THE CONCEPT,REVIEW AND NEW INSIGHTS OF THE ACTIVE-TECTONIC BLOCK HYPOTHESIS

The hypothesis that strong earthquakes in China mainland are controlled by the movement and interaction of active-tectonic blocks was advanced by Chinese scientists, with the remarkable ability to encompass geological and geophysical observations. Application of the active-tectonic block concept can illustrate 6 active-tectonic block regions and 22 active-tectonic blocks in mainland China and its neighboring regions. Systems of active-tectonic block boundaries are characterized by a zone of decades or hundreds of strong earthquakes. One of the greatest strengths of the modern active-tectonic block hypothesis is its ability to explain the origin of virtually all the M8 and 80% M7 earthquakes on the main continent in eastern Asia. In other words, active-tectonic block boundary stands in strong causal interrelation with recurrence behaviors of strong earthquakes and thus, it is possible to predict an earthquake occurrence in principle. After nearly two decades of development and improvement, the active-tectonic block hypothesis has established its theoretical foundation for the active tectonics and earthquake prediction, and is promoting the transition from probabilistic prediction to physical prediction of strong earthquakes. The active-tectonic block concept was tested by application to a well-documented, high-frequent earthquake area, and was found to be an effective way of describing and interpreting the focal mechanism and seismogenic environment, but there are still many problems existing in the active-tectonic block hypothesis, which confronts with rigorous challenges. Future progress will continue to be heavily dependent on the high-precision synthetic seismogram, especially of critical poorly documented settings. It is well known that strong earthquakes occur anywhere in the interactions among the active-tectonic block boundaries where there is sufficient stored elastic strain energy driving fault propagation, and then releasing the stored energy. Therefore, future studies will focus on the mechanism and forecast of the strong earthquake activity in the active-tectonic block boundary zone, with fault activity within the active-tectonic block boundary zone, quantifying current crustal strain status, upper crust and deep lithosphere coupling relation, strong earthquake-generating process and its precursory variation mechanism in seismic geophysical model as the main research contents, which are the key issues regarding deepening the theory of active-tectonic block and developing continental tectonics and dynamics in the modern earth science.     

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.     

Assessment of strong earthquake risk in the Chinese mainland from 2021 to 2030

The long-term earthquake prediction from 2021 to 2030 is carried out by researching the active tectonic block boundary zones in the Chinese mainland. Based on the strong earthquake recurrence model, the cumulative probability of each target fault in the next 10 years is given by the recurrence period and elapsed time of each fault, which are adopted from relevant studies such as seismological geology, geodesy, and historical earthquake records. Based on the long-term predictions of large earthquakes throughout the world, this paper proposes a comprehensive judgment scheme based on the fault segments with the seismic gap, motion strongly locked, sparse small-moderate earthquakes, and apparent Coulomb stress increase. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the relative risk for strong earthquakes that may occur in the coming 10 years on the major faults in the active tectonic block boundary zones in the Chinese mainland. The present loading rate of each fault is first constrained by geodetic observations; the cumulative displacement of each fault is then estimated by the elapsed time since the most recent strong earthquake.     

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。     

岷山断块的发震构造与地震活动性分析

岷山断块位于中国南北强震构造带的中段, 区域地质构造复杂, 活动断裂众多, 强震频发。 4条不同走向的活动断裂NE向龙门山构造带的茂汶断裂、 NWW向东昆仑断裂带的塔藏断裂、 近NS向的岷江断裂和NNW—NS向的虎牙断裂构成岷山断块的南北西东边界。 638—2017年该区域共发生了10次6级以上破坏性地震, 2017年九寨沟7.0级地震就是其中之一。 结合区域构造背景, 对岷山断块所发生的6级以上地震的发震构造特征、 地震活动特性进行归纳总结, 综合分析该区域地震地质特征及地震危险性, 得出以下认识: ① 地震分布空间分区特征显著, 破坏性强震发震构造多为活动性较强的岷山断块东西边界断裂, 震中位置多位于两组或多组活动断裂构造的交会或穿切部位; ② 地震分布时间特征表现为随着时间发展具有迁移回返和原地复发性等特点; ③ 岷山断块东西边界断裂破坏性地震的发生具有一定的时间关联性, 东边界虎牙断裂1973—2017年的地震序列为西边界岷江断裂1933—1960年地震序列约40年后的地震构造响应; ④ 未来岷山断块仍应是继续关注的强震潜在危险区, 岷江断裂中北段的强震潜在危险区是近期值得深入研究的地区之一。     

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.     

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。     

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 …     

用网络滤波方法探讨华北地块边界带运动

介绍了用GPS连续观测资料反演断层运动的方法——网络滤波方法。用此方法探讨了华北地块边界带运动特征,并与发生在边界带附近和地块内部的地震活动及周边强震进行了比较,得出以下初步结论:郯庐大断裂和山西断陷盆地带的滑动量为1mm左右,整体活动水平有减弱的趋势;张家口—渤海断裂带滑动量为0.5mm左右,活动性逐渐增强;秦岭—大别山断裂内滑动量为0.5mm左右,活动性逐渐减弱。在2002年底至2003年底一年左右的时间内,华北地块边界带的滑动速率发生较大幅度的变化,同时,各边界带(秦岭—大别山断裂除外)的地震活动水平在2003年底达到高峰,说明边界带滑动速率急剧变化的结果导致边界带附近地震活动水平的加剧。另外,边界带滑动的特点表明了华北地块构造运动的整体性,推断华北地块的地壳运动可能与来自地球深部的地幔对流有关。     

A Computer Model for Cyclic Activity of Strong Earthquakes in Continental Seismic Zones

Based on the study of activity of earthquakes with M**********>7.0 in mainland China,we have found a dynamic pattern,i.e.,the cyclic characteristics in time and migration from one seismic zone to another in space.In order to understand the physical mechanism of this pattern,we use a nonlinear dynamic model to simulate the seismic activity in fault zones under a unified tectonic stress field.The basic elements in our model consist of a Maxwell body and a rigid sliding block.Basic elements in a column represent a fault,and coupling elements connecting different columns simulate the interaction among faults and fault segments.The results provide insights to the cyclic activity of strong earthquakes and to the feature of mutual influence between strong earthquakes in groups in the climax of seismic activity.     

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．      

雅江地块的震兆分析与强震危险性探讨

分析了雅江地块的构造环境、地震活动和震兆异常，探讨2001年雅江6．0级地震、2002年新龙5．3级地震发生后雅江地块的强震趋势。重点对理塘-德巫断裂带，新龙、白玉、德格及贡觉一带地区的异常地震活动图像进行分析，认为该区存在强震填空的潜在危险性。     

中国大陆特大地震的地震调整作用初步研究

为合理估计汶川8.0级特大地震后中国大陆的地震形势,本文通过对中国大陆特大地震后地震活动的统计分析,初步获得了对中国大陆特大地震调整作用的一些认识:①特大地震发生后1年内,除余震区外,中国大陆其他地区的地震活动以应力调整为主线,发生7级以上地震的可能性较小;②调整作用主要发生在西部的青藏活动地块区;③青藏地块区特大地震对华北地块区的地震调整作用较小.     

断层的大地震复发概率研究

本文以布朗过程时间物理模型为基础, 以地震孕育过程为研究主线, 计算了中国大陆地区主要活动断层在不同预测时段内的强震复发概率, 进而对断层的地震危险性进行了研究。 结果表明: 鲜水河断裂带、 阿尔金断裂带、 东昆仑断裂带、 小江断裂带这4条断层的强震复发概率值显著高于其他断裂带, 反映了这些断层所处地区的应力积累水平高于其他地区, 应属于未来可能复发强震的危险地带。     

松潘-甘孜块体东北端强震间相互作用及地震危险性研究

松潘-甘孜块体位于中国大陆西南部、南北地震带的中段,其东段与扬子块体相接,拥有多条活动断裂带,是青藏高原北部的主要构造单元.该地区地震活动性强烈,历史上曾发生过多次灾难性地震.本文基于地震触发原理和黏弹松弛分层地壳模型,计算了松潘-甘孜块体东北端历史强震之间应力传输和相互作用的过程.模型结果显示,受之前地震导致的库仑应力场变化的影响,1879年武都地震和1976年8月23日松潘M7.2级地震震中库仑应力积累提升,将促进这些地震提前发生;1933年M7.5叠溪地震和1973年M6.5松潘地震震中库仑应力降低,前续地震的影响可能使得这两次地震的发震时间推迟;在研究历史地震对1960年漳腊M6.7级地震、1976年8月16日M7.2级和1976年8月22日M6.7级松潘地震的作用时,有效摩擦系数的取值十分重要,当有效摩擦系数取0.8时,前续地震导致的应力场变化将促进以上三次地震的发生.松潘-甘孜块体东北端的强震活动有效地增强了西秦岭北缘断裂、东昆仑断裂玛沁-玛曲段、鲜水河断裂康定-道孚段和岷江断裂中段上的库仑应力积累,将提升这些断裂今后发生地震的概率;有效降低了龙日坝断裂上库仑应力的积累,降低了该断层上发生地震的概率.松潘-甘孜块体的地震活动降低了汶川地震震中位置的库仑破裂应力,但提升了破裂面东北段的应力积累,有助于汶川地震向东北端破裂.     

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。     

Current tectonic deformation and seismogenic characteristics along the northeast margin of Qinghai -Xizang block

Introduction The northeast margin of Qinghai-Xizang block has become the place with close attentions from geo-specialists at home and abroad for its significant tectonic movement and intensive seismicity. Quite a number of achievements have been obtained from the studies on geological structures and strong earthquake activities (DING, LU, 1989, 1991; GUO, et al, 1992, 2000; GUO, XIANG, 1993; HOU, et al, 1999; Tapponnier, et al, 1990; Gaudemer, et al, 1995). In the Development Program…     

昆仑山口西8.1级地震前青藏块体边界断层异常活动

系统分析了青藏块体边界断层的形变资料，研究了断层活动的动态过程及空间分布。结果表明，昆仑山口西8．1级地震前孕震影响范围达到青藏块体的周边地区；发震断层所在的构造带震前断层活动最为剧烈；加强对构造块体断层整体活动的宏观动态比较和分析，有助于判定未来强震发生的危险地段；震后应力将转移并集中到西秦岭构造带及其邻近地区。     

STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF STRONG EARTHQUAKE ON THE RECURRENCE BEHAVIOR OF MAJOR EARTHQUAKE ON ACTIVE FAULT-TAKING THE MIDDLE-NORTH SECTION OF XIANSHUIHE FAULT AS AN EXAMPLE

It is of great significance to determine the factors and causes that affect the recurrence of major earthquakes. This paper introduces the influence of strong earthquake on the recurrence of major earthquakes according to elastic rebound theory, and then proposes to calculate the impact time Δt respectively from the effect of strong earthquakes on the same and surrounding faults on the major earthquake recurrence by using seismic moment release rate method and Coulomb stress change. In this paper, we studied the change amount of major earthquake recurrence by taking four earthquakes with magnitude greater than 6.5 occurring at different fracture sections of the Xianshuhe fault zone as an example, they occurred on Daofu, Changcu, Zhuwo Fault, respectively. We used seismic moment rate method to calculate the impact time Δt of strong earthquake on the recurrence of major earthquakes on the Daofu-Qianning Fault. We further discussed the effect of the Coulomb stress change due to the interaction between faults on the recurrence of subsequent major earthquakes. The co-seismic and post-seismic Coulomb stress changes caused by strong earthquake on the surrounding faults on the Ganzi-Luhuo Fault are calculated. With the fault interaction considered, the importance of the interaction between faults in the middle-north section of the Xianshuihe fault zone to change the recurrence of large earthquakes is retested and evaluated. The results indicate that the two strong earthquakes occurring along Xianshuihe Fault in 1904(M=7.0) and 1981(M=6.9) resulted in a delay of 80 years and 45 years of major earthquake recurrence on the Daofu-Qianning Fault respectively, and the M7.3 earthquake in 1923 and the M6.8 earthquake in 1967 resulted in an advance of 35 years of major earthquake recurrence on the Ganzi-Luhuo Fault.     

应用地震学方法研究中国大陆活动地块应力应变场

在中国大陆活动地块假说及活动边界研究的基础上，将中国大陆按照地震活动特征进行分区. 利用大地震的震源机制资料和历史强震资料，结合小震综合节面解，研究了各地震区的应力应变状态，给出了各地震区的平均应力主轴方向和平均应变率. 应用地震应变能积累释放模型研究了各地震区的地震活动水平. 结果表明最大剪切应变率与地震活动水平存在线性关系. 将地震资料给出的中国大陆地壳应力应变场与GPS测量给出的结果进行了比较，初步说明了两种结果存在着统一性，从而显示出活动地块运动变形与强震活动的内在联系.