Seismic Hazard Assessment of the East Thuringian Region/Germany – Case Study

East Thuringia/Germany, especially the region Gera-Ronneburg, is part of the large Kyffhäuser-Jachymov-Fault-Zone and displays moderate seismicity. However, its seismic hazard is significantly higher than that of the surrounding area including the Vogtland/Northern Bohemian region. The earthquake catalogue of Germany contains for this region besides the well-investigated Central German Earthquake (March 1872, I ₀ =VII-VIII) entries of up to I ₀ =VIII (14th century). Epicentral intensities and coordinates of these historical earthquakes are considered as uncertain. In seismic hazard analysis historical events which are uncertain are often neglected. But, especially in regions of moderate seismicity and infrequent larger earthquakes, the time window considered should be extended as far as possible. Apart from the necessity to study the historical sources of the strongest 14th century earthquakes, we investigate the influence of these events on the seismic hazard, taking into account the uncertainties of their size and location. Generally, the investigations clearly reveal the importance of defining source regions on the one hand and the significance of the local relevant attenuation function on the other hand. A further important point in seismic hazard assessment is the strong influence of the geological site conditions on seismic hazard (amplification or damping phenomena). For both points the well-known Central German Earthquake (1872) supplies important information.     

Seismicity of Czorsztyn Lake Region: A Case of Reservoir Triggered Seismic Process?

Czorsztyn Lake is an artificial water reservoir backed up by the hydropower plant Niedzica earth dam on Dunajec River in south Poland. Its filling began in 1995 and ended in 1997. The reservoir of 234.5 million m3 capacity is shallow, between 20 to 50 m of water column, on average. Until 2011 the seismic activity in this region was sparse, some 1 event trimonthly. However, in November 2011 more than 60 events occurred. Such bursts of activity, separated by low activity periods, continue to appear. Since August 2013 the area is monitored by a local seismic network. The setup allows to accurately locate the epicenters and to determine source mechanisms for stronger events. The events are clustered and aligned along NE-SW direction and their mechanisms are very similar, indicating N-S strike slip faulting. This and the irregular pattern of activity suggest that this seismicity is triggered by the reservoir impoundment.     

Modeling Optimal Control of the Ecological–Socioeconomic System Water Body–Watershed: Case Study of the White Sea Region

Water Resources - A cognitive model of optimal control of an ecological–socioeconomic system water body–watershed for the case of the White Sea (Beloe more) and its watershed...     

Study of Seismic Clusters at Bahía de Banderas Region,Mexico

The coast in the state of Jalisco and south of Nayarit is located within a region of high seismic potential, increasing population, and tourism development. This motivated Civil Defense authorities of Jalisco and the Universidad de Guadalajara to launch in the year 2000 the assessment of the seismic risk of the region. This work focuses in the seismicity study of the area of Bahía de Banderas and northern coast of Jalisco, which is actually a seismic gap. We perform an analysis of available seismograms to characterize active crustal structures, their relationship to surface morphology, and possible extent of these structures into the bay shallow parts. The data consist of waveforms recorded during 2003 when the seismograph network spanned the region. Our method is based on the identification of seismic clusters or families using cross-correlation of waveforms, earthquake relocation and modeling of fault planes. From an initial data set of 404 located earthquakes, 96 earthquakes with M_L < 3.6 are related to 17 potentially active continental structures. We present fault plane model for 11 structures. A subgroup of 7 structures is aligned parallel to the Middle America Trench, as a possible consequence of oblique subduction. The foci of the earthquakes were grouped into clusters corresponding to fault dimensions of hundred of meters, may be considered as asperities or barriers in tectonic structures with lengths between 10 and 30 km. These structures could generate shallow earthquakes with magnitudes between 5.0 and 6.0 and represent an additional seismic threat to the region.     

The Seismic Risk Assessment and Seismic Zoning of the Hong Kong Region

The Hong Kong-Kowloon Block,which has been uplifted continually and is stable since the late Cretaceous-Paleogene period,is identified and determined as a potential source with a maximum credible magnitude of M=5.5,while the late Cretaceous-Paleogene fault basins located around the Hong Kong-Kowloon Block are determinated as a potential source with a maximum credible magnitude of M≥6.0 based on the characteristics of seismo-tectonic activities in Hong Kong and its adjacent regions.The attenuation law of peak ground acceleration(PGA)and standard response spectra of acceleration(β)with damping 5% underlain by basement were determined by comparing the Chinese continent with the western U.S.A.in the similarity of tectonic environment of continental earthquakes,potential source with credible seismic magnitude of 5.0-7.5,and considering ground motion saturation near the source.The near source attenuation model of acceleration and response spectrum also reflect the field of Intensity distribution in East Chi     

Seismic Activity and Structures of the Crust and Upper Mantle in the Areas of Source Zones of the Largest Earthquakes in the Altai–Sayan Region

The results of studies of the shear wave attenuation field in source zones of the 2003 Chuya, 1970 Ureg-Nur, 1991 Busingol, 2011 Sayan, and 2011–2012 Tuva earthquakes are presented. Attenuation fields in these source zones include blocks with a high Q-factor and linear weakened zones. The surface ruptures from the mainshocks of the 2003 Chuya and 2011–2012 Tuva earthquakes are located in the zones of strong attenuation. Epicenters of the mainshocks are located where the maximum contrast in attenuation is observed. In the source zones of large earthquakes in the Altai–Sayan region or near them, the zones similar to so-called seimogenic bodies described in the literature are found. These objects tend to linear zones with high attenuation and are characterized by an increased density of deepened earthquakes and also by deformations of near-vertical elongation. The obtained data suggest that the fluid factor could play certain role in the occurrence of large earthquakes in the Altai–Sayan region.     

Seismic Ground Motion Zoning Maps of the Pangxi Region

The seismotectonic environment and seismic activity in Southwest China region were studied based on new data and new results obtained during the Eighth and Ninth Five-Year Plans,the seismic areas and zones and potential seismic source zones were determined.and the relation between seismic activity parameters and ground motion attenuation was determined.Finally the seismic gound motion zoning maps of the Pangxi region was compiled by using the multi-parameter and multi-scheme method.     

Study on the Relationship of Seismic Design Ground Motion at Different Fortification Levels in the Xinjiang Region

The seismic risk analysis results of 79 cities in Xinjiang are presented, and the bedrock peak ground accelerations under three seismic levels and their ratios are discussed. Then, the relationship between earthquake environments and the seismic risk analysis results of different exceeding probabilities are researched. The results show that minor and major earthquake motion parameters calculated from moderate earthquakes do not have a consistent probability and the ratio of bedrock peak accelerations under different exceedance probabilities are closely correlated with earthquake environments.     

Exploration and Study on Deep Crust Structural Characteristics in the Jiashi-Artux Seismic Region

The data from two deep seismic sounding profiles was processed and studied comprehensively. The results show that crnst-mantle structures in the investigated region obviously display layered characteristics and velocity structures and tectonic features have larger distinction in different geological structure blocks. The boundary interface C between the upper and lower crust and Moho fluctuate greatly. The shallowest depths of C (30.0km) and Moho (45.5km) under Jiashi deepen sharply from Jiashi to the western Kunlun mountain areas, where the depths of C and Moho are 44.0km and 70.0km, respectively. The higher velocity structures in the Tarim massif determine its relatively “stable“ characteristics in crust tectonics. The phenomenon in the Jiashi region, where the distribution of earthquake foci mostly range from 20kin to 40kin in depth, may infer that the local uplift of C and Moho interface, anomalonsly lower velocity bodies and deep large faults control earthquake occurrence and seismogenic processes in the Jiashi strong earthquake swarm.     

Study and Practice of Wide-Angle Seismic Data Processing

This paper presents the special processing methods used for wide-angle land seismic data through both theoretical study and model testing. They are different from conventional ones in the following aspects: separation of reflection and refraction waves, long offset NMO and stacking and forward modeling and inversion. These processing techniques have been applied for the first time to land seismic data from Liaohe areas, resulting in greatly improved quality of the deep formation and better imaging of the shallow layer obtained in the volcanic-shielded area. Wide-angle reflection and refraction seismic surveys were carried out in the Liaohe area using the maximum offset of 6500m and with the target around 2000ms. In the processing, we adopted the τ-p transform and the high-order normal moveout correction.     

Application of a New Qeneration of Geophonesto Improve Seismic Acquisitionin Onshore-offshore Transition Areas

In this paper, we review the differences between velocity geophones （VG） and acceleration geophones （AG） and their effect on seismic signals acquired in onshore-offshore transition areas. We present a new generation of Land Piezoelectric Geophone （LPG） and analyze its performance. Our field experiments demonstrate that our new LPG can be used to substitute for VGs in order to eliminate phase, frequency and energy differences between different geophone systems commonlv used in transition areas.     

Seismic Monitoring of Poland–Description and Results of Temporary Seismic Project with Mobile Seismic Network

The paper describes a temporary seismic project aimed at developing the national database of natural seismic activity for seismic hazard assessment, officially called “Monitoring of Seismic Hazard of Territory of Poland” (MSHTP). Due to low seismicity of Poland, the project was focused on events of magnitude range 1–3 in selected regions in order to maximize the chance of recording any natural event. The project used mobile seismic stations and was divided into two stages.Five-year measurements brought over one hundred natural seismic events of magnitudes M_L range 0.5–3.8. Most of them were located in the Podhale region in the Carpathians. Together with previously recorded events this made it possible to conduct a preliminary study on ground motion prediction equation for this region. Only one natural event, of magnitude M_L = 3.8, was recorded outside the Carpathians in a surprising location in central-west Poland.     

Water Chemistry Formation in Lakes of Specially Protected Natural Areas in the Altay Mountains: Case Study of the Mul’ta River

Water Resources - Mass-spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma was applied to determine the dissolved forms of 26 elements in the water of lakes of the Mul’tinskii Basin. Specific...     

Application of Characteristics of Seismogenic Structures in the Determination of Parameter of Potential Seismic Source Areas

INTRODUCTIONThe method of probabilistic seismic risk analysis was proposed by Cornell in1968(Cornell,1968).After more than30years development,it has become the main method for seismic riskassessment of engineering sites and seismic zonation,and has been u…     

Study on Fine Crustal Structure of the Sanhe-Pinggu Earthquake （M8.0） Region by Deep Seismic Reflection Profiling

Two near-vertical deep seismic reflection profiles (140km-long, 24-fold) were completed in the 1679 Sanhe-Pinggu earthquake (M8.0) region. The profiles ran through the Xiadian fault and the Ershilichangshan fault. The profiling result shows that the crust in this region is divided into the upper crust, the lower crust and the crust-mantle transitional zone by two powerful laminated reflectors: one at the two-way travel-time of about 7.0s (21 km), the other at about11.0～12.5s (33～37km). Crustal structure varies significantly in vertical direction. The shallow part is characterized by obvious stratification, multilayers and complexity. The upper crust on the whole features reflection “transparency“, while the lower crust features distinct reflectivity. Crustal structure also varies a lot in the lateral direction. The main fracture in this region is the deep fault under the Xiadian fault. This deep fault is steeply inclined (nearly vertical), and is supposed to be the causative fault of the Sanhe-Pinggu MS.0 earthquake. The two profiles respectively reveal the existence of local strong reflectivity in the lower crust and the lower part of the upper crust, which is assumed to be a dike or rock mass formed by the upwelling and cooling down of materials from the upper mantle. Magmatic activity in this part brought about differences in regional stress distribution, which then gave rise to the formation of the deep fault. That is supposed to be the deep structural setting for the Sanhe-Pinggu M8.0 earthquake.     

Estimation of Seismic Velocities from Deep Reflections in the τ-p Domain

—In deep reflection seismics the estimation of seismic velocities is hampered in most cases due to the low signal level with respect to noise. In the τ-p domain, it is possible to perform the velocity analysis even under such unfavorable signal conditions. This is achieved by making use of special properties of the transform, which enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. Further noise suppression is realized by incorporating filter procedures into the transform algorithm. The velocity analysis itself is also done in the τ-p domain by calculating and evaluating constant velocity gathers. The results can be directly used in the time domain. A mute algorithm, implemented into the τ-p velocity analysis procedure, further reduces noise. This velocity estimation method is discussed with synthetic data and applied to DEKORP data.     

The Volutionary Characteristics of Seismic Activity in the SichuanYunnan Region,China

Based on the earthquake activity characteristics of the diamond block in the Sichuan-Yunnan region and by using the method of the meso-scope damage dynamics and damage evolution,we studied the damage evolution process for moderately strong earthquakes along two seismicbelts.The original combination patterns of all the units which illuminate the changes from stable state to destroyed state are given.All these patterns can direct the earthquake prediction practice in this region     

Seismic Hazard Assessment in the Boundary Region of Indo-China:First Phase of Implementation of the Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Program (GSHAP) in Continental Asia

The primary goal of the demonstration project endorsed by the Scientific and Technical Committee for IDNDR in 1992 is to ensure that national agencies are able to assess seismic hazard in a regionally coordinated fashion by using advanced methods.China,as a Regional Center of Central Southern Asia,has contacted with countries of the region to realistically practice seismic hazard assessments of Continental Asia.A test area located in the collision boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates was chosen to examine the seismic hazard assessment approach in the regional coordinates.The seismotectonics and three versions of seismic sources of the test area are described in this paper and under the Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Program(GSHAP),guidelines an earthquake catalogue of the test area was assembled.Because of the incompleteness of earthquake data in different countries,we adopt different time windows for different magnitude intervals in order to obtain the seismicity parameters of sources.By u     

Searching for an Earthquake Precursor—A Case Study of Precursory Swarm as a Real Seismic Pattern Before Major Shocks

A long-range correlation between earthquakes is indicated by some phenomena precursory to strong earthquakes. Most of the major earthquakes show prior seismic activity that in hindsight seems anomalous. The features include changes in regional activity rate and changes in the pattern of small earthquakes, including alignments on unmapped linear features near the (future) main shock. It has long been suggested that large earthquakes are preceded by observable variations in regional seismicity. Studies on seismic precursors preceding large to great earthquakes with M ≥ 7.5 were carried out in the northeast India region bounded by the area 20°–32°N and 88°–100°E using the earthquake database from 1853 to 1988. It is observed that all earthquakes of M ≥ 7.5, including the two great earthquakes of 1897 and 1950, were preceded by abnormally low anomalous seismicity phases some 11–27 years prior to their occurrence. On the other hand, precursory time periods ranged from 440 to 1,768 days for main shocks with M 5.6–6.5 for the period from 1963 to 1988. Furthermore, the 6 August, 1988 main shock of M 7.5 in the Arakan Yoma fold belt was preceded by well-defined patterns of anomalous seismicity that occurred during 1963–1964, about 25.2 years prior to its occurrence. The pattern of anomalous seismicity in the form of earthquake swarms preceding major earthquakes in the northeast India region can be regarded as one of the potential seismic precursors. Database constraints have been the main barrier to searching for this precursor preceding smaller earthquakes, which otherwise might have provided additional information on its existence. The entire exercise indicates that anomalous seismicity preceding major shocks is a common seismic pattern for the northeast India region, and can be employed for long-range earthquake prediction when better quality seismological data sets covering a wide range of magnitudes are available. Anomalous seismic activity is distinguished by a much higher annual frequency of earthquake occurrence than in the preceding normal and the following gap episodes.