The deformation pattern and fault rate in the Tianshan Mountains inferred from GPS observations

Based on GPS measurements conducted from 1992 to 2006, we present the current crustal movement velocity field for approximately 400 sites in the Tianshan Mountains and their adjacent areas, and estimate slip rates on the major faults using a 2-D elastic dislocation model. Our studies show slip rates within the range of 1―4 mm/a on the NW-SE trending strike-slip faults (such as Talas-Fergana fault) in the Tianshan Mountains. We also found the slip rates on the approximately WE-SN trending gently-dipping detachment fault vary from 10―13 mm/a for the southwest Tianshan Mountains to 2―5 mm/a for the eastern Tianshan Mountains, and to 6―12 mm/a for the Kyrgrz Tianshan. The GPS velocity field reveals that the total convergence is not uniformly distributed across the Tianshan Mountains, with 80%―90% of the N-S shortening absorbed along the southern and northern edges, and relatively little deformation accommodated within the interior. This first-order feature of strain pattern is explained best by underthrusting of adjacent blocks beneath the Tianshan Mountains along a basal detachment fault. We found the occurrence of historical M7―8 earthquakes somewhere in the locked ramp that connects the creeping and locking segments of the detachment, thereby resulting in elastic strain concentration and accumulation around it. The elastic strain confined in the upper crustal layer above the detachment ultimately releases through infrequent great earthquakes in the Tianshan Mountains, resulting in considerable folding and faulting at their margins. The Tianshan Mountains propagated outward and rose progressively as a wedge-shaped block.     

Slip rate of the seismogenic fault of the 2021 Maduo earthquake in western China inferred from GPS observations

Seismic and field observations indicate that the M_w7.4 Maduo earthquake ruptured the Jiangcuo fault,which is a secondary fault~85 km south of the northern boundary of the Bayan Hor block in western China.The kinematic characteristics of the Jiangcuo fault can shed lights on the seismogenic mechanism of this earthquake.Slip rate is one of the key parameters to describe the kinematic features of a fault,which can also provide quantitative evidences for regional seismic hazard assessments.However,due to lack of effective observations,the slip rate of the Jiangcuo fault has not been studied quantitatively.In this study,we consider the interaction between the Jiangcuo fault and the eastern Kunlun fault,and estimate the slip rates of the two faults using the interseismic GPS observations across the seismogenic region.The inferred results show that the slip rates of the Jiangcuo fault and the Tuosuo Lake segment of the Kunlun fault are 1.2±0.8 and 5.4±0.3 mm a~(–1),respectively.Combining the slip rate with the average slip inferred from the coseismic slip model,the earthquake recurrence interval of the Jiangcuo fault is estimated to be 1800_(700)~(+3700)years (1100–5500 years).Based on the results derived from previous studies,as well as calculations in this study,we infer that the slip rate of the Kunlun fault may decrease gradually from the Tuosuo Lake segment to the eastern tip.The Jiangcuo fault and its adjacent parallel secondary faults may have absorbed the relative motion of blocks together with the Kunlun fault.     

基于GPS观测的红河断裂带现今分段及闭锁特征

红河断裂带是川滇地区重要的活动边界断裂之一, 了解红河断裂带不同段落的活动特性对理解川滇地区以及青藏高原东南缘的运动特征有着重要意义.本文利用2014—2018年红河断裂带加密的GPS站点, 结合1999—2016年中国大陆GPS速度场数据, 获取了红河断裂带附近的现今GPS速度场.本文首先采用F检验法将研究区域划分为5个相对独立的块体: 华南块体、大凉山块体、川西北块体、滇中块体和滇西南块体; 再通过GPS速度场的剖面投影分析, 将红河断裂带分为三个段落: 北段由洱源至弥渡、中段由弥渡至元江、南段由元江至元阳.在此基础上, 本文顾及红河断裂带近场的丽江—小金河断裂带、小江断裂带、无量山断裂带和楚雄—建水断裂带的影响, 采用三维弹性块体模型和负位错理论, 反演得到了红河断裂带、丽江—小金河断裂带和小江断裂带的滑动速率、震间闭锁程度, 并分别对建模断裂带进行了模型分辨率检测.结果表明: (1)红河断裂带北段地表以下16 km深度为完全闭锁状态, 中段地表以下8 km深度为完全闭锁状态, 南段闭锁程度显著弱于北段、中段; 红河断裂带北段仍然具有较高的地震危险性; (2)红河断裂带中南段可能不再独立的作为滇中块体的西南边界, 而是与两侧的无量山断裂带和楚雄—建水断裂带一起承担了块体边界的作用, 尤其是在红河断裂带南段; (3)红河断裂带南段位于滇中块体到华南块体的转换区内, 运动性质发生了转变, 由中段、北段的右旋走滑运动变为左旋走滑运动.

     

A precise velocity field of tectonic deformation in China as inferred from intensive GPS observations

##正##Active tectonics, e.g., faulting, folding, and rifting are clearly manifested over the vast territory of China. The in-tensive crustal deformation with long-lived structures has given rise to numerous highly-elevated mountains in the western China with the Yangtze and Yellow rivers downstreaming to the east,     

Monitoring the horizontal movement along the Shanxi fault zone by GPS measurement

IntroductionShanxi is a significant seismic activity area in North China (WANG, 1995), named as Shanxi fault zone. One can see how important it is by the name. Up to now, a large number of achievements have been obtained from the studies mainly by the geological method. In order to improve the seismic research and carry out earthquake monitoring and prediction in this area, a GPS horizontal deformation monitoring network is established along the fault from the north to the south by the Se…     

Polar cap convection patterns inferred from EISCAT observations

From data of the European incoherent scatter radar EISCAT, and mainly from its tristatic capabilities, statistical models of steady convection in the auroral ionosphere were achieved for various levels of magnetic activity. We propose here to consistently extend these models to the polar cap, by avoiding the use of a predefined convection pattern. Basically, we solve the second-order differential equation governing the polar cap convection potential with the boundary conditions provided by these models. The results display the classical twin-vortex convection pattern, with the cell centres around 17 MLT for the evening cell and largely shifted towards midnight (3–3.5 MLT) for the morning cell, both slightly moving equatorward with activity. For moderate magnetic activities, the convection now appears approximately oriented along the meridian from 10:00 MLT to 22:00 MLT, while in more active situations, it enters the polar cap at prenoon times following the antisunward direction, and then turns to exit around 21:00 MLT. Finally, from these polar cap patterns combined with the auroral statistical models, we build analytical models of the auroral and polar convection expected in steady magnetic conditions.     

GPS观测及断裂晚第四纪滑动速率所反映的青藏高原北部变形

断裂晚第四纪滑动速率及现今GPS观测揭示了青藏高原向北扩展与高原边缘隆升的运动特征.主要断裂晚第四纪滑动速率及跨断裂GPS应变速率的结果表明,青藏高原北部边缘的断裂以低滑动速率（＜10 mm/a）为主,特别是两条边界断裂：阿尔金断裂和海原—祁连山断裂.两条主要边界断裂上的滑动速率分布显示了断裂间滑动速率转换及调整特征.阿尔金断裂自95°E以西的8～12 mm/a稳定滑动速率,向东逐渐降低到最东端的约1～2 mm/a,而海原断裂自哈拉湖一带开始发育后滑动速率为1～2 mm/a,到祁连一带（101°E以东）增大到相对稳定的4～5 mm/a,直到过海原后转向六盘山一带,滑动速率降低到1～3 mm/a,甚至更低.滑动速率的变化及分布特征显示,阿尔金断裂滑动主要是通过祁连山内部隆起及两侧新生代盆地变形引起的缩短来吸收的,海原—祁连山断裂的低滑动速率及沿断裂运动学特征表明断裂尾端的陇西盆地变形及六盘山的隆起是断裂左旋走滑速率的主要吸收方式.这一变形特征表明,青藏高原北部边缘的变形模式是一种分布式的连续变形,变形发生自高原内部,边界断裂的走滑被高原内部变形所吸收.     

Dynamics of the Kuril-Kamchatka subduction zone from GPS data

The Kuril-Kamchatka subduction zone is the most mobile and seismically active region in Northeast Eurasia. The Kuril island arc is one of the few tectonically active regions, where until recently there had been no space geodetic network. The first GPS stations were installed on the Kamchatka Peninsula in 1997, and on the islands of the Kuril arc from Kamchatka to Hokkaido, in 2006. The collected geodetic data allowed us to reveal the geometry of the interplate coupling along the whole Kuril-Kamchatka arc, and also to estimate the source parameters and their features for a number of major earthquakes in this area.     

Variations in the stratospheric ozone field inferred from Nimbus satellite observations

The ultraviolet Earth radiance data from the backscatter ultraviolet experiment on Nimbus 4 have been inverted to infer ozone profiles using a single Rayleigh scattering model. Two methods of solution give essentially the same results. Comparison of these profiles with simultaneous rocket sounding data shows satisfactory agreement at low and middle latitudes.Vertical cross-sections of ozone mixing ratio along the orbital tracks indicate that while the gross characteristics of the ozone field above 10 mb are under photochemical control, the influence of atmospheric motions can be found up to the 4 mb level.     

Preseismic deformation in the seismogenic zone of the Lushan MS7.0 earthquake detected by GPS observations

A continuous GPS array across the southern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone recorded the deformation during the process of the Lushan MS7.0 earthquake that occurred on April 20, 2013. Such data can provide meaningful information regarding the dynamic evolution of crustal deformation in the seismogenic zone. Our studies have shown that the occurrence of the Wenchuan earthquake led to the loading of compressive and sinistral shearing strain on the southern segment of the Maoxian-Wenchuan fault, whereby the extrusion strain accumulated at a greater rate than before the Wenchuan earthquake. The strain time series in the seismogenic zone revealed that the principal compression strain rates decreased from west to east in the direction of N30°–45°W. Furthermore, the area to the east of Beichuan-Yingxiu fault behaved as a zone of compressive deformation with obvious sinistral shearing deformation. The surface strain and the first shearing strain time series decreased with time, while the area to the west of the Beichuan-Yingxiu fault behaved as a zone of dextral shear deformation that increased with time. Furthermore, the regional deformation field before the Lushan earthquake showed that the rate of extrusion strain accumulation in the southern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone was obviously larger than before the Wenchuan earthquake. Moreover, the sinistral shearing strain accumulated in the area of the southern segment of the Maoxian-Wenchuan fault. Based on the above analysis, we consider that the eastward movement of the Bayan Har block increased considerably following the Wenchuan earthquake, which enhanced the accumulation of compression strain in the southern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone.     

Modification of fault slip models of the Mw 9.0 Tohoku Earthquake by far field GPS observations

GPS data from Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) are used to derive far-field co-seismic displacements induced by the M_w 9.0 Tohoku Earthquake. Significant horizontal displacements about 30 mm, 10 mm, and 20 mm were caused by this large event in northeast China, north China, and on the Korean peninsula respectively. Vectors of relatively large horizontal displacements with dominant east components pointed to the epicenter of this earthquake. The east components show an exponential decay with the longitude, which is characteristic of the decay of the co-seismic horizontal displacements associated with earthquakes of thrust rupture. The exponential fit of the east components shows that the influence of the co-seismic displacements can be detected by GPS at a distance of about 3200 km from the epicenter of the earthquake. By considering the capability of the far field displacements for constraining the inversion of the fault slip model of the earthquake, we use spherically stratified Earth models to simulate the co-seismic displacements induced by this event. Using computations and comparisons, we discuss the effects of parameters of layered Earth models on the results of dislocation modeling. Comparisons of the modeled and observed displacements show that far field GPS observations are effective for constraining the fault slip model. The far field horizontal displacements observed by GPS are used to modify the slips and seismic moments of fault slip models. The result of this work is applicable as a reference for other researchers to study seismic source rupture and crustal deformation.     

K-Ar dating of extensional fault gouge from the Yi-Shu segment of the Tan-Lu fault zone

Two grabens were developed in the Yi-Shu segment of the Tan-Lu fault zone (TLFZ) during its exten-sional activities, and are now confined by four major NNE-trending normal faults and filled with Creta-ceous sediments. These faults were developed due to their reactivities, containing gouge and cutting the graben sediments. Detailed fieldwork demonstrates that the faults experienced sinistral transten-sional moment related to regional NE-SW extension during the reactivity. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of ...     

Microstructural features of fault gouges from Tianjing-shan-Xiangshan fault zone and their geological implications

Detailed observation of the microstructural features of 11 fault gouge and 3 fault breccia samples collected from Tianjingshan-Xiangshan fault zone has revealed that fault gouge can be classified into 3 types: flow banded granular gouge, foliated gouge and massive gouge. The determination of the shape preferred orientation (SPO) of survivor grains in fault gouges indicates that the foliated gouge displays a profound SPO inclined to the shear zone boundary, similar to theP-foliation; flow banded granular gouge displays a SPO parallel to the shear zone boundary, while massive fault gouge and fault breccia display a random SPO. All these fault gouges fall in different fields of shear rate ternary diagram.     

利用InSAR资料反演缅甸Mw6.8地震断层滑动分布

2011年3月24日缅甸东北部发生M_w6.8级地震.本文利用覆盖该地区的升降轨ALOS PALSAR数据,获取了该次地震的同震形变场,并采用灰度配准技术获取了其地表破裂位移.针对影像中因轨道不精确造成的非线性长波长误差,本文采用二次多项式曲面法予以去除,获取了更为精确的同震形变场.最后,基于弹性半空间形变模型反演了该地震的断层滑动分布.结果表明,该地震断层滑动以左旋走滑为主,兼具少许的倾滑运动分量,断层滑动主要集中分布在断层面0~10 km深度范围,最大滑动量达5 m,位于地表以下5 km深处.反演获得的地震标量矩为2.49×10¹⁹N·m,震级约为M_w6.8级.     

丽江-小金河断裂带现今断层运动特征

本文利用GPS观测对丽江—小金河断裂带的现今断层运动和变形状态进行了分析和探讨.丽江—小金河断裂带两侧地块地壳变形差异显著,GPS速度剖面结果显示断裂带两侧存在地壳变形不连续现象;进一步以GPS速度场为约束,基于负位错模型反演的丽江—小金河断裂带的断层闭锁空间分布结果显示,以木里为界,北东段断层强闭锁从地表向深部延伸至15 km左右,西南段断层闭锁程度较高的区域位于5~15 km范围内,浅层表现为弱闭锁的状态;滑动亏损速率结果显示,两闭锁段的滑动亏损速率相差近4 mm·a^-1,说明丽江—小金河断裂带西南段的背景滑动速率明显高于北东段.基于数值模拟分析了西南段浅层蠕滑运动对周边断层的影响,结果表明西南段的浅层左旋滑动对北东段闭锁区和西南段深部强闭锁区均为正影响.

     

1991—2004年GPS观测的中国大陆地壳动态变形特征

Based on GPS data from 1991- 2004 and the least-squares collocation method,we analyze the crustal deformation in the Chinese mainland. The results show that the first-order crustal deformation is unchanged in different periods in the Chinese mainland,which reflects the background of regional tectonic activity. The strain rate is much higher in Western China,especially in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Sichuan-Yunnan area. The variations in different periods are related with seismicity of strong earthquakes during the same time. The GPS data after 2004 shows the post-seismic deformation of the 2001 Kunlun Mountains M S8. 1 earthquake.     

Combined GPS and InSAR Models of Postseismic Deformation from the Northridge Earthquake

--Models of combined Global Positioning System (GPS) and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data collected in the region of the Northridge earthquake indicate that significant afterslip on the main fault occurred following the earthquake. Additional shallow deformation occurred to the west of the main rupture plane. Both data sets are consistent with logarithmic time-dependent behavior following the earthquake indicative of afterslip rather than postseismic relaxation. Aftershocks account for only about 10% of the postseismic motion. The two data sets are complimentary in determining the postseismic processes. Fault afterslip and shallow deformation dominate the deformation field in the two years following the earthquake. Lower crustal deformation may play an important role later in the earthquake cycle.     

Mesozoic subduction-accretion zone in northeastern South China Sea inferred from geophysical interpretations

The northern South China Sea (SCS) is an impor- tant offshore exploration area of China, producing over 10 million tons of oil from Cenozoic reservoirs annually since 1996. The increasing energy consump- tion in China demands a rapid expansion of hydrocar- bon exploration to new types, including pre-Cenozoic sources and reservoirs. This has stimulated a new phase of pre-Cenozoic researches in the area. So far more than 100 exploration wells have reached the pre-Cenozoic basement in northe…