前兆异常明显不同 ;这种地下水位地震前兆异常场 ,不能完全孤立地与单个地震事件相对应 ,应充分考虑到它与一组或系列地震有关 ,而这些地震往往与块体挤压、断裂活动等区域性的应力活动有关。因此 ,正确区分并掌握其不同的特性 ,对地震预报具有一定的意义     

Electromechanical effects associated with earthquakes

Summary A theoretical model of an electroelastic continuum has been applied in this paper to the problem of electrodynamic phenomena (piezoelectricity, electrostriction, etc.) associated with earthquakes. In such a model the coupling between electric and mechanical fields expresses itself by a change of scale of mechanical effects along the electric field, as well as by the additional electric charge created by the earthquake source.The electrokinetic phenomena associated with earthquakes and caused by the diffusion of fluids into the dilatant region have been considered using the theory of porous media with interstitial fluid flow. General relations describing electrokinetic effects caused by the deformation processes in an earthquake source have been obtained.     

Fluid ascent through the solid lithosphere and its relation to earthquakes

The Earth is continuously expelling gases and liquids from great depths—juvenile volatiles from the mantle and recycled metamorphic products. Some of these fluids ascend through liquid rock in volcanic processes, but others utilize fractures and faults as conduits through the solid lithosphere. The latter process may have a major influence on earthquakes, since fluids at near lithostatic pressures appear to be required to activate deep faults that would otherwise remain locked.Fluids can be driven upward through solid rock by buoyancy, but only if present in sufficient concentration to form large-scale domains occupying interconnected fracture porosity. A growing fluid domain becomes so mobilized only when it attains the critical vertical dimension required for hydrostatic instability. This dimension, depending on the ultimate compressive yield strength of the rock, may be as much as several kilometers.Any column of fluid ascending through fractures in the solid lithosphere from a prolific deep source must become organized into a vertical sequence of discrete domains, separated by fluid-pressure discontinuities. This is required because a continuous hydrostatic-fluid-pressure profile extending from an arbitrarily deep source to the surface cannot be permitted by the finite strength of rock. A vertically stacked sequence of domains allows the internal fluid-pressure profile to approximate the external rock-stress profile in a stepwise fashion. The pressure discontinuity below the base of the uppermost hydrostatic domain may be responsible for some occurrences of so-called anomalous geopressures. An ascending stream of fluid that percolates upward from a deep source through a column of domains must encounter a sequence of abrupt pressure decreases at the transitions between successive domains. If supercritical gases act as solvents, the dissolved substances may drop out of solution at such pressure discontinuities, resulting in a local concentration of minerals and other substances.At great depths, brittle fracture would normally be prevented by high pressure and temperature, with all excessive stress discharged by ductile flow. Rock strata invaded by an ascending fluid domain are weakened, however, because cracks generated or reactivated by the high-pressure fluid can support the overburden, greatly reducing internal friction. This reduction of strength may cause a previously stressed rock to fail, resulting in hydraulic shear fracture. Thus, earthquakes may be triggered by the buoyant migration of deep-source fluids.The actual timing of the failure that leads to such an earthquake may be determined by the relatively rapid inflation of a fluid domain and not by any significant increase in the probably much slower rate of regional tectonic strain. Many earthquake precursory phenomena may be secondary symptoms of an increase in pore-fluid pressure, and certain coseismic phenomena may result from the venting of high-pressure fluids when faults break the surface. Instabilities in the migration of such fluid domains may also contribute to or cause the eruption of mud volcanoes, magma volcanoes, and kimberlite pipes.     

世界上最快回应大地震的汶川地震断裂带科学钻探

2008年5月12日汶川大地震之后,在青藏高原东缘龙门山地区实施了汶川地震断裂带科学钻探,这是目前世界上最快回应大地震的科学钻探,为地学家探索地震成因机制提供了极好的机遇.汶川地震断裂带科学钻探工程（WFSD）沿产生同震地表破裂的两条断裂带——龙门山的映秀—北川断裂和灌县—安县断裂共实施了6口科学群钻.其目标在于对钻孔的岩心、岩屑和流体样品进行多学科观察、测试和研究,揭示汶川地震断裂带的深部物质组成、结构、产出以及构造属性;探索地震过程中的岩石物理和化学行为、能量状态与破裂演化过程;认识汶川地震发生的应力环境、巨大的地震破裂产生及传播原因、地下流体在地震的孕育、发生、停止过程中的作用,从而检验和深入理解地震断裂发震机理.目前,汶川科钻项目已取得的部分重要成果如下：（1）查明了汶川地震断裂带结构、组成;（2）揭示了汶川地震过程中"热增压"为重要断裂弱化机制,提出断裂带内石墨可作为判断大地震发生的标志;（3）发现目前世界上最低的断层摩擦系数,并首次记录到大震后断裂带快速愈合信息;（4）重建龙门山的构造格架,提出汶川大地震发生的新的成因模式;（5）通过对汶川地震余震的精确定位、钻孔附近的地震台阵观测,确定了地震活动与龙门山断裂带不同区段的空间关系;揭示断裂带深部流体特征与地震活动的关系,为确定大震孕育过程提供深部流体活动行为的科学依据.     

利用流体包裹体分析技术研究地震和断层活动的进展

矿物中的流体包裹体记录了地球古流体的形成和演化、矿物的形成环境等各种地质信息。利用微区微量测量技术测定断裂带脉石矿物流体包裹体可以获得断层和地震活动的信息,延长认识地震复发周期的时间,对确定地震活动规律有重要意义。迄今为止,地震流体研究主要是关于宏观区域流体(水和气体)变化规律及其与地震的关系,对微区微量流体的研究很少。本文扼要介绍了地震和构造活动中流体作用与流体包裹体拉曼光谱测量技术,综述了流体包裹体(FI)分析在地震与断裂活动方面的研究进展,并提出了进一步研究的领域,以期促进微区微量地震流体研究和应用。     

Delineation of potential seismic sources for seismic zoning of Iran

A total of 235 potential seismic sources in Iran and neighboring regions are delineated based on available geological, geophysical, tectonic and earthquake data for seismic hazard assessment of the country. In practice, two key assumptions are considered; first, the assumption of earthquake repeatedness, implying that major earthquakes occur preferentially near the sites of previous earthquakes; second, the assumption of tectonic analogy, which implies that structures of analogous tectonic setting are capable of generating same size earthquakes. A two-step procedure is applied for delineation of seismic sources: first, demarcation of seismotectonic provinces; second, determination of potential seismic sources. Preferentially, potential seismic sources are modeled as area sources, in which the configuration of each source zone is controlled, mainly, by the extent of active faults, the mechanism of earthquake faultings and the seismogenic part of the crust.     

Mechanical and statistical evidence of the causality of human-made mass shifts on the Earth��s upper crust and the occurrence of earthquakes

A global catalog of small- to large-sized earthquakes was systematically analyzed to identify causality and correlatives between human-made mass shifts in the upper Earth??s crust and the occurrence of earthquakes. The mass shifts, ranging between 1?kt and 1?Tt, result from large-scale geoengineering operations, including mining, water reservoirs, hydrocarbon production, fluid injection/extractions, deep geothermal energy production and coastal management. This article shows evidence that geomechanical relationships exist with statistical significance between (a) seismic moment magnitudes M of observed earthquakes, (b) lateral distances of the earthquake hypocenters to the geoengineering ??operation points?? and (c) mass removals or accumulations on the Earth??s crust. Statistical findings depend on uncertainties, in particular, of source parameter estimations of seismic events before instrumental recoding. Statistical observations, however, indicate that every second, seismic event tends to occur after a decade. The chance of an earthquake to nucleate after 2 or 20?years near an area with a significant mass shift is 25 or 75?%, respectively. Moreover, causative effects of seismic activities highly depend on the tectonic stress regime in which the operations take place (i.e., extensive, transverse or compressive). Results are summarized as follows: First, seismic moment magnitudes increase the more mass is locally shifted on the Earth??s crust. Second, seismic moment magnitudes increase the larger the area in the crust is geomechanically polluted. Third, reverse faults tend to be more trigger-sensitive than normal faults due to a stronger alteration of the minimum vertical principal stress component. Pure strike-slip faults seem to rupture randomly and independently from the magnitude of the mass changes. Finally, mainly due to high estimation uncertainties of source parameters and, in particular, of shallow seismic events (<10?km), it remains still very difficult to discriminate between induced and triggered earthquakes with respect to the data catalog of this study. However, first analyses indicate that small- to medium-sized earthquakes (<M6) seem to be induced and large-sized events (>M6) seem to be triggered. The rupture propagation of triggered events might be dominated by pre-existing tectonic stress conditions.     

青藏高原东北缘地震时空迁移的有限元数值模拟

地震在大陆内部断层系统中的时空迁移和丛集的基本力学机制一直是地球科学家关注的重要问题.青藏高原东北缘地震活动频繁,其地震时空迁移和地震丛集现象显著,是研究这个问题的重要区域.我们建立了一个三维黏弹塑性有限元模型,模拟了青藏高原东北缘主要活动断层系统的地震循环和地震时空迁移;计算了断层系统的应力演化;并探讨了断层之间的相互作用及地震时空迁移和地震丛集的原因.模拟结果显示断层之间的相互作用通过增加或降低断层上的库仑应力,加速或延缓了地震发生,使得区域地震可以在短时间内集中发生,从而形成地震丛集;另外,区域经过多个地震循环的长期演化,一些孕震断层上的应力状态恰好都达到屈服的临界状态附近,从而也可以导致这些断层上的地震在短期内集中发生,因此产生地震丛集和地震迁移.我们发现当区域经历地震丛集之后,该区域的应力大大释放,区域进入地震平静期;随着构造加载的持续,区域应力逐渐恢复,为下一次地震丛集或地震序列累积应力和能量;上述过程可以重复发生.因此地震丛集期与平静期交替出现.我们还统计了各个断层的大地震相互迁移的模拟结果,结果显示青藏高原东北缘下一次大地震有很大的概率会发生在海原断层上.     

巧家地震和鲁甸地震震源区周边P波速度结构

本文利用2010年1月至2020年6月巧家地震和鲁甸地震震源区周围发生地震事件的走时观测资料,应用双差层析成像方法获得了2014年MS6.5鲁甸地震和2020年5月18日巧家MS5.0地震周边区域中上地壳的P波速度结构.成像结果显示:整个研究区域的速度结构存在很强的非均匀性:在鲁甸地震震源区附近,浅部存在速度高达6.4...     

2019年四川长宁MS6.0地震序列重定位和震源特征分析

采用双差定位方法对2019年1月1日至2019年10月20日期间四川区域台网记录到的地震进行重定位,得到7 030个重定位事件,并获得了四川长宁M_S6.0地震序列较准确的空间分布,并据此计算了震后长宁震源区的平均b值,分析了地震序列的活动性;利用近震全波形拟合方法获得了主震及4次M_S≥5.0地震的震源机制解和矩心深度,初步分析了本次地震序列的发震构造,获得如下主要结果:① 四川长宁余震序列呈NW?SE向分布,余震深度分布整体呈现出西深东浅的趋势,且西部地区地震的频度远远高于东部地区;② b值空间分布显示,震后长宁地区呈现出明显的挤压构造环境;③ 主震和4次震级较大余震的矩心深度均较浅,尽管均为逆冲型为主的地震事件,但破裂面走向有所差异;④ 推测主震及中强余震是长宁背斜地区既有断裂或者同震过程中所产生的新生断层长期受到外力挤压而错断所致。      

ETAS Model Analysis on the Chang Island Earthquake Swarm in Shandong Province,China

Influenced by the layout of seismic network and the location of earthquakes, earthquake catalogs are often incomplete; such incompleteness of earthquake catalogue directly affects the analysis of sequence activity characteristics. In this paper, the GPU-acceleration-based g template matching method is used to scan the continuous waveforms of Chang Island earthquake swarm in Shandong Province from February 9 to August 20, 2017. In total, 15,286 earthquakes events were detected, which was more than 6 times compared with those in network catalogue and thus reduced the magnitude of completeness from 1.0 to 0.5. Based on the intergrated catalogue of earthquakes, the characteristics of Chang Island earthquake swarm were then analyzed using the Epidemic Type Aftershock Sequences (ETAS) model. The stochastic components in the ETAS model are used as a proxy for possible earthquake triggered by external forces (fluids). The results show that the proportion of earthquakes triggered by external forces of Chang Island swarm increases gradually (from 31.9% to 63.5%) and then decreases. The latter stage of swarm development is mainly affected by the self-excitation of earthquakes,suggesting that the fluids play an important role in the development of the Chang Island swarm. However, the triggering intensity of fluids to microseismicity is divergent in different periods, which may be related to the process of fluid permeation.