Detailed paleoseismological research on the flank of the Lake Imandra depression (Kola region): New approaches and results

We present results of detailed paleoseismological research at the key site on the flank of the Lake Imandra depression (Kola region, northeast of the Fennoscandian Shield). Study of various groups of paleoseismic deformations in the fault zone and application of new methods and approaches made it possible to recognize a segment of a large seismotectonic zone where violent earthquakes occurred repeatedly at the end of the Late Glacial and in the Holocene. The dates of earthquakes and the location of their foci are determined.     

Comprehensive paleoseismic geological studies in a key site in southwestern Kola Peninsula (Northeast of the Fennoscandian Shield)

This paper considers the results of detailed paleoseismic and geological investigations in a key site in the wall of the Imandra Lake depression (Kola Peninsula Region, Northeast of the Fennoscandian Shield). Study of different groups of paleoseismic deformations developed in the fault zone and the application of new methods and techniques made it possible to identify a large seismotectonic zone characterized by great earthquakes at the end of the Late Glacial and in the Holocene. The investigation data are indicative of the necessity to estimate the seismic potential in the Kola Atomic plant area in a different way.     

Seismic risk in Italy for earthquakes of intensity IX (Mercalli scale)

In this report the yearly probability of an earthquake of intensity IX (Mercalli scale) in any area in Italy and the error at 95% of confidence have been evaluated; for the purposes of this evaluation, Italy has been divided into small areas separated by a distance of 3' both in latitude and in longitude.

To evaluate the yearly probability, two atenuation curves for volcanic earthquakes and a series of probabilistic curves for tectonic earthquakes have been determined on the basis of about 700 earthquakes, for which it has been possible to draw isoseisms.

Isoprobability and equal-error curves have been drawn up on a 1: 1,000,000 scale map.     

地震台站地电场异常特性: 以中国航空工业总公司625研究所为例

通过分析中国航空工业总公司625研究所地电场监测站30多年监测的原始资料, 提取了其中8组数据, 包括4组地电场中的长期异常信号和4组对应震级M_s6.0以上的地震震前短临异常信号.发现这些异常信号有以下特征: 地电场中的长期监测图中包括了许多不同大小、距离远近地震的孕震信息, 其中近区大震会主控一条或多条曲线的走势, 远大、近小的地震会造成曲线时上时下的振荡; 从4组地电场短临信号监测图中发现震前地电场异常总体表现为下降(上升)—折返—回跳—发震的模式, 说明地电场异常变化形态具有相似性和重复性, 证明地电场观测确实能监测到震前异常.发现适合该监测站预测发震时间的新方法: 根据折返天数与回跳天数大致相等, 即回跳日期加上折返天数为发震日期, 证明地电场短临预测方法具有一定的实用性.      

Klimovskii Metasomatic Complex of the Belomorian Mobile Belt: Composition,Age, Geological Position

Geotectonics - Metasomatites of the White Sea mobile belt of the Fennoscandian (Baltic) shield are considered. Metasomatites are traced from southeast to northwest for a distance of ≥550 km....     

Quaternary denudation of southern Fennoscandia – evidence from the marine realm

Throughout the last 1.1 million years repeated glaciations have modified the southern Fennoscandian landscape and the neighbouring continental shelf into their present form. The glacigenic erosion products derived from the Fennoscandian landmasses were transported to the northern North Sea and the SE Nordic Seas continental margin. The prominent sub‐marine Norwegian Channel trough, along the south coast of Norway, was the main transport route for the erosion products between 1.1 and 0.0 Ma. Most of these erosion products were deposited in the North Sea Fan, which reaches a maximum thickness of 1500 m and has nearly 40 000 km³ of sediments. About 90% of the North Sea Fan sediments have been deposited during the last 500 000 years, in a time period when fast‐moving ice streams occupied the Norwegian Channel during each glacial stage. Back‐stripping the sediment volumes in the northern North Sea and SE Nordic Seas sink areas, including the North Sea Fan, to their assumed Fennoscandian source area gives an average vertical erosion of 164 m for the 1.1–0.0 Ma time period. The average 1.1–0.0 Ma erosion rate in the Fennoscandian source area is estimated to be 0.15 mm a^?1. We suggest, however, that large variations in erosion rates have existed through time and that the most intense Fennoscandian landscape denudation occurred during the time period of repeated shelf edge ice advances, namely from Marine Isotope Stage 12 (c. 0.5 Ma) onwards.     

中国大陆科学钻探主孔流体异常与其附近2次ML3.9级地震的关系

2001年11月30日和12月25日中国大陆科学钻探主孔(CCSD)附近发生了2次ML3．9级地震。从日均值图上看,地震前后中国大陆科学钻探主孔流体测值曲线存在明显的异常现象。通过流体组分的最大相关系数分析知道,除Ar和CO2组分两者相关性较差(最大相关系数平均值为0．632,均方差为0．223)之外,其他组分间的相关性较好,最大相关系数在地震前后均出现明显的异常波动。从日均值和最大相关系数异常来看,大陆科学钻探主孔中的地下流体异常与该区的地震活动可能存在一定关系。     

印度—欧亚板块碰撞变形区的大地震时空分布特征与迁移规律

印度板块与欧亚板块在新生代期间的持续碰撞和挤压过程导致亚洲大陆发生了强烈的弥散式板内变形,并形成了一个以贝加尔湖为顶点,以喜马拉雅带为底边的近似三角形的变形区与强震活动区,即新-藏三角区。基于固体刚塑性变形平面结构,结合滑移线场网络模型,对该区历史强震活动的大范围离散式空间分布特点进行了分析解释。结合1505-1976年以来历史强震空间迁移的实例,归纳了该区历史强震活动与地震应变释放从印度板块边界→新-藏地块→两侧大陆的顺序性及定向性迁移特征,并根据对地震空间迁移规律的认识,进一步探讨了区域未来强震危险性问题。结果显示,从2000-2018年间,印度板块边界和新-藏三角区已多次发生M7.9~9.1大地震,但其东、西两侧的区域大陆地区却异常平静,没发生过7级以上大地震。依照区域强震活动的顺序性迁移特点,推测在未来几到几十年,亚洲大陆东部与中部以及喜马拉雅带东段等区域的大地震危险性较大。      

Stratigraphic correlation of late Palaeocene sand deposits in the Søgne Basin area of the Danish and Norwegian central North Sea

A stratigraphic analysis of late Palaeocene sands of the Søgne Basin and the western part of the Norwegian–Danish Basin shows that the sand bodies are of differenct ages. The geographic distribution of the sand deposits shows that they are related to underlying Mesozoic structures suggesting a controlling effect of Tertiary tectonics on the deposition of sand during the late Palaeocene. However, the structural setting of various sand bodies varies from reactivation of older faults and reactivation of salt structures. The local character of the structures active during the late Palaeocene introduces minor depressions with no lateral connection. The sand bodies, which are interpreted as having been deposited in these depressions, are thus in general separate bodies with no lateral connection. The Fennoscandian shield and eroded Mesozoic sediments along the Fennoscandian Border Zone are suggested as source area for the late Palaeocene sand deposits.     

The Fennoscandian uplift and glacial isostasy

Various hypotheses have been put forth in relation to the land uplift of Fennoscandia, which is well documented both by geological and geodetic observations. Most modern authors attribute the present uplift to an isostatic rebound of the earth after the last deglaciation. Recent information on the gravity field, both from the satellite data and land survey measurements is examined to ascertain whether the Fennoscandian uplift is associated with a gravity minimum and a mass deficit. Free air anomalies correlate well with the central area of uplift and predict a remaining uplift of about 100 m. Results of secular gravity measurements are inconclusive. Seismicity of Fennoscandia does not show a close association with the area of maximum uplift. Different rheological models proposed for the mantle below the Fennoscandian shield are reviewed and it is shown that the available data on the rates of uplift for the last 9000 years are more compatible with a low-viscosity (10²⁰ P) asthenosphere of 100–200 km thickness.     

Process Analysis of In-situ Strain during the Ms8.0 Wenchuan Earthquake-Data from the Stress Monitoring Station at Shandan

There were huge life and property losses during the Ms8.0 Wenchuan earthquake on May 12, 2008. Strain fluctuation curves were completely recorded at stress observatory stations in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau and its surroundings in the process of the earthquake. This paper introduces the geological background of the Wenchuan earthquake and the profile of in-situ stress monitoring stations. In particular, data of 174 earthquakes (Ms4.0-Ms8.5) were processed and analyzed with various methods, which were recorded at the Shandan station from August 2007 to December 2008. The results were compared with other seismic data, and further analyses were done for the recoded strain seismic waves, co-seismic strain stepovers, pre-earthquake strain valleys, Earth's free oscillations before and after the earthquake and their physical implications. During the Wenchuan earthquake, the strainmeter recorded a huge extensional strain of 70 seconds, which shows that the Wenchuan earthquake is a rupture process predominated by thrusting. Significant precursory strain anomalies were detected 48 hours, 30 hours, 8 hours and 37 minutes before the earthquake. The anomalies are very high and their forms are very similar to that of the main shock. Similar anomalies can also be found in strain curves of other shocks greater than Ms7.0, indicating that such anomalies are prevalent before a great earthquake. In this paper, it is shown that medium aftershocks (Ms5.5-6.0) can also cause Earth's free oscillations. Study of free oscillations is of great significance to understand the internal structure of the Earth and focal mechanisms of earthquakes and to recognize slow shocks, thus providing a scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of geological disasters and the prediction of future earthquakes.     

Geochronology of carbonatites from the Canadian and Baltic Shields, and the Canadian Cordillera: clues to mantle evolution

Carbonatites are known to range in age from the Archean through to the Recent, with an increasing abundance towards more recent times. Of the known 500 or so carbonatites, however, few have been precisely dated. In this paper, some new, precise U/Pb, Th/Pb as well as Pb/Pb dates from several carbonatite complexes from Europe and North America are presented and used to establish important reference points in defining mantle perturbations. Events at 2617, 1964, 583 and 382 Ma are now firmly established for the Fennoscandian Shield, while several distinct events of 2680 Ma, and between 1897–1881 and 1164–1083 Ma are documented for the Canadian Shield. Other, less well-defined, events in Canada include magmatism at 1770 Ma from Argor, 570 Ma from Manitou Islands, and an event at 360 Ma from the Canadian Cordillera. One carbonatite from the Ukrainian Shield (Chernigovka) has been precisely dated at 2074 Ma. Events from the Fennoscandian Shield also include carbonatitic magmatism at 1792 Ma from Halpanen, and between 386 and 377 Ma from Kola. Most of these events from quite distinct Archean cratons can be correlated with LIPs and associated mafic magmatism, such as flood basalts and regional dyke swarms, generally considered to be the result of plume magmatism and associated continental fragmentation. Few mafic events are associated with the post-orogenic shoshonitic magmatism at ca. 1800 Ma for the Fennoscandian Shield and the Devonian continental margin extension in the Canadian Cordillera.     

Experimental vulnerability curves for the residential buildings of Iran

Iran is one of the most seismically active countries of the world located on the Alpine-Himalayan earthquake belt. More than 180,000 people were killed due to earthquakes in Iran during the last five decades. Considering the fact that most Iranians live in masonry and non-engineered houses, having a comprehensive program for decreasing the vulnerability of society holds considerable importance. For this reason, loss estimation should be done before an earthquake strikes to prepare proper information for designing and selection of emergency plans and the retrofitting strategies prior to occurrence of earthquake. The loss estimation process consists of two principal steps of hazard analysis and vulnerability assessment. After identifying the earthquake hazard, the first step is to evaluate the vulnerability of residential buildings and lifelines and also the social and economic impacts of the earthquake scenarios. Among these, residential buildings have specific importance, because their destruction will disturb the daily life and result in casualties. Consequently, the vulnerability assessment of the buildings in Iran is important to identify the weak points in the built environment structure. The aim of this research is to prepare vulnerability curves for the residential buildings of Iran to provide a proper base for estimating probable damage features by future earthquakes. The estimation may contribute fundamentally for better seismic performance of Iranian societies. After a brief review of the vulnerability assessment methods in Iran and other countries, through the use of the European Macroseismic method, a model for evaluating the vulnerability of the Iranian buildings is proposed. This method allows the vulnerability assessment for numerous sets of buildings by defining the vulnerability curves for each building type based on the damage observations of previous earthquakes. For defining the vulnerability curves, a building typology classification is presented in this article, which is representative of Iranian building characteristics. The hazard is described in terms of the macroseismic intensity and the EMS-98 damage grades have been considered for classifying the physical damage to the buildings. The calculated vulnerability indexes and vulnerability curves show that for engineered houses there is not any notable difference between the vulnerability of Iranian and Risk-UE building types. For the non-engineered houses, the vulnerability index of brick and steel structures is less than the corresponding values of the other unreinforced masonry buildings of Iran. The vulnerability index of unreinforced and masonry buildings of Iran are larger than the values of the similar types in Risk-UE and so the Iranian buildings are more vulnerable in this regard.     

Earthquakes associated with the Clark Hill reservoir, South Carolina — A case of induced seismicity

Following the McCormick County, South Carolina, local magnitude 4.3 earthquake on August 2, 1974, continuous seismic activity has been observed in the area. The epicenters are located within 3 km from the Clark Hill reservoir. The shallow seismic activity appears to be related to water level fluctuations in the reservoir, and follows them by about two days. The frequency of earthquakes is related to the rate of change of water level, while the energy release is seen to depend on the water level itself. Pore pressure fluctuations at focal depths in a regime of high tectonic stresses is the suggested cause for the triggering of earthquakes.     

Synthesis of seismicity studies for western Alaska

An examination of the Alaskan earthquake catalogs revealed that from 1928 through 1965, twelve earthquakes of magnitudes (M) in the range 5.6 to 7.3 were located in and around Seward Peninsula region of western Alaska. Moreover, a number of earthquakes of M < 5.0 were found to distribute over the same area. Further investigation of the seismicity employing a local seismographic network in the above area showed a higher level of onshore and offshore seismic activity than had been previously recognized. A number of clusters of earthquakes have been identified. Some of them are located in the epicentral areas of past strong earthquakes (M > 5.5) and some are located in areas traversed by mapped faults. The nature of the seismicity as identified with the local network data is primarily crustal over the entire study area. Investigation of focal mechanisms of isolated strong earthquakes or clusters of small earthquakes show normal faulting as the dominant mode of strain energy release in the western part of Alaska. Moreover, in areas lying, approximately, south and north of Kotzebue Sound, the principal components of horizontal stresses tend to orient in the NW-SE and WNW-ESE directions, respectively.     

Tectonic Features and Stages of Evolution of the Baltic–Mezen Shear Zone in the Phanerozoic,Northwestern Russia

Geotectonics - The general tectonic features of the Baltic-Mezen zone developed along the border of the Fennoscandian shield and the Russian Plate in the north of the East European platform, are...     

Implications of north pacific plate tectonics in central Alaska: Focal mechanisms of earthquakes

The focal mechanisms for 86 selected earthquakes (3.0 m_b 5.5) located in central Alaska have been investigated from P-wave first motions; the data were gathered by local seismic networks. The results show a depth-dependent characteristic to the fault-plane solutions. For earthquakes having focal depths shallower than 60–70 km, the focal mechanisms indicate either strike-slip or normal faults, while for earthquakes with foci at intermediate depths the focal mechanisms correspond to thrust faults. The nature of the seismicity indicates the hinge line of the Pacific lithospheric plate under the study area to be striking N17°E from Cook Inlet towards interior Alaska. The comparison of the focal mechanisms with the seismicity shows that the strike-slip and normal faults are the predominant processes of stress release along the shallow section of the plate. The earthquakes with intermediate foci systematically occur along the inclined section of the plate. If the gently dipping nodal planes for these earthquakes are chosen as the fault planes, the focal mechanisms correspond to underthrust motions at the foci. In these, the slip vectors are oriented either to the west or north with the resultant being in the N30°W direction. The tension axes for the underthrust solutions are also found to be parallel to the local dip of the plate, indicating that the subducted plate in interior Alaska is undergoing gravitational sinking.     

地震迁移和破裂发展

前言全球每年平均发生地震约500万次。这些地震绝大多数分布在巨大构造板块接合处:它们是环太平洋带、地中海-喜马拉雅带、大西洋、北冰洋、印度洋及太平洋东侧的中脊地带以及大陆裂谷系。     

Climatic changes in areas adjacent to the North Atlantic during the last glacial-interglacial transition (14-9 ka BP): A contribution to IGCP-253

This paper presents a summary of the evidence for climatic changes during the last glacial-interglacial transition (14-9 ka BP) in land areas adjacent to the North Atlantic. It is a synthesis of the results of the 12 regional summaries compiled by contributors to the North Atlantic Seaboard Programme of IGCP-253 that are published separately in this issue of Journal of Quaternary Science. Eighteen palaeotemperature curves are compared and arranged in three transects, one from southern Europe to Spitsbergen, a second from Ireland to Poland, and the third from southern New England to the Labrador-Baffin Shelf area. Ten maps are presented that summarise the synoptic climatic conditions of the region in 500-year time periods. The purpose of the exercise is to examine the extent to which any emerging patterns support the Ruddiman and Mclntyre model of large-scale shifts in the position of the oceanice Polar Front during the last glacial-interglacial transition. Some broad agreement emerges, although the influence of oceanic changes is diminished in areas that lay in close proximity to the Laurentide and Fennoscandian ice sheets. Attention is drawn to limitations in the compilations and to the potential for improved models in the future.