Study of the Change in Wave Velocity Ratio before and after Two Strong Earthquakes Using Airgun Source Data

Using the signals excited by the large-volume airgun source at the Binchuan transmitting seismic station from January to June, 2016, arrival-time data was acquired at four stations near the epicenter of the Eryuan M_S4.5 and M_S4.0 earthquakes on February 8, 2016, as well as the epicenter of the Yunlong M_S5.0 and Eryuan M_S4.6 earthquakes on May 18, 2016 through the waveform cross-correlation technique. The wave velocity ratio of the four stations was calculated using the single-station method. At the same time, the b-value and the focal mechanism consistency parameters of the study area were also calculated. The results show that:(1) the wave velocity ratio of each station experienced a process of decline-recovery-fast rise before the two strong earthquakes, and a significant quasi-synchronous rapid rise occurred within 3-12 days before the earthquake; (2) the timing of the rapid rise of the wave velocity ratio of the four stations before the Yunlong M_S5.0 and Eryuan M_S4.6 earthquakes were related to the epicentral distance. The station which observed the earliest increase in rapid rise is the farthest one from the epicenter, and the station where the rapid rise appeared in the latest is closest to the epicenter; (3) the form of change of the wave velocity ratio before the earthquake was different between stations located at different directions in the epicenter area; (4) the b-value and the focal mechanism consistency parameter which is commonly used to characterize the stress level both showed a downward trend before the two strong earthquakes, and were consistent with the change in the wave velocity ratio. According to the preliminary analysis, the wave velocity ratio obtained by using airgun source can better reflect the change in the stress state of the underground medium.     

Dynamics of Induced Seismicity during the Filling of the Nurek Reservoir

The seismological data in the area of induced seismicity in the region of the Nurek reservoir are analyzed. The analysis is based on the developed database for the earthquakes that occurred from 1955 to 1989 and is aimed at finding the regularities in the variations of the parameters of the transitional seismic regime caused by filling a reservoir. These parameters include the b-value—the slope of the graph of the Gutenberg–Richter frequency–magnitude relationship, the fractal dimension d of the set of the epicenters, and fracture cycle parameter q = αb ? d, where coefficient α determines the ratio between the magnitude and source size M = α log l + β. It is shown that during the filling of a reservoir, these parameters undergo statistically reliable variations: at the initial stages, the b-value increases, the fractal dimension of the set of epicenters decreases, and the fracture cycle parameter q grows and becomes positive in the middle of the time interval of reservoir filling. After a reservoir is filled, these parameters recover their background values. The aftershock sequences of the three strongest earthquakes—before, in the beginning, and in the middle of the reservoir filling period—are studied. It is confirmed that the Omori parameter p for the aftershock sequences during filling is smaller than for the earthquake before filling. Based on the dynamics of the studied parameters, it is conjectured that the relaxation time of the transitional seismic regime after the emergence of induced seismicity is about 10 years.     

2022年泸定M6.8地震前地震活动参数变化研究

2022年9月5日四川泸定发生M6.8地震,为研究泸定地震孕震区的应力变化,选取b值、小震调制比和丛集率这3个参数,对泸定地震前的区域地震活动状态进行计算研究。结果显示:泸定及周边区域几次强震发生前,区域地震活动均存在持续时间较长的低b值时段,且在低b值状态下震前短期内出现小震高丛集、高调制比的现象;鲜水河断裂带的地震活动状态分析显示,此次泸定地震前该断裂带存在持续时间近10个月的低b值状态,且短期内出现丛集率升高、调制比高值现象。通过对比分析,认为泸定地震是鲜水河断裂带构造运动的结果。综合分析认为,结合应力场背景和构造条件研究地震活动b值、固体潮调制比和丛集率的时空变化有助于理解大地震的孕育演化过程。     

新疆天山地区定点形变群体异常特征与地震活动

利用定义的形变异常密度和趋势分析法研究了1990~ 2000年新疆天山地区定点形变异常的时空分布、群体异常特征及与中强地震活动的关系。结果表明,各分区形变资料显示的高密度异常在时间上与b 值异常有一定的相关性,与该地区的中强地震活动有较好的对应关系;一组中强地震前2~ 4年能观测到形变趋势项的转折、加速等变化。     

On the physical model of earthquake precursor fields and the mechanism of precursors’ time-space distribution (III) — anomalies of seismicity and crustal deformation and their mechanisms when a strong earthquake is in preparation

By studying the seismicity pattern before 37 earthquakes withM?6.0 in North China and the pattern of crustal deformation in the Capital Area from 1954 to 1992, some abnormal characteristics of these patterns before strong earthquakes have been extracted. A comparison has been made between the anomalies of these two kinds of patterns. From the results we can know the following. (1) Before a strong earthquake, the seismicity will strengthen and the crustal deformation rate will increase. (2) Several years before a strong earthquake, there will be seismic gaps and deformation gaps around the epicenter of the quake. (3) The dynamic parameters of patterns all show a decrease in information dimension. This means that the crustal deformation has become more and more localized with time and it gives an important indication showing that a strong earthquake is in preparation. At the end of the paper, the physical mechanisms of the abnormal patterns of seismicity and crustal deformation have been explained in a unified way in terms of the earthquake-generating model of a inhomogeneous strongbody in inhomogeneous media.     

强震前地震时空相关特征研究

首先,基于强震前地震活动时间变异系数与b值之间具有相关性,对我国四十次6.5级以上强震震例的震前地震活动时空相关特征作讨论。其次,尝试利用相关过程中"第一阶段"的特性来预测未来强震三要素,给出了预测时间、震级的经验公式。最后,对相关过程"第一阶段"判定的可靠性进行了讨论。     

Continuous-cyclic variations in the b-value of the earthquake frequency-magnitude distribution

Seismicity of the Earth (M ≥ 4.5) was compiled from NEIC, IRIS and ISC catalogues and used to compute b-value based on various time windows. It is found that continuous cyclic b-variations occur on both long and short time scales, the latter being of much higher value and sometimes in excess of 0.7 of the absolute b-value. These variations occur not only yearly or monthly, but also daily. Before the occurrence of large earthquakes, b-values start increasing with variable gradients that are affected by foreshocks. In some cases, the gradient is reduced to zero or to a negative value a few days before the earthquake occurrence. In general, calculated b-values attain maxima 1 day before large earthquakes and minima soon after their occurrence. Both linear regression and maximum likelihood methods give correlatable, but variable results. It is found that an expanding time window technique from a fixed starting point is more effective in the study of b-variations. The calculated b-variations for the whole Earth, its hemispheres, quadrants and the epicentral regions of some large earthquakes are of both local and regional character, which may indicate that in such cases, the geodynamic processes acting within a certain region have a much regional effect within the Earth. The b-variations have long been known to vary with a number of local and regional factors including tectonic stresses. The results reported here indicate that geotectonic stress remains the most significant factor that controls b-variations. It is found that for earthquakes with M _w ≥ 7, an increase of about 0.20 in the b-value implies a stress increase that will result in an earthquake with a magnitude one unit higher.     

四川芦山7.0级地震前中小地震P轴方位角CV值的变化

通过对2003年1月1日—2013年4月1日芦山地震前震源区中小地震震源机制解的分析,发现不同阶段的震源机制解在一定程度上反映了强震孕育过程中构造应力场随时间的变化。震源区中小地震的P轴方位角C_V值在芦山M7.0地震发生前有一个上升-下降-上升的过程,只是相比于汶川8.0级地震前C_V值的下降-上升过程经历了更长的时间,这表明四川芦山M7.0地震的孕育经历了长时间的应力积累,与许多研究结果相一致。2007年1月1日—2014年4月1日C_V值空间分布的非均匀性特征在龙门山断裂带南段有显著的增强与减弱过程,对于发震地点可能有一定的指示意义。     

Seismicity Models of Moderate Earthquakes in Kanto, Japan Utilizing Multiple Predictive Parameters

We construct a single hazard function from multiple predictive parameters independently developed for moderate earthquakes in Kanto, Japan, during a learning period from 1990 to 1999, and applied to a testing period from 2000 to 2005. Here, we consider as predictive parameters the a and b values of the Gutenberg–Richter relation, the ν value (change in b value), and the Every Earthquake a Precursor According to Scale (EEPAS) model rate. To study the correlations among the parameters, we prepare two groups of space–time coordinate sets for assessment, namely the background and conditional groups selected from the learning period. The background group contains ten thousand sets of coordinates randomly selected from the space–time volume of our study. The conditional group contains 33 sets of space–time coordinates corresponding to the epicenters of the target earthquakes (M ≥ 5.0) just before their times of occurrence. Each parameter for the background group is transformed so that its distribution conforms to the standard Normal function. The mean and variance of the conditional distribution is then estimated after applying the same transformation to the conditional group. Using the means and variances of b values, ν values and EEPAS rates and the correlation matrices in the background and conditional distributions, we construct a combined hazard function following the procedure developed for normally distributed parameters. The information gain per event (IGpe) of the new hazard function is 0.26 and 0.3 units larger than that of the EEPAS rate for the learning and testing period, respectively. The R-test confirms the statistical significance of the difference in the IGpe value for the testing period.     

Joint analysis of b-value and apparent stress before the 2011 MW9.0 Tohoku-Oki,Japan earthquake

Detecting tempo-spatial changes of crust stress associated with major earthquakes has implications for understanding earthquake seismogenic processes. We conducted a joint analysis of b-value and apparent stress in the source region before the March 11, 2011 M_W9.0 Tohoku-Oki, Japan earthquake. Earthquakes that occurred between January 1, 2000 and March 8, 2011 were used to estimate b-values, while source parameters of events with magnitudes of Ms5.0–6.9 between January 1, 1997 and March 8, 2011 were used to calculate the apparent stresses. Our results show that the average b-value decreased steadily from 1.26 in 2003 to 0.99 before the Tohoku-Oki mainshock. This b-value decrease coincided with an increase in the apparent stress from 0.65 MPa to 1.64 MPa. Our results reveal a clear negative correlation between the decrease in b-value and increase in apparent stress, which lasted for approximately eight years prior to the 2011 mainshock. Additionally, spatial pattern results of the relative change in b-value show that the area associated with drastic b-value decreases (25% or greater) was concentrated near the 2011 mainshock epicenter. The joint analysis of b-value and apparent stress provides a promising method for detecting anomalies that could serve as potential indicators of large earthquakes.     

Temporal variation of b value associated with M ��4 earthquakes in the reservoir-triggered seismic environment of the Koyna�CWarna region, Western India

It is generally found that the b values associated with reservoir-triggered seismicity (RTS) are higher than the regional b values in the frequency magnitude relation of earthquakes. In the present study, temporal and spatial variation of b value is investigated using a catalog of 3,000 earthquakes from August 2005 through December 2010 for the Koyna?CWarna region in Western India, which is a classical site of RTS globally. It is an isolated (30?×?20?km²) zone of seismicity where earthquakes of up to M ??5 are found to occur during phases of loading and unloading of the Koyna and Warna reservoirs situated 25?km apart. For the Warna region, it is found that low b values of 0.6?C0.9 are associated with earthquakes of M ??4 during the loading phase. The percentage correlation of the occurrence of an M????4 earthquake with a low b value outside the 1?? or 2?? level is as high as 78?%. A drastic drop in the b value of about 50?% being reported for an RTS site may be an important precursory parameter for short-term earthquake forecast in the future.     

Detailed Study of Time Variations in the Gutenberg–Richter <Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-value Based on Highly Accurate Seismic Observations at the Garm Prognostic Site,Tajikistan

The time variations in the Gutenberg–Richter b-value are minutely studied based on the data of highly accurate seismological observations at the Garm prognostic site, Tajikistan, where a stationary network of seismic stations of the Complex Seismological Expedition (CSE) of Schmidt Institute of Physics of the Earth (IPE) of the USSR (Russian) Academy of Sciences was in operation from 1955 to 1992. A total of 93035 local earthquakes ranging from 0.0 to 6.3 in the Ml magnitudes are considered. The spatiotemporal fluctuations in the minimal magnitude of completeness of the earthquakes, Mc, are analyzed. The study considers a 25-year interval of the observations at the center of the observation system within which Mc = 0.9. It is shown that in most cases, the b-value and log₁₀E^2/3 experience characteristic time variations before the earthquakes with magnitudes higher than the minimal magnitude of the predicted earthquake (MPE). The 6-year anomaly in the parameters’ b-value, log₁₀E^2/3, and log₁₀N associated with the single strongest earthquake with M = 6.3 that occurred in the observation region on October 26, 1984 is revealed. The inversely proportional relationship is established between the time variations in the b-value and the time variations in the velocities of seismic waves Vp and Vp/Vs. It is shown that the exponent p in the power function which links the time variations of the b-value and log₁₀E^2/3 is higher in the zones of crustal compression than in the zones of extension. It is simultaneously confirmed that the average b-value in the zones of compression is lower than in the zones of extension. It is established that in the case of earthquakes with M ≥ 2.6, the time series of seismic activity log₁₀N_i and the time series of the b-value are highly cross correlated with a coefficient of r ≈ 0.75, whereas in the case of earthquakes with M ≥ 0.9, the coefficient of cross correlation between these time series is close to zero (r ≈ 0.06). The law of variations in the slope of the lines approximating the relationship between the log₁₀N_i time series in the different magnitude ranges (M ≥ Mc_i) and b-value time series is obtained. It is hypothesized that the seismic activity of the earthquakes with high magnitudes can be estimated provided that the parameters of the time series of the b-value and time series of the number of earthquakes logN(ΔM_i) in the range of low magnitudes are known. It is concluded that using the parameter log₁₀N for prognostic estimates of the strong earthquakes only makes sense for earthquakes having moderate and large magnitudes. It is inferred that the time variations in the b-value are predominantly contributed by the time variations of the earthquakes with relatively large magnitudes.     

Regularities in the time variations of seismic parameters and their implications for prediction of strong earthquakes in Greece

Time variations in the parameters of seismic activity in two regions in Greece, which are known to have different geodynamical conditions, are analyzed using the FastBEE algorithm suggested in (Papadopoulos and Baskoutas, 2009). The study is based on the data on weak earthquakes that occurred in two local regions. One region pertains to the zone dominated by intensive compression stress field, while another is located in the region of a relatively lower intensity extension stress field. It is shown that in the zone of compression the seismic parameters exhibit anomalous temporal behavior before strong earthquakes with Ms ≥ 5.7, whereas in the zones of extension, similar anomalies precede earthquakes with lower magnitudes of up to Ms ≥ 4.9. The most informative parameters for the purposes of predicting strong seismic events are the released seismic energy in the form logE ^2/3 and the slope of the frequency-magnitude dependence, b-value. The seismic activity in the region, expressed in terms of the logarithmic number of earthquakes, per unit time in some cases does not exhibit any particular pattern of behavior before strong earthquakes. In the time series of the studied parameters, four stages in the seismic process are clearly distinguished before strong earthquakes. Typically, a strong earthquake has a low probability to occur within the first two stages. Instead, this probability arises at stage III and attains its maximum at the end of this stage coinciding with the occurrence of the strong earthquake. We suggest these features of the time series to be used for the assessment of seismic hazard and for the real-time prediction of strong earthquakes. The time variations in the b-value are found to be correlated with the time variations inlogE ^2/3. This correlation is closely approximated by the power-law function. The parameters of this function depend on the geodynamical features of the region and characterize the intensity and the type of the regional tectonic stresses. The results of our study show that the FastBEE algorithm can be successfully applied for monitoring seismic hazard and predicting strong earthquakes.     

The depth variations in the b-value of frequency-magnitude distribution of the earthquakes in the Garm region of Tajikistan

The depth changes in the b-value and density of the number of earthquakes in different magnitude bins (M ≥ 1.8, M ≥ 3.0, M ≥ 3.5) are analyzed using highly accurate seismological observations carried out in 1955–1991 at the Garm prognostic area in Tadjikistan. It is found that the observed b-values are controlled by the variations in the proportion between weak and strong earthquakes. Two horizons with different patterns of the b-value are identified in the Earth’s crust above and below a depth of 15–16 km. The b-value in the upper and lower horizons is close to 0.8 and 1.2, respectively. The lower horizon is marked by almost complete absence of relatively strong earthquakes with M ≥ 3.0. The observed changes in the b-value with increasing depth could probably be due to the increase in the strength of crustal material caused by the growth in temperature and confining pressure in the depth interval from 0 to 15 km. The transitional interval between the upper and lower crustal horizons (～13–18 km), which is characterized by a sharp drop in seismic activity, can probably be associated with the zone of the phase transition of crustal material from an elastic brittle state to a plastic state, as suggested by some authors. Typically, the top of this zone hosts the hypocenters of the strongest earthquakes in a given territory. The correlation is established between the crustal areas with low b-values and the locations of the strongest earthquakes in the region. It is suggested that the three-dimensional mapping of the b-value can be helpful for estimating the location, depth, and maximal magnitude of the probable strong earthquakes in seismically active regions and can be used to assess seismic risks.     

Seismic monitoring of source zones of strong earthquakes

A rational choice of the scalar seismic moment and ordering index is proposed that can be advantageously used for the monitoring of source zones of strong earthquakes in order to predict the development of a seismic situation. These parameters are the main characteristics of seismotectonic deformation. The ordering index characterizes a regular change in time of chaotization and ordering phases of the seismic process related to the occurrence of strong aftershocks. Using the December 5, 1997, Kronotskii (M _w = 7.8) and December 26, 2004, Sumatra (M _w = 9.0) earthquakes as an example, temporal variations of the studies parameters in the aftershock zones of these earthquakes are analyzed in detail.     

Temporal variations of seismicity parameters in the Central Alborz,Iran

Temporal changes of b-value, fractal (correlation) dimensions of epicenters (D _e ) and occurrence time of earthquakes (D _t ) and relations between these parameters were calculated to investigate precursory changes before 28 May 2004, Baladeh-Kojour earthquake (M _w = 6.3) of Central Alborz, Iran. 2086 events with M _N ≥ 1.7 were selected for our analyses. A wide range of variation was seen in these parameters: b-value ～ 0.6–1.11, D _e ～ 0.97–1.64, and D _t ～ 0.13–0.93. The results showed decreases in all fractal parameters several months before the main shock. This decrease, which might have arisen due to clusters of events occurred between 2002–2003, was followed by a systematic increase, corresponding to the increased level of low-magnitude seismicity. It seems that changes in fractal parameters may be precursors of Baladeh-Kojour earthquake which was caused by seismic activation and quiescence. Furthermore, a positive correlation between b-value and D _e was detected before the main shock (D _e = 0.87 + 0.7b) and during aftershock sequences (D _e = 2b ± 0.09), which was further on changed to a negative one (D _e = 2.56–1.32b).     

河北平原地震带b值时空变化特征

利用华北地区近44年地震资料,在区域地震序列完整性分析的基础上,用最小二乘法进行b值时间扫描计算,用最大似然法进行b值空间扫描计算。时间扫描中的b值为研究区内每个扫描窗口的平均b值,因此其变化幅度不大,基本保持在0.62~1.05之间。研究区b值空间分布范围基本维系在0.5~1.4,低b值区域为昌平—宝坻断裂段和唐山—迁安断裂段,变化范围为0.5~0.7,表明该区域地壳介质正处于相对高应力或闭锁状态,存在未来可能发生中强以上地震的潜在危险。     

Probabilistic aftershock hazard analysis,two case studies in West and Northwest Iran

Aftershock hazard maps contain the essential information for search and rescue process, and re-occupation after a main-shock. Accordingly, the main purposes of this article are to study the aftershock decay parameters and to estimate the expected high-frequency ground motions (i.e., Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA)) for recent large earthquakes in the Iranian plateau. For this aim, the Ahar-Varzaghan doublet earthquake (August 11, 2012; M _N =6.5, M _N =6.3), and the Ilam (Murmuri) earthquake (August 18, 2014 ; M _N =6.2) have been selected. The earthquake catalogue has been collected based on the Gardner and Knopoff (Bull Seismol Soc Am 64(5), 1363-1367, 1974) temporal and spatial windowing technique. The magnitude of completeness and the seismicity parameters (a,??b) and the modified Omori law parameters (P,??K,??C) have been determined for these two earthquakes in the 14, 30, and 60 days after the mainshocks. Also, the temporal changes of parameters (a,??b,??P,??K,??C) have been studied. The aftershock hazard maps for the probability of exceedance (33%) have been computed in the time periods of 14, 30, and 60 days after the Ahar-Varzaghan and Ilam (Murmuri) earthquakes. For calculating the expected PGA of aftershocks, the regional and global ground motion prediction equations have been utilized. Amplification factor based on the site classes has also been implied in the calculation of PGA. These aftershock hazard maps show an agreement between the PGAs of large aftershocks and the forecasted PGAs. Also, the significant role of b parameter in the Ilam (Murmuri) probabilistic aftershock hazard maps has been investigated.     

Primary component analysis method and reduction of seismicity parameters

Introduction Data mining (SHAO and YU, 2003) is a new kind of technique developed with database and artificial intelligence in recent years, which processes the data in the database to abstract the im- plied and pre-unknown, but potentially useful information and knowledge from large amounts of incomplete, noisy, blurring and stochastic data. For data mining, data purging is an important link beforehand that includes eliminating noise, making up lost domain, and deleting ineffective data, as…