Evaluation of micro-behavior of strain field in Chinese mainland with the GPS time series

Introduction In the last 20 years, with observation technique development in space monitoring to Earth, a large progress has been made in monitoring crustal movement. This makes it possible for us to study crustal movement and the present geodynamic. Continuous GPS observation conducted in Chinese mainland and its neighboring region provides us for studying the present strain field of crustal micro-behavior tectonic. Crustal micro-behavior tectonic means that we can study the dif-ference bet…     

Geodetic deformation vs. seismic strain deduced by historical earthquakes across the Alborz Mountains

Historical seismicity is used in order to map spatial distribution of seismic moment released by past earthquakes and to compare strain rate deduced from seismicity to those measured by geodetic GPS survey. Spatial analyses are performed on the seismicity of northern boundary of Central Iranian Block which coincides with the Alborz Mountains. This belt has been responsible for several catastrophic earthquakes in the past. In this study, the records of historical and instrumental earthquakes in the Alborz Mountains are used to calculate and plot geographical distribution of seismic moment released in time. A two-dimensional distribution function is proposed and used here to spread seismic moment along causative tectonic features. Using accumulated seismic moment, average slip rates across active faults are estimated for 32 sub-zones along the Alborz Mountains and western Kopet Dag. Seismic moment released by historical and recent earthquakes on this belt accounts for slip rate of 3–5 mm/year which is in good agreement with the geodetic vectors recently deduced from GPS survey in this region. The study also reveals geographical variations of slip rates along some 900 km length of this zone based on seismic history. The results are compared against finding from similar study in this region. Portions of Central and Eastern Alborz show lower seismic strain rate which could imply aseismic motion or overdue earthquakes. Completeness of historical earthquake catalogue and its reliability with regard to earthquake magnitudes, locations, and rupturing systems are among many plausible factors controlling the credibility of such results. Therefore, any conclusions derived from these results remain as reliable as the data and assumptions used for the analyses.     

GPS初步结果揭示的中国大陆水平应变场与构造变形

根据中国大陆不同来源的多个GPS区域监测网1991～1999年间的观测资料和“中国地壳运动观测网络”基本网1998～2000年的观测资料，联合处理得到中国大陆地壳水平运动速度场结果，通过最小二乘配置法建立中国大陆水平运动速度场模型，获得了基于连续介质假设的中国大陆水平应变场（或称为视应变场）初步结果. 分析了水平运动、应变场空间分布特征及其与强震的关系，并简要分析了2001年11月14日昆仑山口西8.1级大地震的区域构造变形背景. 结果表明：中国大陆中西部构造变形强烈，应变速率值高，又以青藏块体及其边缘和新疆西部最为显著. 除川滇、新疆西部外，大部分地区的近东西向断裂存在左旋剪切变形，近南北向的断裂存在右旋剪切变形. 而东部地区构造变形相对较弱. 强震通常发生在剪切应变率的高值区及其边缘，尤其是与构造变形背景相一致的剪应变率高值区. 昆仑山口西8.1级地震发生在最显著的东西向左旋剪切应变率高值区，从该区域的应变状态分析，具备近东西向断裂产生巨型走滑破裂错动的构造变形背景.     

龙门山构造带区域稳定性探讨

根据龙门山构造带的地震地质特征、地震活动规律及新构造活动特征,综合分析认为该地区区域稳定性受控于龙门山断裂带。而断裂带又以韧性切变形为主,蠕滑运动为特征,决定该带在相当长的一段时间内,发生强烈地震的可能性不大。     

Tectono-chronologic constraints on a Mesozoic slip and thrust belt in the eastern Jiaodong Peninsula

A major slip and thrust belt within the eastern Jiaodong Peninsula is located at the eastern terminal of the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt between the Sino-Korea Block and Yangtze Block. Although a lot of isotope chronologic data have been obtained regionally, little structural chronological research has been conducted in this region and this paper corrects that. Syn-deformational minerals were system-atically selected from samples of the NE-ENE trending transpressional shear zones and transpres-sional nappes and carefully analysed using 40Ar/39Ar methods. Two tectonic events were defined with the first event resulting from early movement of transpressional nappes around 190 Ma ago. This ac-cords with the period of syn-orogenic sinistral slip of the Tan-Lu faults and clockwise shear in the Eastern Qinling-Tongbaishan part of the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt. The second event involved strikeslip thrust movement of deep shear zones between 130Ma and 120Ma. This resulted from the onset of Mesozoic tectonic conversion in the eastern Jiaodong Peninsula. The sinistral strikeslip-thrusting in Jiaodong Peninsula and the extensional tectonism (toward ESE) in Liaodong Peninsula probably resulted in the clockwise rotation of Korea Peninsula in late Mesozoic.     

南北地震带北段近年地壳水平运动

采用中国地震局陆态网络数据,解算并对比南北地震带北段速度场、速度投影、基线时间序列。对比发现：①各点速度矢量呈顺时针旋转;②相对于鄂尔多斯块体,2011-2015年银川地堑各站（银川、盐池、中卫、海原等）沿NNW方向扩张;③祁连断裂表现为左旋剪切和逆冲挤压,2013年起闭锁加强;海原断裂表现为稳定的左旋和逆冲,2013年起剪切加速;六盘山断裂表现为持续并放缓的逆冲和较弱的右旋;西秦岭北缘断裂带西段呈高速且放缓的逆冲以及高速但低应变累积的左旋,东段保持高速稳定的左旋和持续逆冲。     

豫北地区地震活动性及其与区域地壳运动的关系

本根据地震地质和地震分布条带,把豫北地区从西至东分为弱,中,强三个区段。由于区域地壳深部主断裂和大震活动的牵动作用,是造成本地震活动的重要原因,因而从区域地壳块体活动背景上探讨了本区及邻近地区地震活动趋势,中还指出,豫北西部太行山区的林县－薄壁地震带,虽不具有强震构造背景,但小震年月频率多寡和震群活动,却能反映了大区域地壳应力场强弱,亦可作为判断区域性地震活动的指标。     

Sedimentary fill history of the Huicheng Basin in the West Qinling Mountains and associated constraints on Mesozoic intracontinental tectonic evolution

The Qinling Orogenic Belt is divided commonly by the Fengxian-Taibai strike-slip shear zone and the Huicheng Basin into the East and West Qinling mountains,which show significant geological differences after the Indosinian orogeny.The Fengxian-Taibai fault zone and the Meso-Cenozoic Huicheng Basin,situated at the boundary of the East and West Qinling,provide a natural laboratory for tectonic analysis and sedimentological study of intracontinental tectonic evolution of the Qinling Orogenic Belt.In order to explain the dynamic development of the Huicheng Basin and elucidate its post-orogenic tectonic evolution at the junction of the East and West Qinling,we studied the geometry and kinematics of fault zones between the blocks of West Qinling,as well as the sedimentary fill history of the Huicheng Basin.First,we found that after the collisional orogeny in the Late Triassic,post-orogenic extensional collapse occurred in the Early and Middle Jurassic within the Qinling Orogenic Belt,resulting in a series of rift basins.Second,in the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous,a NE-SW compressive stress field caused large-scale sinistral strike-slip faults in the Qinling Orogenic Belt,causing intracontinental escape tectonics at the junction of the East and West Qinling,including eastward finite escape of the East Qinling micro-plate and southwest lateral escape of the Bikou Terrane.Meanwhile,the strike-slip-related Early Cretaceous sedimentary basin was formed with a right-order echelon arrangement in sinistral shear zones along the southern margin of the Huicheng fault.Overall during the Mesozoic,the Huicheng Basin and surrounding areas experienced four tectonic evolutionary stages,including extensional rift basin development in the Early and Middle Jurassic,intense compressive uplift in the Late Jurassic,formation of a strike-slip extensional basin in the Early Cretaceous,and compressive uplift in the Late Cretaceous.     

新疆强震前地震活动增强研究

系统研究了1970～2002年新疆天山30次中强震前地震增强现象,发现较大地震发生前中等地震的增强现象较为普遍;南北天山地震带增强区与后续主震震中相关性较好;除北天山地震带外,仅以地震增强现象作为地震中短期预测指标准确率太低;以增强发生后是否有平静现象发生作为确定短临异常的标准,预报效率可以提高。     

Spatial variation of crustal strain in the Kachchh region,India: Implication on the Bhuj earthquake of 2001

The Kachchh province of Western India is a major seismic domain in an intraplate set-up. This seismic zone is located in a rift basin, which was developed during the early Jurassic break-up of the Gondwanaland. The crustal strain determined from the GPS velocity data of post-seismic time period following the 2001 Bhuj earthquake indicates a maximum strain rate of ∼266 × 10⁻⁹ per year along N013°. Focal mechanism solutions of the main event of 26 January 2001 and the aftershocks show that the maximum principal stress axis is close to this high strain direction. Maximum shear strain rate determined from the GPS data of the area has similar orientation. The unusually high strain rate is comparable in magnitude to the continental rift systems. The partitioning of the regional NE–SW horizontal stress (S_Hmax) by the pre-existing EW-striking boundary fault developed the strike–slip components parallel to the regional faults, the normal components perpendicular to the faults, NE-striking conjugate Riedel shear fractures and tension fractures. The partitioned normal component of the stress is considered to be the major cause for compression across the regional EW faults and development of the second-order conjugate shear fractures striking NE–SW and NW–SE. The NE-striking transverse faults parallel to the anti-Riedel shear planes have become critical under these conditions. These anti-Riedel planes are interpreted to be critical for the seismicity of the Kachchh region. The high strain rate in this area of low to moderate surface heat flow is responsible for deeper position of the brittle–ductile transition and development of deep seated seismic events in this intraplate region.     

中蒙弧地区地震活动性及其地球动力学成因研究

应用中国地震局地球物理研究所和蒙古科学院天体和地球物理研究中心合作编制的蒙古国及邻区M≥3.5的地震目录,研究了中蒙弧地区的地震活动性特征.结果表明,与中国大陆的“南北地震带”相对应,研究区地震总体分布大致以107°E为界,呈现西强东弱的特点,7级以上的强震集中于贝加尔湖、萨彦、阿尔泰以及天山地区,107°E以东,除纬度40°线附近（燕山地震带）地震较集中且强度大之外,其它地区地震稀少,强度也低.通过断层的野外调查和本地区震源机制解,进一步研究了该地区地震活动性特征的构造应力场及地球动力学成因.研究区大部份地震都是走滑型断层活动的地震.逆断层活动的地震主要分布于中国的天山地区和中蒙边境一带的阿尔泰山地区,正断层活动的地震主要分布于俄罗斯的贝加尔湖裂谷带,走滑兼倾滑断层活动的地震主要分布在研究区域的西部地区.研究区域内的大部份地区主压应力轴（P）的倾角都小于30°,为水平或近水平的构造应力场,自西向东主压应力轴的走向从近南-北方向逐渐转为北东-南西方向.断层的野外调查、震源机制解和区域构造应力场的方向表明,中蒙弧地区主要来自西南面的印度洋板块向北偏东方向的碰撞挤压,通过青藏高原传递到本区,来自东面太平洋板块的影响已较微弱,这是研究区地震活动西强东弱、8级以上强震都发生在西部的主要原因.     

新疆南部构造区带与地震活动状态研究

Based on the studies of earthquake activity, tectonic movement, crustal shortening rate, fault activity, local stress field and historical characteristics of strong earthquake activities in Xinjiang, we divide the south part of Xinjiang into 4 seismotectonic zones, namely, the eastern segment of south Tianshan seismic belt, the Kalpin block, the Kashi-Wuqia junction zone, and the west Kunlun Mountains seismic belt. Using earthquake catalogues from Xinjiang since 1900, and on the basis of integrity analysis of earthquake records in different magnitude ranges, the seismicity state of different seismotectonic zones is analyzed quantificationally by calculating the mean value of annual strain energy release, annual rate of earthquakes with different lower limits of magnitude, b-value, and the parameter m of accelerating strain release model. The characteristic indexes of seismicity state for each of the seismic tectonic zones are then determined, which provide a quantitative basis for earthquake tendency analysis and judgment.     

蒙古-贝加尔裂谷区地壳应变场及其地球动力学涵义

蒙古-贝加尔地区是现今构造最活跃的大陆地区之一,其地壳构造运动及变形对我们理解大陆动力学问题具有重要的科学意义.基于融合的这一区域的GPS速度场,本文计算了该区应变率场和应变能变化率场.结果显示,蒙古褶皱带以南区域表现为NNE-SSW方向的压缩状态,主压应变率约为-2.0×10^-9/a,剪应变及面膨胀均较弱,表明蒙古褶皱带比较稳定.贝加尔裂谷整体处于拉张状态且伴有较强的剪应变和面膨胀,暗示可能有多种机制控制裂谷的张裂过程.蒙古高原西部有两条高应变率的构造带,结合深部存在地幔热柱等证据,我们认为这两条构造带及所围限的区域共同构成Amurian板块的西部边界—一条弥散变形的边界带.蒙古-贝加尔地区剪应变分布与0~40 km的地震活动性基本一致,表明该地区形变在地壳尺度耦合程度较高.地幔对流拖曳力场与主应变轴方向及应变率场的一致性表明,地幔对流可能是蒙古—贝加尔地区区域构造动力学过程主要控制因素之一.     

Numerical calculations of tectonic stress field of Chinese mainland and its neighboring regions and their applications to explanation of seismic activity

IntroductionChinesemainlandliesinthesoutheastofEurasianPlateandisclampedbyindian,PacificandPhilippineSeaPlates.Besides,itislocatedatbetweenthetwobigseismicactivebeltsintheworldatthesametime.Differingfromtheshowoftwobigseismicbeltswhichhaveseismiczonaldistributionalongplateboundary,Chinesemainlandanditsperipheralareahaveapeculiarcharacter,expressingseismicallylargestrength,highfrequency,widedistribution,shallowfocus,seriousdamage,multiplestyles,extremelynonuniformspace-timedistributionandsoo…     

太行山构造带壳幔结构分段性特征

分别利用纯S波波形反演和T函数法计算了太行山构造带及其邻近地区100km以上的壳幔剪切波速度结构,结果显示太行山构造带在南、中、北段的壳幔结构存在明显差异。南段邢台邯郸地区地壳中比较突出的特点是下地壳存在一个厚度近10km的低速层;中段石家庄—保定地区靠近山脉的各台地壳结构相对比较稳定,越向盆地区发展,结构愈加复杂化;北段到达北京地区,由于该区是太行山与燕山构造带的交汇地区,中下地壳出现薄高低速转换层位,呈现不稳定状态。沿太行山构造带东缘是地震活动带-河北平原地震带,通过对比速度结构与地震空间分布,发现不同区段小震分布特点与地下低速或不稳定结构关系密切。结合该区域上地幔速度结构特征,认为太行山中段与华北地区中新生代以来的岩石圈大规模减薄运动关系密切,而南北两段当前地幔物质比较活跃,构造运动相对更为强烈。     

Influence of fluids on deep crustal Jabalpur earthquake of 21, May 1997: Geophysical evidences

We present the geophysical evidences on the role of fluids for generation of the lower crustal Jabalpur earthquake (21 May 1997, mb 6.0, Mw 5.8), in the mid-continental fracture zone of the Indian Peninsular Shield. With a focal depth of 35 km, it indicates a high angled (< 62^∘ enclosed with maximum principal stress direction) reverse fault with small component of left-lateral strike slip in the lower crust. The Son-Narmada-Tapti (SONATA) magalineament, during the past two centuries, has experienced about 25 moderate to strong earthquakes; two of which namely the Son Valley (1927, M 6.5) and Jabalpur (21 May 1997) were disastrous. Historical earthquakes and recent earthquake swarms indicate a moderate to high seismicity in SONATA belt that is due to high strain accumulation, flexuring of the crust and neotectonic movements of the faults in the rift zones. By analyzing geophysical parameters such as Zero-Free air-based (ZFb) gravity anomalies (∼ −10 to –30 mGals), heat flow values (45–47 mWm⁻²), magneto-telluric values (1- Ohm m), strain rate (1.5 × 10⁻⁸) and failure stress conditions, we identify plausible causative factors for the occurrence of lower crustal earthquake in this region Fluids, due to dehydration of serpentinite in the lower crust, are suggested to be present in the earthquake source zone. The estimated pore-fluid factor for the Jabalpur earthquake (λ _v ) is 0.95. The diffusion of pore-pressure relaxation, represented as pressure perturbation generated by coseismic stress change was seen in the form of swarm activity two years prior to the Jabalpur earthquake. We suggest the existence of a deep pre-fractured zone with low shear stress (τ = 15–18 MPa) that indicates the presence of fluid filled fractured mafic material in the felsic crust, in critical state of unstable failure condition, and also fluid driven migration of swarm activity before the Jabalpur earthquake.     

不同构造环境中地震活动对新疆地震形势的影响

在对构造运动差异较大的柯坪块体和天山中部地区地震活动研究基础上,深入分析了这两个不同构造单元的中强地震活动对整体新疆地震形势的影响。不同构造环境下不同构造单元地震活动差异性很大。柯坪块体内构造运动强烈,它是新疆6级地震主要活动区之一。6级地震发生后的1年内,天山地震带是中强地震的主要响应区,在时间上具有短期预测意义。位于特殊构造环境的中天山地区地震少,地震强度低。4次5级地震后的1~3年,新疆地震活动呈明显增强趋势,中天山地区中强地震活动对周边地区中强地震活动会产生触发作用。     

Research on Tectonic Features and Dynamics in the Northwestern Yunnan Extensional Region

The paper discusses the features of active tectonics,seismicity and neotectonic environment in the Northwestern Yunnan extensional region.The intensity of both tectonic activity and seismicity is strong near the south and north boundaries in the areas,but weak in the middle.The distribution of the strongest subsided areas,lacustrine terrace and Quaternary fold is characterized by the diagonal symmetry.Formation of extensional tectonics in the Northwestern Yunnan can be explained by passive model,experiencing the action of compressional force in the N-S direction and shear force in the SW-NE direction,and classified as a special pull-apart tectonics.The direction of the composite force is NNE,which is coincided with the results acquired by the methods of water-compressed rupture and physical modelling.     

中国大陆现今水平形变动态特征

2001~2004大陆水平应变场大致沿玉树、阿尼玛沁、鲜水河、小江等断裂带形成一条由东西走向转为南北走向的应变高值带.2004~2007高值带向局部收缩,并维持前期高值.新疆于田M_S7.3、四川汶川M_S8.0分别位于该高值带的东段、西段剪应变梯度带上,具备大尺度形变背景.分析认为昆仑山M_S8.1对青藏高原内部块体、川滇块体的相对运动产生重大影响,导致震中两侧一系列断裂带附近区域水平差异运动处于较高水平,印尼M_S8.7地震则有利于上述区域应变能进一步积累.此外,2001~2004、2004~2007应变分布特征总体从无序趋向有序,体现构造应力场经历调整与再积累过程.现阶段太平洋板块、菲律宾板块俯冲作用可能有所增强.     

Early Cretaceous sinistral shearing and associated folding in the South Kitakami Belt, northeast Japan

Abstract   Early Cretaceous structural development of the southern part of the South Kitakami Belt, northeast Japan, is discussed through precise structural mapping and the measurement of semiquantitative strain. The mapping and measurement revealed that wide north- to northeast-trending sinistral shear zones occupied by the 'slate' with higher strain than the surrounding rocks run from the axial part to the western limb of major synclines, with the wavelength of 5–10 km. The major synclines with a U-shaped rock distribution opening to the south are interpreted to be drag folds along the sinistral shear zones. These structures were modified by a second stage of Early Cretaceous sinistral shearing characterized by localized high-temperature mylonite zones along the rim of some of the 120 Ma granitoids that cut the major folds and baked the 'slate' in the older shear zones mentioned above. The rocks of the South Kitakami Belt, which had undergone two stages of shearing, were rapidly exhumed before the deposition of the Late Aptian–Albian Miyako Group. Finally, a restoration model is presented of the Early Cretaceous sinistral displacement and deformation in the study area.