Tectonic Interpretation of the Earthquake istribution in the Contiguous Continent of the United States

With increasing high-quality geological and geophysical data it becomes clear that seismicity of the continents is characterized by linear patterns which are closely associated with tectonic features. The aim of this paper is to give reasonable interpretation for the earthquake distribution in the contiguous continent of the United States. Seismic lines and earthquake concentrated zones are defined, which reflect the characteristics of the continental seismotectonics. Similarities and differences in seismotectonics between the continental part of China and the contiguous continent of US are analysed. It is demonstrated that the spatial distribution of earthquakes can provide the information of the active structures in the earth's crust. The authors consider that the patterns of continental seismotectonics are not only controlled by the pre—existing tectonic frameworks and the current boundary dynamic conditions, but also possibly affected by dynamic factors of global tectonics at a higher level.     

Tectonic Interpretation of the Earthquake Distribution in the Contiguous Continent of the United States

Abstract With increasing high-quality geological and geophysical data it becomes clear that seismicity of the continents is characterized by linear patterns which are closely associated with tectonic features. The aim of this paper is to give reasonable interpretation for the earthquake distribution in the contiguous continent of the United States. Seismic lines and earthquake concentrated zones are defined, which reflect the characteristics of the continental seismotectonics. Similarities and differences in seismotectonics between the continental part of China and the contiguous continent of US are analysed. It is demonstrated that the spatial distribution of earthquakes can provide the information of the active structures in the earth's crust. The authors consider that the patterns of continental seismotectonics are not only controlled by the pre—existing tectonic frameworks and the current boundary dynamic conditions, but also possibly affected by dynamic factors of global tectonics at a higher level.     

古地震学:活动断裂强震复发规律的研究

古地震学是活动构造学、地震地质学和构造地貌学相结合的一个分支学科,它以野外工作为基础,以史前地震的发生位置、时间及震级为研究目标,其核心是古地震事件变形的地层和地貌证据.古地震学通过运用沉积地层学、地貌学和构造地质学等研究中常用的方法和手段来识别第四纪沉积中保存的史前强震的证据并对其进行准确年代测定,弥补了历史地震和仪...     

Tephrochronological dating of paleoearthquakes in active volcanic arcs: A case of the Eastern Volcanic Front on the Kamchatka Peninsula (northwest Pacific)

Investigation of active faults is crucial for the seismic hazard assessment and, in the case of volcanic belts, it provides a deeper understanding of the interactions between volcanism and tectonic faulting. In this study, we report the results of the first paleoseismological and tephrochronological investigation undertaken on Holocene faulting in Kamchatka's volcanic belts. The studied trenches and additional excavations are located along the axial fault zone of the Eastern Volcanic Front, where the earlier dated tephra layers provide a robust age control of the faulting events. Electron microprobe analysis of glass from 22 tephra samples permitted correlations among the disparate tephra profiles for constructing a summary tephra sequence. The latter, together with published geochronological data, allowed the construction of a Bayesian age model. Detailed examination of the tephra layers deformed by faulting allowed us to reconstruct and date six faulting events with the offsets of 1 to 20 cm indicating paleoearthquakes with magnitudes of M_w < 5.4. Holocene crustal seismicity of the Eastern Volcanic Front manifests temporal clustering rather than a uniform flux of events. However, no correlation between dated seismic events and the largest Holocene eruptions of proximal volcanoes was observed.     

早寒武世初期沂沭断裂带地震效应

早寒武世初期,随着从古沂沭海峡向西海侵的发展,鲁西地区沉积了厚度不等的主要由砂岩、泥岩和碳酸盐岩组成的滨海、潟湖及浅海相沉积,其层位属下寒武统底部的李官组和朱砂洞组.在它们沉积过程中,沂沭断裂带正发生着伴有频繁海底地震的构造裂陷活动,使海底沉积物在自沂沭断裂带向西200 km范围内产生了不同的地震效应,形成了各种地震成...     

Historical earthquake activity of the northern part of the Dead Sea Fault Zone, southern Turkey

The northern part of the Dead Sea Fault Zone is one of the major active neotectonic structures of Turkey. The main trace of the fault zone (called Hacıpaşa fault) is mapped in detail in Turkey on the basis of morphological and geological evidence such as offset creeks, fault surfaces, shutter ridges and linear escarpments. Three trenches were opened on the investigated part of the fault zone. Trench studies provided evidence for 3 historical earthquakes and comparing trench data with historical earthquake records showed that these earthquakes occurred in 859 AD, 1408 and 1872. Field evidence, palaeoseismological studies and historical earthquake records indicate that the Hacıpaşa fault takes the significant amount of slip in the northern part of the Dead Sea Fault Zone in Turkey. On the basis of palaeoseismological evidence, it is suggested that the recurrence interval for surface faulting event is 506 ± 42 years on the Hacıpaşa fault.     

Paleoseismological Study of the Late Quaternary Slip-rate along the South Barkol Basin Fault and Its Tectonic Implications, Eastern Tian Shan, Xinjiang

The easternmost Tian Shan lies in eastern Xinjiang, Central Asia. The South Barkol basin fault(SBF) in the northern part of the easternmost Tian Shan is a major tectonic structure in this orogenic region. The late Quaternary activity, paleoseismology, and deformation characteristics of the fault provide important clues for understanding the tectonic process of the eastern Tian Shan orogen and implementing seismic mitigation. Through interpretation of high-resolution satellite images, unmanned aerial vehicle measurements, and detailed geological and geomorphic investigations, we suggest that the fault exhibits clear left-lateral slip along its western segment. Paleoseismic trenches dug near Xiongkuer reveal evidence of six large paleoearthquakes. The four latest paleoearthquakes were dated: the oldest event occurred at 4663 BC–3839 BC. Data on the horizontal offsets along the probable 1842 Barkol earthquake coseismic rupture suggest clear multiple relationships between cumulative offsets and possible ~4 m of coseismic left-lateral slip per event. From the cumulative offsets and 14 C sample ages, we suggest an average Holocene left-lateral slip rate of 2.4–2.8 mm/a on the SBF, accounting for ~80% of lateral deformation within the entire eastern Tian Shan fault system. This result is comparable with the shortening rate of 2–4 mm/a in the whole eastern Tian Shan, indicating an equal role of strike-slip tectonics and compressional tectonics in this orogen, and that the SBF may accommodate substantial lateral tectonic deformation.     

Late-Quaternary Slip Rate and Seismic Activity of the Xianshuihe Fault Zone in Southwest China

The Xianshuihe fault zone is a seismo-genetic fault zone of left-lateral slip in Southwest China. Since 1725, a total of 59 Ms ≥ 5.0 earthquakes have occurred along this fault zone, including 18 Ms 6.0–6.9 and eight Ms ≥ 7.0 earthquakes. The seismic risk of the Xianshuihe fault zone is a large and realistic threat to the western Sichuan economic corridor. Based on previous studies, we carried out field geological survey and remote sensing interpretation in the fault zone. In addition, geophysical surveys, trenching and age-dating were conducted in the key parts to better understand the geometry, spatial distribution and activity of the fault zone. We infer to divide the fault zone into two parts: the northwest part and the southeast part, with total eight segments. Their Late Quaternary slip rates vary in a range of 11.5 mm/a –(3±1) mm/a. The seismic activities of the Xianshuihe fault zone are frequent and strong, periodical, and reoccurred. Combining the spatial and temporal distribution of the historical earthquakes, the seismic hazard of the Xianshuihe fault zone has been predicted by using the relationship between magnitude and frequency of earthquakes caused by different fault segments. The prediction results show that the segment between Daofu and Qianning has a possibility of Ms ≥ 7.0 earthquakes, while the segment between Shimian and Luding is likely to have earthquakes of about Ms 7.0. It is suggested to establish a GPS or In SAR-based real-time monitoring network of surface displacement to cover the Xianshuihe fault zone, and an early warning system of earthquakes and post seismic geohazards to cover the major residential areas.     

汶川、芦山地震前龙门山断裂带地壳形变特征对比分析

为研究2008年汶川地震和2013年芦山地震前地壳形变特征,本文利用1999—2015年四期GPS速度场和1990—2017年跨断层短水准资料,对跨断层GPS速度剖面、GPS应变率场、断层闭锁程度和滑动亏损、跨断层年均垂直变化速率等进行了分析讨论,总结了汶川和芦山地震前后龙门山断裂带三维地壳变形演化特征。结果表明,汶川地震前龙门山断裂带中、北段处于强闭锁状态、断层面应力应变积累水平很高,而龙门山断裂带西南段闭锁较弱、变形速率明显高于中北段、依然可以积累应力应变,汶川地震震源位于闭锁相对弱的部位,这可能是导致汶川地震自初始破裂点沿龙门山断裂带向北东方向单侧破裂,而震中西南方向断层并没有发生破裂的原因之一。汶川地震的发生引起龙门山断裂带西南段应力应变积累速率加快、断层闭锁程度增强、闭锁面积增大,这在一定程度上促进了芦山地震的发生,而芦山地震震源位于汶川地震前强闭锁和弱闭锁的高梯度过渡部位。因为芦山地震只释放了龙门山断裂带西南段有限的应变能,并没有显著缓解该段的地震危险性,所以汶川和芦山地震之间的地震空段以及芦山地震西南方向的地震空段,依然需要持续关注。此外,本文还收集和对比分析了多次6～9级地震前地壳变形特征,同样显示地震成核于闭锁高梯度带区域而非完全闭锁区域内部,并且随着震级升高闭锁断层面的长度也在增大,这一现象还需在高分辨率形变数据的帮助下进行深入研究和分析。     

阿尔金断裂东北段敦煌阳关断裂晚第四纪活动性及其强震危险性影响分析

阿尔金断裂系东北段阳关断裂的晚第四纪活动性与强震危险性关系到敦煌地区及相关文物古迹的防震减灾问题.基于高分辨率卫星影像对阳关断裂几何展布特征进行解译,采用差分GPS、无人机航空摄影测量方法、古地震探槽方法以及OSL测年方法对两个研究点进行了详细研究,对其定量活动参数进行了初步限定.结果显示,阳关断裂东段运动形式主要表现为挤压逆冲,最新的一次地震事件可能发生在距今43.5~12.1 ka之间,表明阳关断裂东段至少在晚更新世以来有过活动,并且具有发生M_w6.6强震的潜能及危险性.如果发生类似强度的地震,敦煌主城区的烈度至少在Ⅵ以上,阳关土遗址地区则会达到Ⅸ.因此,阳关断裂应该是该区防震减灾重点关注的发震断层之一.      

新生地震构造带——马边地震构造带最新构造变形样式的初步研究

以雷波地区为例,通过野外地质地貌调查,结合探槽技术以及年代测试结果,获得了有关马边地震构造带最新构造变形样式及其性质的初步认识。研究结果表明：马边地震构造带内的雷波地区存在一条北东东向雷波断裂带,它断错的最新地层时代在40ka左右,属晚更新世活动断裂;在活动性质上,为一条以右旋走滑运动为主的断裂。北北西向玛瑙断裂在第四纪风化壳中存在两次突然位错事件,在剖面上的错距分别为0.5m和>0.7m;最新错动面产状陡立,存在水平左旋位错的构造地貌证据。马边地震构造带上北东东向断裂与北北西断裂不是一种从属关系,而是在现代构造应力场条件下两组呈共轭关系的剪切断裂,它们代表了马边地震构造带最新构造变形样式,具新生性。马边地震构造带的破坏性地震以中强地震为主,具有频度高、成带性差等特点,这符合共轭状构造变形样式可能引起的地震活动特征。马边地震构造带位于青藏高原东缘南部,初步分析表明：一种受重力作用控制的中下地壳塑性流展模型,可以对该地区包括大凉山断裂带、安宁河断裂带以及鲜水河断裂带在内的断裂构造的活动习性做出较合理的解释。伴随着高原内部中下地壳物质持续向外流展,高原边界向外扩张形成新的边界,并表现为一条新生地震构造带。     

Precursory accelerating seismic crustal deformation in the Northwestern Anatolia Fault Zone

We present the results of a systematic search for the identification of accelerating seismic crustal deformation in the broader northern Aegean area and in northwestern Turkey. We found that accelerating seismic deformation release, expressed by the generation of intermediate magnitude earthquakes, is currently observed in NW Turkey. On the basis of the critical earthquake model and by applying certain constraints which hold between the basic quantities involved in this phenomenon, it can be expected that this accelerating seismic activity may culminate in the generation of two strong earthquakes in this area during the next few years.The estimated epicenter coordinates of the larger of these probably impending earthquakes are 39.7°N–28.8°E, its magnitude is 7.0 and its occurrence time t_c=2003.5. The second strong event is expected to occur at t_c=2002.5 with a magnitude equal to 6.4 and epicenter coordinates 40.0°N–27.4°E. The uncertainties in the calculated focal parameters for these expected events are of the order of 100 km for the epicenter, ±0.5 for their magnitude and ±1.5 years for their occurrence time.     

Twenty years of paleoseismology in Italy

Italy has one of the most complete and historically extensive seismic catalogues in the World due to a unique and uninterrupted flow of written sources that have narrated its seismic history since about the end of the Iron Age. Seismic hazard studies have therefore always been mainly based upon this huge mass of data. Nevertheless, the Italian catalogue probably “lacks” many M ≥ 6.5 events, the seismogenetic structures responsible for which are characterized by recurrence times that are longer than the time span covered by our historical sources. For these reasons, and as in other countries, earthquake data that in Italy have been derived from paleoseismological studies should finally become a necessary ingredient in seismic risk assessment. Indeed, over the past 20 years, some hundred trenches have been excavated, supplying reliable and conclusive data on the recent activities of many faults. Through to many robust datings of surface fault events, these studies have provided the ages of several unknown or poorly known M ≥ 6.5 earthquakes. Here, we summarize the state of the art of paleoseismology in Italy, and present a first catalogue of 56 paleoearthquakes (PCI) that occurred mainly in the past 6 kyr. The PCI integrates the historical/instrumental seismic catalogue, and extends it beyond the recurrence time of the seismogenetic faults (2000 ± 1000 yr). We feel confident that the use of the PCI will enhance future probabilistic seismic hazard assessment, and thus contribute to more reliable seismic risk mitigation programs.     

On the long-term seismic hazard analysis in the Zhangjiakou–Penglai seismotectonic zone, China

The Zhangjiakou–Penglai seismotectonic zone (ZPSZ) lies in the northern part of North China and extends along the Zhangjiakou–Beijing–Tianjin–Bohai Bay–Penglai–Yellow Sea. It is about 900 km long and some 250 km wide in a northwest direction. The great Sanhe-Pinggu (M_S=8.0) earthquake occurred on September 1679 and the Tangshan (M_S=7.8) earthquake on July 1976 caused serious economic and life losses. According to some differences in crust structure and regional tectonic stress field, the ZPSZ is divided into western and eastern segment by the 117°E line for study on long-term seismic hazard analysis. An analysis of Gutenberg–Richter's empirical relation of earthquake-frequency and time process of historic and recent earthquakes along the eastern and western segments shows that the earthquake activity obeys a Poisson process, and these calculations indicate that the earthquake occurrence probability of M_S=6.0–6.9 is 0.77–0.83 in the eastern segment and the earthquake occurrence probability of M_S=7.0–7.9 is 0.78–0.80 in the western segment of the ZPSZ during a period from 2005 to 2015.     

四川汶川地震断裂活动和次生地质灾害浅析

为了揭示汶川地震断裂活动与次生地质灾害的关系,在对汶川地震重灾区进行快速调查的基础上,分析了影响汶川地震的龙门山断裂带震后的断裂活动、地表破裂与崩塌、滑坡、泥石流等次生地质灾害发育特征的关系。野外调查发现,龙门山3条断裂带的地表变形破坏（包括沿断裂带的道路、农田、建筑物和边坡变形破坏）特征具有明显的差异性和分段性,映秀-北川断裂地震活动最剧烈,南坝-关庄断裂、灌县-安县断裂、平武-青川断裂等活动性次之的“横向”差异性,以及龙门山断裂带由南向北地震活动性减弱的“纵向”分段性。地震断裂活动的差异性和分段性明显控制了崩塌、滑坡、泥石流等次生地质灾害的发育特征,即映秀-北川断裂区域的次生地质灾害规模大、分布密度大、危害严重,沿其余断裂的次生地质灾害危害相对较轻。     

Faults and Source Parameters of Earthquakes in the Baikal Rift Zone: Dip Angles of Fault Planes

Analysis of gentle, intermediate, and steep dip angles of fault planes in earthquake sources of the Baikal region is carried out with the slips in seismic sources being taken into account. The areas where normal faulting slips at steep, intermediate, and gentle angles took place are distinguished, and this can be interpreted as transformation of a steep dip to gentle one. It is found that the increase in energy class is accompanied by the number of earthquakes with steep dip angles, whereas the proportion of earthquakes with intermediate angles decreases, and the fraction of earthquakes with gentle angles remains quasi-stable and small.     

地表探槽断裂岩岩石磁学揭示汶川地震断裂带不同滑移机制

岩石磁学能揭示岩石的磁性矿物组合,通过断裂岩不同的磁性矿物组合可揭示地震过程中磁性矿物变化、地震摩擦温度及地震滑移机制等基础地震地质问题。2008年Mw 7.9级汶川地震使两条断裂带同时发生地表破裂,包括映秀-北川和灌县-安县断裂地表破裂带,破裂带上地震断裂岩为岩石磁学提供了大量的研究对象。本研究主要以汶川地震地表破裂带上两个探槽内断裂岩为对象,包括映秀-北川地表破裂带上的八角庙探槽和灌县-安县地表破裂带上的九龙探槽,结合目前已发表的地表及WFSD-1孔的研究成果,从岩石磁学角度探讨汶川地震断裂带经历的地震滑移机制:1综合映秀-北川地震断裂带上八角庙探槽和其它位置的断裂岩岩石磁学研究,结果显示该地震断裂带附近断层泥的高磁化率源于新生的亚铁磁性矿物,如磁铁矿和磁赤铁矿等,故映秀-北川地震断裂曾经历高温快速热增压地震滑移机制;2灌县-安县地震断裂带上九龙探槽内断层泥略低的平均磁化率源于其铁的硫化物含量比断层角砾及侏罗纪砂岩多,铁的硫化物可能源于地震过程或断裂岩抬升到地表后的地表作用,如果断层泥中铁的硫化物多含量源于地震过程,则灌县-安县地震断裂带曾经历低温慢速机械润滑地震滑移机制;3两条断裂经历的不同地震滑移机制可能受控于断裂深部结构,如断层产状,映秀-北川地震断裂带的陡倾角易产生高温快速地震滑移,而灌县-安县地震断裂带的缓倾角更易产生低温慢速地震滑移。     

遗传算法反演龙门山断裂带断层三维滑动参数研究

利用位错理论模型将遗传算法运用于断层三维滑动参数反演问题的求解,采用川西地区2004—2007年GPS观测数据对龙门山断裂带主要断层的三维滑动速率进行计算分析。结果表明：反演结果在量值上整体较小,与地质结果具有较好的一致性,走滑分量︱U1︱〈3.2 mm/a,倾滑分量︱U2︱〈1.54 mm/a,张开分量︱U3︱〈2.5mm/a,低滑动速率反映断层的闭锁及应力的积累及大地震发生的危险性;局部分量较地质结果偏大,反映实测GPS数据反演结果体现的是断层实时活动状态;遗传算法的全局收敛、不依赖初值等优点使结果更加稳定,而张开分量显示局部不规律性,表现出各子断层空间活动不均匀性。