Mechanism and tectonic implications of the great Banda Sea earthquake of November 4, 1963

The Banda Sea earthquake of November 4, 1963 (h = 100 km, m_B = 7.8) is probably one of the largest intermediate-depth shocks to have occurred worldwide this century. The mechanism of this earthquake is studied in detail on the basis of P-wave first motion, surface wave and aftershock data. From the analysis of long-period multiple surface waves, a seismic moment of 3.1 × 10²⁸ dyn-cm is obtained, which is the largest reported so far for any intermediate or deep focus shock. This value, together with the estimated fault area of 90 × 70 km², gives an average dislocation of 7.0 m and a stress drop of 120 bar. This event represents an oblique thrust movement on a plane with dip direction N170°E, dip 48° and rake 52°. A geometrical consideration for the fault plane and the configuration of the inclined seismic zone beneath the Banda arc suggests, almost definitely, that the large-scale faulting took place within the subducted plate and offset it. Further repetition of such large-scale faulting might eventually break the subducted plate. The 1963 Banda Sea earthquake thus represents a seismological manifestation of the large-scale deformation of the subducted plate in the mantle.     

The Banda Sea earthquake of 24 November 1983: evidence for intermediate depth thrust faulting in the Benioff zone

On 24 November 1983, a major earthquake occurred at 180 km depth beneath the Banda Sea. In the focal mechanism solution the pressure axis is almost horizontal, (azimuth 191°, plunge 02°) and the tension axis nearly vertical (plunge 88°). A comparison with the foreshock-aftershock pattern suggests that shear failure took place within the north-north-westerly dipping Benioff zone by thrust faulting along a southerly dipping plane. The focal mechanism solution does not conform to the usual pattern of the tension or compression axis being roughly parallel to the dip of the Benioff zone. Consequently the faulting could not have been caused by down-dip tension or compression within a sinking slab.     

龙门山及邻区重、磁异常特征及与地震关系的研究

本文通过研究龙门山构造带及邻区的区域重、磁场特征,以及龙门山断裂带的产状等特征,探讨其与地震关系.研究结果表明,龙门山断裂带是环绕青藏高原的重力梯度带的一部分.其对应密度分界面向西北方向倾斜,向下延深数十公里,切穿莫霍面.推测密度分界面分为两段,深部较陡的为岩石圈块体的边界,浅部较缓.基底隆起与凹陷的界线大体与大地构造单元的界线一致.由西部的岩石圈块体的边界至东部在地表的大地构造单元界线之间的距离约为40~50 km.隶属于中上地壳脆性变形层的地质体由岩石圈块体界线沿缓倾的密度界面推覆至地表的大地构造单元的界线处,在此过程中伴随岩层破碎,从而发生地震.龙门山构造带主要部分位于负磁异常区,这种反磁化和退磁的现象,可能与逆冲推覆作用所引起的深部岩层倒转有关.     

Sediment loading at the southern Chilean trench and its tectonic implications

Non erosive margins are characterized by heavily sedimented trenches which obscure the morphological expression of the outer rise; a forebulge formed by the bending of the subducting oceanic lithosphere seaward of the trench. Depending on the flexural rigidity (D) of the oceanic lithosphere and the thickness of the trench sedimentary fill, sediment loading can affect the lithospheric downward deflection in the vicinity of the trench and hence the amount of sediment subducted. We used seismic and bathymetric data acquired off south central Chile, from which representative flexural rigidities are estimated and the downward deflection of the oceanic Nazca plate is studied. By flexural modeling we found that efficient sediment subduction preferentially occurs in weak oceanic lithosphere (low D), whereas wide accretionary prisms are usually formed in rigid oceanic lithosphere (high D). In addition, well developed forebulges in strong oceanic plates behaves as barrier to seaward transportation of turbidites, whereas the absence of a forebulge in weak oceanic plates facilitates seaward turbidite transportation for distances >200 km.     

Classical focal mechanism techniques for body waves

The initial motion of primary body waves and polarization directions of secondary body waves have been applied successfully to the study of the mechanism operating at the earthquake focus. Equal area plots of these body wave characteristics resulted in radiation patterns that were compared to patterns due to theoretical focal mechanism sources. Such an approach indicated that a double couple force is the source mechanism operating at earthquake foci. This can be physically represented by faulting at the focus. This seems likely because of the relation between earthquakes and fault motion in shallow earthquakes. The possibility of other mechanisms operating in deep focus earthquakes has not been ruled out.The technique of solving for fault plane orientation/motion in equal area plots ofP-wave first motion andS-wave polarization, has been a powerful tool in areas where fault motions cannot be directly observed in studying tectonics. Such an approach has been used to test the theory of global tectonics. This approach has resulted in the confirmation of the suggested mechanics of plate motion, and the results of plate motion, such as spreading of the sea floor from mid-oceanic ridges and underthrusting of lithospheric plates at the sites of oceanic trenches.     

2016年印尼苏门答腊岛海域MW7.8地震震源运动学特征

根据中国和全球地震台网记录的波形记录,采用W震相矩张量反演、反投影分析及有限断层模型反演方法,研究了2016年3月2日印尼7.8级地震破裂过程,分析讨论印尼地震震源运动学特征.结果表明：此地震为一次对称的双侧破裂走滑型事件,北北东─南南西向的断层节面（走向5°/倾角85°）为发震断层面.标量地震矩约6.19×10²⁰ Nm,矩震级为7.79,最大的滑动量约11 m,位于破裂起始点北东,沿着断层走向约30 km处.破裂平均速度2.0~2.2 km·s^-1,破裂持续时间35 s,破裂在5~25 s内释放的能量,约占总能量的97%.最终形成了总长度90 km左右的断层.印尼地震具有破裂持续时间短、破裂速度慢、高滑动能量带相对集中等显著特点.本研究对进一步增进海洋岩石圈地震的震源特性认识有重要参考意义.     

郯庐断裂带赤山段中晚更新世之交的史前地震遗迹

赤山地处安徽省泗县东北部,为郯庐断裂带西支断裂通过处。以往研究认为,郯庐断裂带赤山段第四纪以来有较为明显的活动。此次在垂直于赤山段开挖的多个探槽中均揭露出史前地震遗迹(多期逆断型崩积楔),具体表现为断层上盘砖红色上白垩统砂岩或黄白色中更新统砾石层向东叠置于褐黄色中、上更新统黏土之上。在楔状体根部均发现向NW陡倾的断裂,陡立的断面向上转变为缓倾的上翻垮落面。多条探槽揭示的断裂点的连线总体呈NNE走向,断裂通过处的上盘后缘大部分残留了凸起地貌,部分EW向冲沟被断裂右旋扭错。多条探槽两壁都一致显示出从西向东的推挤垮塌痕迹。其中Tc1～Tc4表现为砖红色砂岩(K₂)逆冲垮落于黄褐色含铁锰结核黏土(Q_p2-3)之上,Tc5则表现为红砂岩(K₂)和黄白色砾石层(Q_p2)逆冲垮塌于上述的黏土之上。在几个探槽的逆断型崩积楔上均揭示出此段曾有多次逆断型崩积事件发生,个别探槽揭露楔体较少,可能与其所处的位置、揭露深度和剥蚀残存的高度有关。对开挖探槽及光释光测年结果的详细分析初步得出,郯庐断裂带赤山段在中、晚更新世之交曾多次发生大规模逆断型黏滑事件,即曾多次发生史前大地震。     

USE OF SEISMIC WAVEFORMS AND INSAR DATA FOR DETERMINATION OF THE SEISMOTECTONICS OF THE MAINLING MS6.9 EARTHQUAKE ON NOV.18, 2017

On November 18, 2017, a M_S6.9 earthquake struck Mainling County, Tibet, with a depth of 10km. The earthquake occurred at the eastern Himalaya syntaxis. The Namche Barwan moved northward relative to the Himalayan terrane and was subducted deeply beneath the Lhasa terrane, forming the eastern syntaxis after the collision of the Indian plate and Asian plates. Firstly, this paper uses the far and near field broadband seismic waveform for joint inversion (CAPJoint method)of the earthquake focal mechanism. Two groups of nodal planes are obtained after 1000 times Bootstrap test. The strike, dip and rake of the best solution are calculated to be 302°, 76° and 84° (the nodal plane Ⅰ)and 138°, 27° and 104° (the nodal plane Ⅱ), respectively. This event was captured by interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR)measurements from the Sentinel-1A radar satellite, which provide the opportunity to determine the fault plane, as well as the co-seismic slip distribution, and assess the seismic hazards. The overall trend of the deformation field revealed by InSAR is consistent with the GPS displacement field released by the Gan Wei-Jun's team. Geodesy (InSAR and GPS)observation of the earthquake deformation field shows the northeastern side of the epicenter uplifting and the southwestern side sinking. According to geodetic measurements and the thrust characteristics of fault deformation field, we speculate that the nodal plane Ⅰ is the true rupture plane. Secondly, based on the focal mechanism, we use InSAR data as the constraint to invert for the fine slip distribution on the fault plane. Our best model suggests that the seismogenic fault is a NW-SE striking thrust fault with a high angle. Combined with the slip distribution and aftershocks, we suggest that the earthquake is a high-angle thrust event, which is caused by the NE-dipping thrust beneath the Namche Barwa syntaxis subducted deeply beneath the Lhasa terrane.     

T waves from deep earthquakes generated exactly at the bottom of deep-sea trenches

T waves (seismic water waves), which were generated by deep-focused earthquakes, have been found by an array of sensitive ocean-bottom seismographic observations depolyed on the western Pacific basin. The points of generation of T waves have been exactly located by use of the accurate velocity of water waves which were known from explosions. The positions obtained are at the bottom of deep-sea trenches; however, the positions are slightly (10–35 km) ocean-side of the trench. T waves have been known to be generated by seismic waves which were transmitted from the focus to the trench bottom along the descending lithosphere. The intensity of the observed T waves implies that the Q value along the descending lithosphere is more than 4000. The positions of T-wave generation are consistent with the 8.2- to 8.6-km/s stratified structure of the oceanic lithosphere. T waves from shallow earthquakes beneath the lower continental slope are also clearly observed by bottom seismography.     

On the applicability of a universal elastic trench profile

Using thin elastic plate theory and neglecting horizontal applied forces, a universal deflection profile applicable to many oceanic trenches is derived. This theoretical profile is compared with bathymetric profiles from the central Aleutian, Kuril, Bonin, and Mariana trench-outer rise regions. The profiles were corrected for sediment thickness and age variation of the lithosphere. Good agreement between theory and observation is found. The distance from the first point of zero deflection seaward of the trench to the point of maximum height of the outer rise is directly related to the flexural rigidity of the lithosphere. The thickness of the elastic lithosphere is found to vary between 20 and 29 km for the trench profiles considered. The good agreement obtained shows that horizontal forces may be neglected and that the bending lithosphere behaves elastically in the cases considered. The analysis shows that only unreasonably large horizontal forces would affect the universal deflection curve. It is concluded that although the near-surface lithosphere may be subject to brittle fracture, the deeper lithosphere is capable of transmitting elastic stresses as high as 9 kbar.     

汶川Ms 8.0地震发震断裂大地震原地重复现象初析

在历史记录中,成都和龙门山地区没有发生过类似汶川MS8.0地震强度的地震。那么,在地质记录中是否会存在类似震级的古地震遗迹?作者分别在中央和前山断裂中段的地表破裂带上4个地点开挖了探槽4个和剖面1个,并进行了断错地貌面的实测。文中从几个地点新老地貌面累计变形量、探槽揭露的古地震遗迹等方面讨论汶川地震发震断裂大地震原地重复现象存在的基本事实。结果表明:无论在中央断裂的小鱼洞、擂鼓镇还是前山断裂的白鹿镇、汉旺等地,汶川5.12地震之后Ⅱ级阶地断层陡坎与Ⅰ级阶地陡坎高度基本呈倍数关系,探槽揭露Ⅱ级阶地标志地层(黄砂土层)在断裂两盘的位差也是5.12地震的约2倍,显示在龙门山地区区域Ⅱ级阶地形成之后,汶川5.12地震发生之前,存在一次与汶川MS8.0地震地表变形规模相当的地震事件     

Holocene activities of the Taigu fault zone,Shanxi Province,and their relations with the 1303 Hongdong <Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis>=8 earthquake

The Taigu fault zone is one of the major 12 active boundary faults of the Shanxi fault-depression system, located on the eastern boundary of the Jinzhong basin. As the latest investigation indicated, the fault zone had dislocated gully terrace of the first order, forming fault-scarp in front of the loess mesa. It has been discovered in many places in ground surface and trenches that Holocene deposits were dislocated. The latest activity was the 1303 Hongdong earthquake M=8, the fault appeared as right-lateral strike-slip with normal faulting. During that earthquake, the Taigu fault together with the Mianshan western-side fault on the Lingshi upheaval and the Huoshan pediment fault on the eastern boundary of the Linfen basin was being active, forming a surface rupture belt of 160 km in length. Moreover, the Taigu fault were active in the mid-stage of Holocene and near 7 700 aB.P. From these we learnt that, in Shanxi fault-depression system, the run-through activity of two boundary faults of depression-basins might generate great earthquake with M=8.     

Seismic reflection imaging of an oceanic detachment fault: Atlantis megamullion (Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 30°10′N)

We present multichannel seismic reflection data collected over the Atlantis megamullion, at the eastern ridge-transform intersection of Atlantis fracture zone on the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and over its conjugate crust. These data image for the first time the internal structure of a young, well-developed megamullion dome formed by tectonic extension across a long-lived oceanic detachment fault. The exposed, corrugated detachment-fault surface exhibits a sharp, coherent reflection that contrasts with less organized reflectivity of surrounding basaltic seafloor. At the termination of the megamullion the fault is imaged ∼13 km along-strike beneath a volcanic hanging-wall block at a sub-seafloor depth of 0.2-0.5 s two-way travel time, reaching north as far as 30°19′N. The eastward dipping of the fault beneath the hanging-wall block is estimated to be ∼6-14°. The corrugated fault surface is underlain by a continuous, strong, and relatively smooth reflection (D) at 0.2-0.25 s sub-bottom below the central axis of the dome. This reflection deepens up to 0.6 s sub-bottom beneath the western slope and it appears to intersect the seafloor on the eastern slope. We suggest that Atlantis massif formed by sequential slip on two different detachment faults that merged at depth, with breakaways as little as ∼2 km apart. The initial detachment is represented by reflection D, and the second corresponds to the presently exposed fault surface. In this interpretation, much of the sliver between the faults is interpreted to be strongly serpentinized peridotite with reduced seismic velocity; it lies in contact with less altered, higher-velocity mantle below the first detachment, resulting in the strong, smooth character of reflection D. Mantle rocks exposed in the megamullion indicate that the feature formed during a period of extreme tectonic extension and probably limited magmatism. In conjugate crust corresponding to termination of the megamullion, observed sub-bottom reflections are interpreted as base of seismic layer 2A. This layer is as thick as or thicker (∼570-900 m) than layer 2A in normal Atlantic crust, and it suggests that relatively normal crustal accretion occurred by the time the megamullion stopped forming.     

23 October 2011 Van, Eastern Anatolia, earthquake (M W 7.1) and seismotectonics of Lake Van area

The 23 October 2011 Van earthquake took place in the NE part of Lake Van area, surprisingly on a fault (the Van fault) that is not present in the current active fault map of Turkey. However, occurrence of such a large magnitude earthquake in the area is not surprising regarding the historical seismicity of the region. The comparison of the damage patterns suggests that the earthquake is much likely a recurrence of the 1715 Van earthquake. The finite fault modelling of the earthquake using teleseismic broadband body waveforms has shown that the earthquake rupture was unilateral toward SW, was mostly reverse faulting, confined to below the depth of 5 km, did not propagate offshore, and was dominated by a failure of a single asperity with a peak slip of about 5.5 m. The total seismic moment calculated for the model is 4.6?×?10¹⁹ Nm (M _W ?≈?7.1). The finite fault model coincides with the field observations indicating blind faulting and the vertical displacements over the free surface estimated from it correlate well with the maximum reported uplift along the coast of Lake Van above the hanging wall. The possible offshore continuations of the Van fault and some other faults lying its south are also discussed by assessing a previous offshore seismic reflection study and the earthquake epicentres and focal mechanisms.     

几何弯曲断层活动性的模拟

运用有限元法建立大尺度几何弯曲断层（长约750 km）的二维模型,并利用接触单元技术模拟断层间的作用,模拟了几千年时间尺度内走滑断层的活动,探讨了具有一定几何形态断层对断层系统活动的影响.几何弯曲的断层导致了应力的集中,而且在断层的地震事件中起到了抑制作用,但是也为孕育大震提供了条件.和平直断层的模拟结果比较得知,断层的几何弯曲不仅影响地震破裂长度、改变了地震滑移量,也很大程度影响了能量释放的空间位置,改变了地震轮回周期.此外,弯曲断层应力的不均匀也使主震前往往有前震发生.另外通过模拟可以看出,弯曲断层活动表现出明显的特征地震,使得地震-频次曲线偏离G-R公式,说明了对单个断层而言,特征地震可能更能体现断层的地震活动,这对我们进行地震预测和危险性分析有着很重要的参考意义.     

1976年盐源—宁蒗地震序列的破裂特征

使用地震活动图象和震源机制资料的构造分析方法，研究盐源－宁蒗地震序列的破裂特征。结果认为：６．７级地震破裂面是北北东向左旋走滑断层，５．６级６．４级地震破裂面是两条北西西向右旋走滑断层，构成以北北东向断为主干的共轭破裂组合，该序列受弥渡－木里地壳深部活动断裂带控制。     

Neotectonics of the Dinarides–Pannonian Basin transition and possible earthquake sources in the Banja Luka epicentral area

This study provides evidence for post-5 Ma shortening in the transition area between the Dinarides fold-and-thrust belt and the Pannonian Basin and reviews possible earthquake sources for the Banja Luka epicentral area (northern Bosnia and Herzegovina) where the strongest instrumentally recorded earthquake (M_L 6.4) occurred on 27 October 1969. Geological, geomorphological and reflection seismic data provide evidence for a contractional reactivation of Late Palaeogene to Middle Miocene normal faults at slip rates below 0.1 mm/a. This reactivation postdates deposition of the youngest sediments in the Pannonian Basin of Pontian age (c. 5 Ma). Fault plane solutions for the main 1969 Banja Luka earthquake (M_L 6.4) and its largest foreshock (M_L 6.0) indicate reverse faulting along ESE–WNW-striking nodal planes and generally N–S trending pressure axes. The spatial distribution of epicentres and focal depths, analyses of the macroseismic field and fault-plane solutions for several smaller events suggest on-going shortening in the internal Dinarides. Seismic deformation of the upper crust is also associated with strike-slip faults, likely related to the NE–SW trending, sinistral Banja Luka fault. Possibly, this fault transfers contraction between adjacent segments of the Dinarides thrust system. The study area represents the seismically most active region of the Dinarides apart from the Adriatic Sea coast and the bend zone around Zagreb. We propose that on-going thrusting in the internal Dinarides thrust system takes up a portion of the current Adria–Europe convergence.     

1927年古浪8级大震地表破裂特征及形成机制

野外考察结果表明,１９２７年古浪８级大地震造成了６段不同规模、不同方向、不同力学成因、不同等级的地表破裂,构成了呈面状分布的复杂地震破裂带,与我国西部地区由走滑断层运动形成的破裂带相比具有较大差异。其中的４段破裂与极震区及余震分布的位置相重合,主体散布在冬青顶北麓一带,沿皇城－双塔活动断裂的东段和武威－天祝活动断裂北段分布,是１９２７年古浪地震的主破裂带。其余两段分别分布在Ⅸ度区内的皇城－双塔断裂中段和西山堡－滴水崖断裂带上,是高烈度区内的次级破裂。４段主破裂是在统一构造应力场作用下形成的产物,具有统一变形机制。其中冬青顶张性破裂带是发育在山前下方寨－严家新庄逆断层上盘的次级张性破裂,而主破裂是由逆断层运动在寺儿沟滩等处的山前洪积台地上产生的     

利用小震分布和区域应力场确定大震断层面参数方法及其在唐山地震序列中的应用

根据成丛小震发生在大震断层面及其附近的原则,将模拟退火算法和高斯-牛顿算法结合,给出了利用小震密集程度求解主震断层面走向、倾角、位置及其误差的稳健估计方法,在此基础上考虑区域构造应力参数,给出了估计在已求得的断层面上的滑动角的方法.该方法还可用于小震活跃地区活断层走向、倾角和滑动角的确定.将这种方法用于唐山地震序列,采用2002年4月1日至2006年5月31日发生在地震破裂区的精定位地震目录,求得了唐山地震、滦县地震、宁河及卢龙断裂带的断层面走向、倾角、位置及滑动角参数.与前人给出的断层面解进行比较,发现利用小震精定位资料和区域构造应力场得到的结果与前人采用其他资料和方法得到的结果近似,验证了这种方法的有效性.另外,本研究首次发现滦县地震区东部的小震呈北东-南西向条带状成丛发生,可精确刻画为一条断裂带,较为精确地确定了此断层的走向、倾角和滑动角.该断裂及宁河断裂在唐山地震序列发生时是否破裂需要运用其他资料进行验证.