Crustal structure of seismic velocity in southern tibet and east-westward escape of the crustal material

The reflecting events from Moho and other interfaces within the crust are recognized from the wavefield characteristics of P- and S-wave for the 480km long wide-angle seismic profile between Peigu Tso and Pumoyong Tso. Then, seismic crustal structures of P- and S-wave velocities and Poisson ratio under the nearly east-west profile in southern Tibet are interpreted by fitting the observed traveltimes with the calculated ones by forward modelling. Our interpreting results demonstrate that the crustal thickness varies remarkably in the east-west direction, showing a pattern that the crust could be divided into three parts bounded by the west of Dingri and the east of Dinggyê, respectively, where the depth of Moho is about 71km for the western part, about 76km for the middle and about 74km for the eastern. There is one lower velocity layer (LVL) at the bottom of the upper crust with depth of 20–30 km. One of the distinct features is that the thickness of LVL abruptly thins from 24km on the west to 6km on the east. The other is that the velocity variation in the crust along east-west direction for both P- and S-wave displays a feature as quasi-periodic variation. The lower velocity (compared to the average value for the continent of the globe) in the lower crust and three sets of north-southward active normal faults are probably attributed to the coupling process of material delamination in the lower crust, crustal thicking and east-westward escape of the crustal material accompanied with the continental collision between India and Eurasia Plate.     

Crustal velocity structure in the southern edge of the Central Alborz (Iran)

Inversion of local earthquake travel times and joint inversion of receiver functions and Rayleigh wave group velocity measurements were used to derive a simple model for the velocity crustal structure beneath the southern edge of the Central Alborz (Iran), including the seismically active area around the megacity of Tehran. The P and S travel times from 115 well-located earthquakes recorded by a dense local seismic network, operated from June to November 2006, were inverted to determine a 1D velocity model of the upper crust. The limited range of earthquake depths (between 2 km and 26 km) prevents us determining any velocity interfaces deeper than 25 km. The velocity of the lower crust and the depth of the Moho were found by joint inversion of receiver functions and Rayleigh wave group velocity data. The resulting P-wave velocity model comprises an upper crust with 3 km and 4 km thick sedimentary layers with P wave velocities (V_p) of ～5.4 and ～5.8 km s^?1, respectively, above 9 km and 8 km thick layers of upper crystalline crust (V_p ～6.1 and ～6.25 km s^?1 respectively). The lower crystalline crust is ～34 km thick (V_p ～ 6.40 km s^?1). The total crustal thickness beneath this part of the Central Alborz is 58 ± 2 km.     

天山—帕米尔结合带的地壳速度结构及地震活动研究

利用流动地震台阵记录的地震数据,通过地震层析技术反演了天山—帕米尔结合带的P波速度结构,揭示出地壳结构的非均匀特征及其与地震活动的对应关系. 分析结果表明,天山和西昆仑的双向挤压导致塔里木西部边缘地壳严重变形,在山前地区形成基底隆起带,地壳深部则被断裂分割成为若干块体,有的块体可能卷入造山带内部;喀什坳陷地壳深部结构相对完整,变形程度较弱;天山和西昆仑的地壳结构显示出缩短增厚的波速特性,在与塔里木接壤的局部地区,壳幔边界附近存在热物质的侵入迹象. 大部分地震都发生在塔里木西部边缘的壳内高速块体周围,推测块体之间的相互作用和应力调整是导致天山—帕米尔结合带频繁发生地震的主要原因,伽师地震则与构造变形由天山向塔里木内部扩展以及该地区的地壳非均匀结构有关.     

Crustal velocity,density structure,and seismogenic environment in the southern segment of the North-South Seismic Belt,China

The southern segment of the North-South Seismic Belt in China is a critical region for earthquake preparedness and risk reduction efforts. However, limited by the low density of seismic stations and the use of single-parameter physical structural models, the deep tectonic features and seismogenic environment in this area remain controversial. Thus, a comprehensive analysis based on high-resolution crustal structures and multiple physical parameters is required. In this study, we applied the ambient noise tomography method to obtain the three-dimensional (3D) crustal S-wave velocity structure using continuous waveform data from 112 permanent stations and 350 densely distributed temporary stations in the southern segment of the North-South Seismic Belt. Then, we obtained the high-resolution 3D density structure through wavenumber-domain 3D gravity imaging constrained by the velocity structure. The low-velocity and low-density anomalies in the upper crust of the study area were mainly distributed in the Sichuan Basin and around Dali and Simao, while the high-velocity and high-density anomalies were primarily distributed in the Panxi region, corresponding to the surface geological features. Two prominent low-velocity and low-density anomalies were observed in the middle and lower crust: one to the west of the Songpan-Garzê block and Sichuan-Yunnan diamond-shaped block, and the other near the Anninghe-Xiaojiang fault. Combined with the spatial distribution of seismic events in the study area, we found that previous earthquakes predominantly occurred in the transition zones between high and low anomaly regions and in the low-velocity and low-density zones in the upper crust. In contrast, moderate-to-strong earthquakes mainly occurred within the transition zones between high and low anomaly regions and close to the high-velocity and high-density regions, often with low-velocity and low-density layers below their hypocenters. Fluids play a critical role in the seismogenic process by reducing fault strength and destabilizing the stress state, which may be a triggering factor for earthquakes in the study area. Additionally, the upwelling of molten materials from the mantle may lead to energy accumulation and stress concentration, providing an important seismogenic background for moderate-to-strong earthquakes in this area.     

胶东半岛地壳速度结构及其构造意义

胶东半岛地处华北平原东北部沿海地区,北东向断裂带异常发育,该区不仅是华北震区中、强地震活动的频发区,又是中-新生代地壳构造活动的大陆边缘带.中国东部最大规模的郯庐断裂带纵贯胶东半岛西部,苏鲁超高压变质带位于该半岛南侧,彰显其地理位置重要而特殊.为深入认识我国近海与海陆过渡带地壳结构特征及其深部动力学背景等基础科学问题,2013年在胶东半岛东部实施了海陆联合探测项目.本文对布设的北西向宽角反射/折射探测剖面进行了计算处理,获取了该测线的地壳精细结构及其构造特征.结果表明:胶东半岛地壳结构复杂,该区基底埋深较浅,地表速度偏高,地壳速度结构呈现东西迥异的非均匀性特征,具有横向分层、纵向分块的典型特性.作为郯庐断裂带重要组成部分的牟平—即墨断裂带是胶东半岛上非常重要的断裂带,该断裂带东西两侧的地壳结构特征差异非常明显,断裂带东侧速度偏低,而西侧速度偏高,地壳各分层界面形态在该断裂带两侧起伏变化明显,地壳结构整体上呈现南东浅北西较深的结构特征.总体来看,胶东半岛不同区段呈现出的结构差异与该区大地构造单元的划分基本相符,在界面起伏变化明显的区域与地表穿过的断裂带遥相呼应.作为华北板块和扬子块体相互碰撞的边缘地带,胶东半岛复杂的深部结构特征与西太平洋板块对其的俯冲挤压有着密切的关联,该研究对了解本区地壳构造变化的深部动力学背景有着重要的研究意义.     

Crustal structure along the coast of California from Rayleigh waves

The dispersion curve of Rayleigh waves is obtained for the path San Fernando Valley-Berkeley, using the single-station surface wave method. The crustal model obtained from dispersion data is in excellent agreement with seismic refraction results. Dispersion data enable the rejection of one of the models previously proposed on the basis of refraction data.     

兴蒙造山带及邻区地壳速度结构特征

兴蒙造山带位于中亚造山带东段, 作为古亚洲构造域的重要组成部分, 由西伯利亚板块与华北板块碰撞拼合而成, 其经历了大陆裂解、洋盆扩张、洋壳俯冲消减和碰撞拼合造山等复杂的构造演化过程.为了利用壳幔结构约束造山带演化的深部过程, 跨越华北地块北缘、松辽—锡林浩特地块、兴安地块以及索伦—西拉木伦缝合带和二连—贺根山缝合带, 实施了一条520 km长的深地震测深剖面, 获得了高质量的人工源大当量的宽角反射和折射地震资料, 并采用地震动力学射线方法获得地壳速度结构.结果显示: (1)研究区地壳平均速度为6.15~6.3 km·s^-1, Pn波速度为7.8~8.2 km·s^-1; (2)地壳厚度约为36.1~42.2 km, 最厚位置(~42.2 km)对应地表大兴安岭主峰, 说明大兴安岭在此位置存在山根; (3)地壳速度在1.5~6.8 km·s^-1范围内, 认为在该区地壳内不存在洋壳物质; (4)主要断裂带或缝合带位于速度等值线变化剧烈的梯度带上; (5)速度结构显示研究区具有明显的横向分区和纵向分层的特点.地壳内速度剧烈变化特征表明兴蒙造山带的地壳物质组成不均匀, 尤其中下地壳, 速度等值线起伏剧烈.这种复杂的地壳速度结构应该与中生代以来多板块汇聚引发的多期区域性伸展和挤压作用有关.

     

华北克拉通北缘—西伯利亚板块南缘的地壳速度结构特征

华北克拉通北缘—西伯利亚板块南缘（张家口—中蒙边界）的深地震测深剖面长600 km,跨越华北板块、内蒙造山带和西伯利亚板块.沿测线采用8个1.5t的爆炸震源激发地震波,使用300套数字地震仪接收,取得了高质量的地震资料.通过资料分析和处理,识别出沉积层及结晶基底的折射波（Pg）、上地壳底面的反射波（P2）、中地壳内的反射波（P3）、中地壳底面的反射波（P4）、下地壳内的反射波（P5,仅在镶黄旗—苏尼特右旗下方出现）和莫霍面的反射波（Pm）等6个震相.采用地震动力学射线方法（seis88）得到的地壳速度结构表明：（1）在华北板块与内蒙造山带之间,内蒙造山带与西伯利亚板块之间,上地壳中存在明显的高速度局部变化,在地表发育大量的古生代花岗岩体、超基性岩体.（2）在中下地壳华北板块南缘的地震波速度大,为6.3~6.7 km/s,西伯利亚板块北缘的速度小,为6.1~6.7 km/s,且界面比较平缓.原因是在内蒙造山带内地壳的缩短和隆升造山引起了中下地壳界面的剧烈起伏,不同海陆块的拼合和物质交换导致了不同区域速度的不均匀性.（3）莫霍面在赤峰断裂带（F2）以南和索伦敖包—阿鲁科尔沁旗断裂带（F4）以北较为平缓,平均深度为40~42 km.在F2—F4之间呈双莫霍面,莫霍面1明显上隆,深度为33.5 km,层速度为6.6~6.7 km/s.莫霍面2明显下凹,在西拉木伦河断裂带（F3）下方,最深达到47 km,速度达到最大为6.8~6.9 km/s,这可能是由壳幔物质混合引起的.依据莫霍面的特点,本文认为双莫霍面以南为华北板块北缘,以北为西伯利亚板块南缘,拼合位置在赤峰断裂带（F2）与索伦敖包—阿鲁科尔沁旗断裂带（F4）之间的区域.     

华北克拉通中西部地壳S波速度结构及其地质意义

华北克拉通是世界上最古老的克拉通之一.我们利用布设于华北中部的ChinArray计划461个宽频带地震台阵的连续波形资料, 基于背景噪声成像技术, 获得了克拉通中西部5~45 s的Rayleigh波群速度频散曲线, 并利用线性反演方法获得了研究区地壳上地幔顶部的S波速度结构.密集流动地震台阵使我们能够揭示研究区精细的地壳上地幔顶部速度变化, 以深入探讨华北克拉通中西部深部结构及其对岩浆和地震的控制作用.8 km深度的S波速度切片显示低速与高速异常分别与地表的盆地和山脉对应良好.不同经度和纬度方向的S波速度剖面均表明, 西部克拉通地壳大致可以分为上、中、下地壳三层.克拉通西部鄂尔多斯块体的下地壳S波速度介于3.7~3.8 km·s^-1, 暗示其下地壳以长英质岩石为主.大同火山区下方的S波低速异常从中地壳延伸至上地幔顶部, 推测源自软流圈的地幔热流提供了近垂直的主干上涌通道, 并控制了该区新生代岩浆活动.强震集中分布在上地壳高速体内部或高低速相间区, 其下地壳乃至上地幔顶部都呈现明显的低速异常, 推测源自上地幔/下地壳的深部热流沿地壳尺度的陡深断裂上侵, 诱发上覆高应力刚性块体发生蠕动破裂与应力释放, 进而诱发大震.

     

峨眉山大火成岩省地壳横波速度结构特征及其动力学意义

峨眉山大火成岩省是我国境内最早获得国际学术界广泛认可的大火成岩省,对于认识地幔柱形成与作用机理、生物与环境演化、资源富集与成矿机制等具有重要意义.本文利用峨眉山大火成岩省宽频带地震台阵（COMPASS-ELIP）以及云南、四川区域地震台网的部分台站资料,基于分格加权叠加策略实现接收函数和面波频散在信息来源和分辨尺度方面的协同;进而开展联合反演,重建了峨眉山大火成岩省关键剖面下方的地壳横波速度结构.研究结果显示：研究区地壳平均S波速度,沿剖面呈现自西向东先增大后减小的分带性,内带中、下地壳速度较高,尤其是下地壳存在明显的高速异常（V_S约3.8~4.2 km·s^-1）;丽江-小金河断裂带和水城-紫云断裂带的东西两侧,中上地壳存在低速层（V_S约3.3 km·s^-1）,尤其是水城-紫云断裂带东西两侧的中地壳低速层尤为明显.结合本文以及现有的系列研究结果,进一步确认内带中、下地壳高速对应二叠纪古地幔柱作用的遗迹,大规模岩浆的底侵和内侵,不仅改造了滇中块体的地壳结构和组分,而且也改变了地壳的流变强度,进而对现今青藏高原东南缘的深部过程产生了深远影响.

     

黄海的地壳速度结构与中朝-扬子块体拼合边界

利用中国、韩国和ISC台站的地震走时数据反演了黄海地区的地壳P波速度结构,对比重力异常和断裂体系、Pn波速度及其各向异性,分析了不同地球物理异常的相互关系以及黄海东部和西部的结构差异,为厘定黄海东部断裂暨中朝—扬子块体的拼合边界提供了新的信息.反演结果表明,北黄海和南黄海西部具有沉积盆地的地壳结构特征,P波速度明显偏低且深度较大,说明盆地内部沉积层较厚、沉降幅度较大,以北黄海、南黄海海州湾和苏北—南黄盆地最为突出.南黄海中部、胶东半岛、辽东半岛和朝鲜半岛显示出构造隆起区的地壳速度特征,其中南黄海中部的高速异常具有北东方向的伸展痕迹,与胶东地区的区域构造走向趋于一致,但是与朝鲜半岛的高速异常并不相连,其间存在明显的分界.据此推测南黄海与朝鲜半岛之间可能存在一个近南北方向的深断裂——黄海东部断裂,至于该断裂是否可以作为中朝—扬子块体在海区的拼合边界,尚需获取黄海东部及朝鲜半岛更详细的相关资料提供依据.     

青藏高原中东部地壳和上地幔顶部P波层析成像

为获取青藏高原中东部地壳和上地幔顶部的精细结构,本文基于1万4 484条天然地震的P波（Pg和Pn）到时数据,对青藏高原中东部地壳和上地幔顶部进行P波三维速度结构层析成像,获取了该区域内地壳P波、上地幔顶部Pn波的速度结构和地壳厚度信息。层析成像结果显示,青藏高原中东部地壳P波速度范围为5.2—7.2 km/s,上地幔顶部Pn波速度范围为7.7—8.4 km/s,地壳厚度范围为48.0—68.6 km,地壳和上地幔顶部存在强烈的横向不均匀性,与地质块体分布有较好的对应关系。地壳P波速度结构显示,研究区中、下地壳分布有较大范围的低速区,上地壳与中下地壳P波分布存在明显的差异:羌塘地块和巴颜喀拉地块在上地壳主要表现为高速异常,随着深度增加逐渐表现为低速异常;而柴达木地块在上地壳主要表现为低速异常,下地壳则表现为高速异常;柴达木地块和拉萨地块在上地幔顶部表现为较高的Pn波速度,最高约为8.4 km/s,而在巴颜喀拉地块和羌塘地块东部,Pn波总体上表现为低速,最低约为7.7 km/s。研究区内地壳厚度的总体特征表现为南厚北薄,其中羌塘地块东部和拉萨地块的地壳较厚,而柴达木地块和巴颜喀拉地块东部的地壳相对较薄,羌塘地块西部存在局部的地壳变薄现象,反映了印度板块对欧亚板块北向俯冲作用下的岩石圈变形特征。      

利用双差走时成像研究青藏高原东缘地壳速度结构

青藏高原东缘断裂密布, 强震频发, 是研究高原侧向挤出及深部孕震环境的理想实验室.为了解龙门山次级块体及其西界龙日坝断裂带在青藏高原东缘隆升过程中的作用, 我们基于四川地震台网64个宽频带地震台在2008年1月至2015年12月期间记录的震级≥3.0地震事件波形, 利用双差层析成像方法揭示了四川盆地及青藏高原东缘的地壳速度结构.结果表明: 夹持于龙门山断裂带(LMSF)与龙日坝断裂带(LRBF)之间的龙门山次级块体, 相对东侧龙门山断裂带和四川盆地呈现明显的低速特征.结合该区域的低阻、低密度结构特征, 以及块体内部、特别是龙日坝断裂带现今地震活动缺乏, 我们推测这是因为该块体"相对较软", 不易脆性破裂产生地震, 在青藏高原东缘与扬子块体西缘强烈相互作用过程中, 该块体主要通过地壳缩短增厚和地表隆升吸收板块挤压造成的累积应变能.依据本文获得的速度等值线变化特征及已有地球物理剖面探测结果, 推测龙日坝断裂带为深部向南东倾斜且向下切入基底, 该断裂倾角较陡, 主要以走滑运动调节应变能, 而东侧龙门山断裂带倾角较缓, 表现为逆冲运动导致的地壳缩短是其调节应变能的主要形式.此外, 据本文多条速度剖面及已有电性剖面、重力异常的联合约束, 我们推测鲜水河、安宁河断裂带均以较大倾角向南东倾斜, 至少延伸至中下地壳.     

海原弧形构造区地壳三维精细速度结构成像

利用海原弧形构造区及周围区域地震台网1970—2015年期间记录的天然地震到时数据,采用双差地震层析成像方法对构造区地壳三维速度结构与地震震源位置进行联合反演,获得了高分辨率的三维V_P、V_S以及V_P/V_S模型,分析讨论了速度、波速比分布与强震发生以及断裂等之间的关系.结果显示：研究区域内地震主要沿断裂呈弧状展布,速度在横向分布上具有较大的差异,波速比变化范围为1.60~1.80,平均值约为1.70.大型断裂诸如海原—六盘山断裂带、青铜峡—固原断裂带等位于高速与低速的过渡带,断裂两侧地震波速差异较大.研究区内历史强震多处于高低速过渡区域,海原强震下方下地壳存在低速、高导薄弱层（25~30 km深度）,推测原因主要为流体作用所致.依据相对较低的速度与波速比分布推测研究区地壳主要组成成分为酸性的长英质.速度剖面显示地壳可分为上、下两层,上、下地壳厚度变化由西南向东北逐渐减薄,减薄幅度相近;结合前人研究结果推测构造区地壳增厚模式可能主要为上、下地壳共同增厚.

     

Crustal structure of seismic velocity in southern Tibet and east-westward escape of the crustal material--An example by wide-angle seismic profile from Peigu Tso to Pumoyong Tso

The reflecting events from Moho and other interfaces within the crust are recognized from the wavefield characteristics of P- and S-wave for the 480km long wide-angle seismic profile between Peigu Tso and Pumoyong Tso. Then, seismic crustal structures of P- and S-wave velocities and Poisson ratio under the nearly east-west profile in southern Tibet are interpreted by fitting the observed traveltimes with the calculated ones by forward modelling. Our interpreting results demonstrate that the crustal thickness varies remarkably in the east-west direction, showing a pattern that the crust could be divided into three parts bounded by the west of Dingri and the east of Dinggyê, respectively, where the depth of Moho is about 71km for the western part, about 76km for the middle and about 74km for the eastern. There is one lower velocity layer (LVL) at the bottom of the upper crust with depth of 20-30 km. One of the distinct features is that the thickness of LVL abruptly thins from 24km on the west to 6km on the east. The other is that the velocity variation in the crust along east-west direction for both P- and S-wave displays a feature as quasi-periodic variation. The lower velocity (compared to the average value for the continent of the globe) in the lower crust and three sets of north-southward active normal faults are probably attributed to the coupling process of material delamination in the lower crust, crustal thicking and east-westward escape of the crustal material accompanied with the continental collision between India and Eurasia Plate.     

利用接收函数方法研究蒙古中南部地区地壳结构

2011年8月至2013年7月中国地震局地球物理研究所与蒙古科学院天文与地球物理研究中心在蒙古中南部区域布设了宽频带流动地震台阵,这为开展远东地区深部结构的精细探测提供了有利的数据基础.利用台阵记录的远震地震事件,采用P波接收函数的H-κ叠加分析和共转换点（CCP）叠加方法获得了台站下方的地壳厚度及平均波速比.结果显示研究区的地壳厚度介于39 km至45 km之间.整体上Moho面埋深从西北往东南方向逐渐变浅.在蒙古主线性构造两侧地壳厚度呈现区域性变化特征,东南部地区地壳厚度较薄,约为39 km,而西北部地区地壳较厚,达45 km,为此推测蒙古主构造线可能是地壳的一个陡变带.此外,研究地区地壳的平均波速比值（VP/VS）在1.70到1.79之间,均值为1.75,低于全球大陆的平均值1.78,这可能暗示着该区其地壳是缺少铁镁质的.研究还发现测线的西北与东南地区其地壳波速比值较高,推测是古生代铁镁质地壳的残留或是新生代岩浆底侵的反映.     

郯庐断裂带鲁苏皖段及邻区地壳速度结构

郯庐断裂带是我国东部规模最大的深断裂带.为了揭示该断裂带的深部结构,本文利用江苏、安徽、山东、上海和浙江地震台网记录的近震到时资料,对8700个地震事件重新精确定位,进而开展了多震相地震走时成像法反演地壳速度结构.通过分析郯庐断裂带鲁苏皖段及邻区三维地壳速度结构图像,发现(1)研究区内不同构造块体具有差异明显的地壳速度结构,即下扬子断块总体速度偏低,华北断块速度高于下扬子断块,大别断褶带和苏鲁断块整体速度最高;(2)在上地壳5~15 km内苏鲁超高压变质岩带的P波速度明显高于其他地区,中地壳速度与周围区别不大,但下地壳该区域速度也较高;(3)在20~25 km深度范围内,30°N~36°N,115°E~124°E间显示为低速异常区,研究区内发生的中强地震与该低速异常区分布有较强的空间对应关系;(4)莫霍面总体呈现西深东浅,南深北浅的形态;(5)研究区内沿郯庐断裂带速度结构呈现分段性,反映了不同构造块体间的速度差异,郯庐断裂带具有明显的构造块体边界特征.     

Crustal S-wave velocity structure of the Yellowstone region using a seismic ambient noise method

The Yellowstone volcano is one of the largest active volcanoes in the world, and its potential hazards demand detailed seismological and geodetic studies. Previous studies with travel time tomography and receiver functions have revealed a low-velocity layer in the crust beneath the Yellowstone volcano, suggesting the presence of a magma chamber at depth. We use ambient seismic noise from regional seismic stations to retrieve short-period surface waves and then study the shallow shear velocity structure of the Yellowstone region by surface wave dispersion analysis. We first obtained a crustal model of the area outside of the Yellowstone volcano and then constructed an absolute shear wave velocity structure in combination with receiver function results for the crust beneath the Yellowstone volcano. The velocity model shows a low-velocity layer with shear velocity at around 1.3 km/s, suggesting that a large-scale magma chamber exists at shallow levels within the crust of the Yellowstone volcanic region.     

Crustal velocity structure of the Shaowu-Nanping-Pingtan transect through Fujian from deep seismic sounding-tectonic implications

The Shaowu-Nanping-Pingtan deep seismic sounding profile is located in northern Fujian Province. High-quality seismic sounding data were acquired by five large explosive blasts received by 133 digital seismic instruments along the profile. Based on seismic facies analysis and travel-time picking on shot record sections, a model of the velocity structure of upper crust was developed by finite-difference tomography of the first breaks; the 2-D P-wave velocity structure and tectonic characteristics of the crust were interpreted further by fitting of waveforms and seismic travel times. The results show that the top of the crystalline basement is buried at depths of 2.0–4.0 km, with the deepest buried up to 4.0 km within the Fuzhou Basin. The Moho interface was found to be deeper in the west and shallower in the east(i.e., 30.0 km near the coast, increasing to 33.0 km northwestward). The lower crust on the east side of the Zhenghe-Haifeng Fault Zone has a smoothly varying gradient structure, whereas on the west side it has two distinct layers with a boundary between those layers at a depth of 23 km. Seismic velocities on the west side are generally lower than on the east side; a low velocity layer is observed with a lowest speed of 6.25 km/s at a depth of 22 km on the west side, which may consist of partially molten material. The Zhenghe-Haifeng Fault is a deep crustal fault, and should be a channel for deep material upwelling; it has a direct relationship with multiple stages of continental tectonic movements in Southern China and with multiple magmatic events that started in the Proterozoic and ended in the of late Tertiary in Fujian.