Role of crustal fluids in triggering the West Bohemia/Vogtland earthquake swarms: Just what we know (a review)

We summarise the results of seismological studies related to triggering mechanisms, driving forces and source processes of the West Bohemia/Vogtland earthquake swarms with the aim to disclose the role of crustal fluids in the preparation, triggering and governing of the swarms. We present basic characteristics distinguishing earthquake swarms from tectonic mainshock-aftershock sequences and introduce existing earthquakes swarm models. From the statistical characteristics and time-space distribution of the foci we infer that self-organization is a peculiarity of West Bohemia/Vogtland swarms. We discuss possible causes of the foci migration in these swarms from the viewpoint of co-seismic and/or post-seismic stress changes and diffusion of the pressurized fluids, and we summarize hitherto published models of triggering the 2000-swarm. Attention is paid to the source mechanisms, particularly to their non-shear components. We consider possible causes of different source mechanisms of the 1997-and 2000-swarms and infer that pure shear processes controlled solely by the regional tectonic stress prevail in them, and that additional tensile forces may appear only at unfavourably oriented faults. On data from the fluid injection experiment at the HDR site Soultz (Alsace), we also show that earthquakes triggered by fluids can represent purely shear processes. Thus we conclude that increased pore pressure of crustal fluids in the region plays a key role in bringing the faults from the subcritical to critical state. The swarm activities are mainly driven by stress changes due to co-seismic and post-seismic slips, which considerably depend on the frictional conditions at the fault; crustal fluids keep the fault in a critical state. An open question still remains the cause of the repeatedly observed almost simultaneous occurrence of seismic activity in different focal zones in a wider area of West Bohemia/Vogtland. The analysis of the space-time relations of seismicity in the area between 1991 and 2007 revealed that during a significant part of this time span the seismicity was switching among distant focal zones. This indicates a common triggering force which might be the effect of an increase of crustal-fluid pore-pressure affecting a wider epicentral region.     

The Gravity Field of the Vogtland and NW Bohemia: Presentation of a Project

The Vogtland and NW Bohemia are characterized geoscientifically by periodically occurrence of swarm earthquakes. The basic geophysical mechanism is not yet sufficiently clarified, just like detail questions to geology in especially the deeper underground. Complex geophysical investigations in the seismoactive region indicate geodynamic phenomena like mass redistribution or stress accumulation and release (Spiák et al., 1998). According to Grünthal (1989) a weakness zone is suggested in the region of the swarm earthquakes. This zone can be caused by fluid-tectonics (Kämpf et al., 1992), a mantle plume (pers. com. J. Svancara, 1999) and/or by the geometry of the geological structures (Neunhöfer & Güth, 1988). A three-dimensional gravimetric model can clear up the underground situation. By means of high-resolution gravimetry a three-dimensional model will be developped for the Vogtland and NW Bohemia region. In the first step a homogeneous Bouguer map of the Vogtland and NW Bohemia was created (fig. 1) containing gravity structures analysed by Ibrmajer & Suk (1989) and Blízkovsky et al. (1985). The used gravimetric data were made available by the Saxonian National Office for Environment and Geology, by the Czech Geological Survey, Prague and by the GGA Hannover. In the context with the interpretation of the deep-seismic profile MVE 90 a two-dimensional gravimetric modeling was carried out (Behr et al., 1994), too. Anomaly-producing source bodies apparently do not offer themselves in a two-dimensional model, because after Jung (1961) the length of a gravimetric source structure must be about four times larger than it's width. The technique of the three-dimensional gravimetric modeling by means of any polyhedrons was developed by Götze (1976, 1984). Gravimetry is a potential method and supplies an infinite number of solutions, so the model has to be developed close to other geoscientific results. The aim is to construct a high-resolution three-dimensional underground model, which includes the upper earth's crust and the deep-seated structures of the middle and lower crust, too. The determination of the mass distribution in the underground supplies contradicting or supporting facts for geodynamic views in the Vogtland and NW Bohemia for example of Bankwitz et al. (1993). The interpretation of the Bouguer map of the Vogtland and a three-dimensional gravimetric model ought to contribute a substantial, also geodynamic part to understand the origin and the emergence of the swarm earthquakes in this region.     

辽宁地区震群序列统计特征及预测意义研究

系统研究了1970年以来辽宁及邻区发生的25次震群活动,总结了辽宁地区震群活动的参数特征,探讨了该地区震群活动与未来中强震的关系。结果表明:1研究区的25次震群中,最大地震优势发生时段在震群出现后3天内的占68%,84%的震群中最大地震与次大地震的震级差≤0.5级,平均为0.35。80%的震群持续活动时间约2个月;2震群中最大地震的震级越大,相应地2、3级地震频次也越多,通常1个4级左右的震群,2级地震频次平均约为28,3级地震平均约为6;3当震群中3、4级地震频次分别≥10和4,同时序列的b值为0.6~0.9,此时可判定震群为前兆震群。未来中强震3要素的判定依据为:发震时间为震群开始后1年内,平均6个月;震中距离震群所在地约0~400km,平均为180km;最大强度为G-R预测的最大地震震级加2.0级。当b0.5时,震群有可能为前震序列,即震群开始后1~20天内原地有发生M≥5地震的危险;425次震群中的80%在震群出现1年后对应了M≥4.6地震,空间上辽宁内陆的震群对辽南和唐山地区的M≥4.6地震有较好的指示,长岛和黑山岛附近海域的震群对渤海海峡及其附近地区的M≥4.6地震有较好的指示。     

Post 2000-swarm microearthquake activity in the principal focal zone of West Bohemia/Vogtland: Space-time distribution and waveform similarity analysis

We present the pattern of seismic activity in the period between 2001 and 2007 for the Novy Kostel focal zone, which is recently the most active zone of the West-Bohemia/Vogtland earthquake swarm region. While the year 2001 was characterized by dying out of the 2000-swarm activity in the form of a few microswarms, almost no seismicity occurred in the period between 2002 and 2003. Since 2004 an elevated seismic activity occurs in the form of repeating microearthquake swarms. We used a relative location method to relate the hypocenter positions of the post-swarm activity to the geometry of the 2000-swarm cluster. We found that the activity has concentrated in several clusters, which have been repeatedly activated. Some clusters coincide with the position of the previous activity; the others have activated so far inactive deep segments at the southern edge of the Novy Kostel fault. Besides the shift of the hypocenters to the edges of the previously active area we observe a southward migration of the activity and an increase of maximum depths of earthquakes from 10 to 13 km. The waveform similarity analysis disclosed that some fault patches consist of only a single, repeatedly activated fault plane, while the others consist of multiple, differently oriented fault planes activated almost simultaneously. Most of the focal mechanisms are consistent with the geometry of hypocenters showing NNW-SSE trending steep fault planes with left-lateral strike-slip mechanisms and varying dip-slip component.     

云南宁洱井低水位异常分析及地震预测

宁洱井的水位自2014年10月25日以来持续下降39.2cm,低于正常水位谷值8.335m,2015年的年变幅度为正常年变的57.8%,呈破年变现象。经现场调查,发现周围观测环境干扰小,水位变化量相对可靠;通过分析水位与降雨量的相关性,以及GNSS监测网的位移资料,认为持续低水位异常与降雨量关系不大,属于地震前兆异常,其原因可能与该区域构造的拉张活动有关。总结地震前兆异常的地震活动规律,认为该异常可能对近期滇西南-滇缅交界地区中强地震危险性有指示意义。     

Macroseismic effects related to strong ground motion: a study of the South Iceland earthquakes in June 2000

The impact of the June 2000 South Iceland earthquakes has been assessed applying data collected in field surveys and strong-motion recordings from the Icelandic Strong-Motion Network. The areas within approximately 20 km of the causative faults suffered considerable damage, including transportation and utility systems as well as buildings, both with regard to structure and inventories. Ground subsidence and dislocations were significant in the near-fault zone. Aftershocks and permanent displacements of building foundations resulted in progressive structural damage. By introducing holistic measures derived from the acceleration data, a fair correlation was achieved between the obtained earthquake intensities and the recorded accelerations. The measures adopted were square root of the sum of the squares (SRSS) values of peak ground acceleration (PGA) and the trace of the Arias intensity tensor. It was found that the overall attenuation tended to be more rapid than reflected by common strong-motion models reported in the literature. There is no simple explanation for this behaviour but it is reasonable to suggest that it can be partly attributed to the heterogeneous and fractured crust that is characteristic of Icelandic geology.     

1995年日本新泻北部M6.0地震及其由地震烈度和地下水地热异常分布所揭示的隐伏地震断层

1995年日本新泻北部M6.0地震发生在新泻地震空区的东部边缘.由于此次地震震源较浅(10 km),造成了55栋房屋倒塌、165栋房屋半倒.通过计算倾倒墓碑的地震矩,对本区地震烈度进行了分析,发现烈度6度区(据日本JMA度)为一覆盖面积6.1×1 km2,呈NNE-SSW向分布的条带,表明震中区的冲积平原下存在一条隐伏断层.震中区地下水的温度、电导率和Cl-浓度等异常区与呈线性分布的6度烈度区大致吻合,也有力地证明了震中区下面存在一条隐伏断层.这次地震可能是由高压型热水系沿隐伏活动断层喷溢引起.带着高温的高压热水降低了岩石的断裂强度,从而触发了地震.     

福建省流体台网井水位的同震效应及其地震预测意义

2008年5月12日四川省汶川MS8.0地震在全国引起了大范围的同震及震后效应,能否将这些信息应用于地震预报,为震情判断提供依据？本文以福建流体台网井水位为例,将同震效应时空展布特征结合福建区域同期发生的地震事件进行分析,认为震后阶跃上升变化的水井水位可能包含有区域应力场信息,水位阶跃上升集中区可能是区域应力相对集中区,对未来该区域发生较显著的地震具有空间上的指示意义,可能就是未来的发震危险区．      

Preliminary Study on the Relationship between the M_s8.0 Wenchuan Earthquake of 2008 and the Anomalies of Earth Resistivity Observed at Qingdao Seismic Station

Near-surface earth resistivity and underground water level anomalies were recorded at Qingdao seismic observatory of Shandong Province before and after the MS8.0 Wenchuan Earthquake of May 12,2008.The observed data of earth resistivity at the observatory revealed that the underground water level dropped and the resistivity increased.It is postulated that in the special tectonic setting at Qingdao observatory,the variation of stress and strain caused the change of water level beneath the station,thus,leading...     

中高频带地下水位对气压和固体潮的响应特征分析

我国前兆观测网络数字化改造的完成, 使得对地震地下水位观测的孕震信息提取和干扰因素排除的研究拓宽至更广的频率范围, 而对原有一些认识的重新考察也成为可能。 本文从中国地震前兆台网挑选出数据质量较好的10个台站, 分析各个台站2008年1月1日至5月11日的地下水位和气压资料及理论重力固体潮的频谱及其频域相关性特征, 并分析了地下水位对气压响应的时移。 结果表明, 中高频带地下水位对气压的响应没有低频带好, 两者相关性随周期的减小而减弱; 含水层岩性对中高频带地下水位的气压和固体潮响应特征有较大影响, 部分灰岩井在高频频段存在地下水位对气压响应异常的现象; 时移效应对水位的气压响应整体特征影响不大, 体现出两种信号自身的复杂性。     

汶川8. 0 级和日本9. 0 级地震时甘肃境内井水位、井水温同震效应对比分析

通过对比研究发现,2008 年汶川8. 0 级和2011 年日本9. 0 级地震时甘肃境内台站井水位和井水温同震效应特征有明显差异:汶川8. 0 级地震时,绝大部分井水位和井水温都记录到同震效应,且变化幅度比较大,持续时间比较长;相比而言,日本9. 0 级地震虽然释放的能量更大,但因震中距和震源方位的影响,只有部分井水位记录到明显的同震变化,井水温没有明显变化;两次地震时古浪观测站井水位都记录到井水位变化,但日本9. 0 级地震时的变化幅度大于汶川8. 0 级地震,这一现象值得深入研究。     

Time series decomposition of groundwater level changes in wells due to the Chi‐Chi earthquake in Taiwan: a possible hydrological precursor to earthquakes

The largest and most disastrous earthquake in Taiwan (Mw: 7·3) in the 20th century, the Chi‐Chi earthquake, hit central Taiwan at 01:47 local time on September 21, 1999. The groundwater level changes were rapid at that time. Studies have found that the rapid change in groundwater levels was a co‐seismic phenomenon. This work analyzes the possibility that the abnormal change in groundwater levels may have occurred before the earthquake. Three well stations with a total of five wells are considered. They are all near the Che‐Lung‐Pu fault, which caused the Chi‐Chi earthquake. The time series decomposition method was applied to decompose the seasonal groundwater level, the trend in groundwater levels, and the period of the change in the groundwater level. Residual groundwater levels were found by subtracting the determined seasonal, trend and period data from corresponding data for the original groundwater level. The computed residual water levels in July, August and September of 1999, were transformed into a frequency spectrum by a Fourier method. Additionally, the effects of barometric pressures on the groundwater level changes were also evaluated. Analytical results show that the spectral density functions of the irregular groundwater level in the confined aquifer at the Chu‐Shan well in September behaved differently from those in July and August. We posit that a pre‐seismic hydrogeological anomaly may have existed before the Chi‐Chi earthquake, and can be considered in future studies of anomalies associated with earthquakes. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Apparent permeability variation of underground water aquifer induced by an earthquake: A case of the Zhouzhi well and the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake

Taking the M₂ wave as calibration signals, we extract the phase shifts of the water level relative to the Earth tide in the Zhouzhi well by utilizing the cross-correlation function. And we further obtain the apparent permeability variation in the aquifer of the Zhouzhi well in 2008. Comparison with the commonly used tidal analysis software Baytap-G shows that phase shifts obtained by cross-correlation function are more stable. The resulting apparent permeability of the Zhouzhi well aquifer fluctuates with time, indicating it is a dynamically controlled parameter. The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake caused the apparent permeability increasing drastically, which is interpreted as the combination effects of effective stress changes and the barriers removing in the flow channel due to seismic wave pressure pulse. After the Wenchuan earthquake, the effective stress began to recover and the impurities deposited gradually, causing the apparent permeability to decrease a month later and almost recover to the pre-earthquake level in six months.     

金沙江水网对日本9.0级地震的同震响应及其特征与机理

本文系统介绍了金沙江水网6口观测井水位与水温动态对日本9.0级地震的同震响应,分析了同震响应的特征与同震响应的机理.结果表明,4口井水位有同震响应,同震响应形态全是振荡,对地震波响应的时间、振荡的幅度、振荡的持续时间等的差异主要取决于井-含水层系统的导水系数.结果还表明,3口井水温有同震响应,响应形态是不对称的V字或U字形;水温的先期下降是井简内上(冷)下(热)水混合作用引起的,后期上升是井水与围岩之间的热传导引起吸热作用的结果,各井水温升降的幅度、持续时间等不同,主要是井水温度梯度与水岩热传导系数不同引起的;后期升幅总是大于先期降幅,这可能与地震波作用使井区大地热流增强有关.     

InSAR analysis of a blind thrust rupture and related active folding: the 1999 Ain Temouchent earthquake (M w 5.7, Algeria) case study

We study the surface deformation associated with the 22 December 1999 earthquake, a moderate sized but damaging event at Ain Temouchent (northwestern Algeria) using Interferometric Satellite Aperture Radar images (InSAR). The mainshock focal mechanism solution indicates reverse faulting with a NE–SW trending rupture comparable to other major seismic events of this section of the Africa–Eurasia plate boundary. Previously, the earthquake fault parameters were, however, poorly known because no aftershocks were precisely determined and no coseismic surface ruptures were observed in the field. Using a pair of ERS data with small baseline and short temporal separation in the ascending orbit we obtained an interferogram that shows the coseismic surface displacement field despite poor coherence. The interferogram measures four fringes and displays an ellipse-shaped lobe with ∼11 cm peak line-of-sight displacement. The elastic modeling using a boundary element method (Poly3Dinv) indicate coseismic slip reaching up to 1 m at 5 km depth on the N 57° E trending, dipping 32° NW Tafna thrust fault. The geodetic estimate of seismic moment is 4.7 × 10¹⁷ N m. (Mw 5.7) in is good agreement with seismological results. The elliptical shape of the surface displacement field coincides with the NE–SW trending Berdani fault-related fold. The consistency between the geological observations and InSAR solution shed light on the precise earthquake location and related Tafna fault parameters.     

Aeolization on the Atlantic coast of Galicia (NW Spain) from the end of the last glacial period to the present day: Chronology,origin and evolution of coastal dunes linked to sea-level oscillations

The Atlantic coast of Galicia (NW Spain) is a high-energy environment where shingle beaches are currently developing. These coarser sediments alternate with sandy deposits which are also considered as beaches typical of a low-energy environment. The physical association of both types of sediment with contrasted sedimentary significance raises problems of interpretation. The study of four outcrops of fossil aeolianites on this coast has allowed us to reconstruct their evolution from the end of the Upper Pleistocene to the present day. Their chronology, estimated by optically stimulated luminescence between 35 and 14 ky at the end of the last glaciation (MIS2), coincides with a local sea level 120 m below the present one. This implies a coastline shifted several kilometres from its current location and the subaerial exposure of a wide strip of the continental shelf covered by sands. The wind blew sand to form dunes towards the continent, covering the coastal areas, which then emerged with no other limitation than the active river channels. Sea-level rise during the Holocene transgression has progressively swamped these aeolian deposits, leaving only flooded dunes, relict coastal dunes and climbing dunes on cliffs up to 180 m high. The aeolian process continued as long as there was a sandy source area to erode, although accretion finished when the sea reached its current level (Late Holocene). Since then, the wind turned from accretion to erosion of the dunes and sand beaches. This erosion exposes the older shingle beaches (probably of Eemian age) buried under the aeolian sands, as well as old, submerged forest remains and megalithic monuments. The destruction of sand beaches and dunes currently observed along the Galician coast is linked, according to most researchers, to anthropogenic global warming. However, their management should consider these evolutive issues.     

Evidence for fault-related directionality and localized site effects from strong motion recordings of the 2003 Boumerdes (Algeria) earthquake: Consequences on damage distribution and the Algerian seismic code

The Algiers–Boumerdes region has been struck by a destructive magnitude 6.8 (M_w) earthquake on May 21, 2003. The study presented in this paper is based on main shock strong motions from 13 stations of the Algerian accelerograph network. A maximum 0.58g peak ground acceleration (PGA) has been recorded at 20 km from the epicenter, only about 150 m away from a PGA of 0.34g, with both a central frequency around 5 Hz, explained by a strong very localized site effect, confirmed by receiver function technique results showing peaks at 5 Hz with amplitudes changing by a factor of 2. Soil amplifications are also evidenced at stations located in the quaternary Mitidja basin, explaining the higher PGA values recorded at these stations than at stations located on firm soil at similar distances from the epicenter. A fault-related directionality effect observed on the strong motion records and confirmed by the study of the seismic movement anisotropy, in agreement with the N65 fault plan direction, explains the SW–NE orientation of the main damage zone. In the near field, strong motions present a high-frequency content starting at 3 Hz with a central frequency around 8 Hz, while in the far field their central frequency is around 3 Hz, explaining the high level of damage in the 3- to 4-story buildings in the epicentral zone. The design spectra overestimate the recorded mean response spectra, and its high corner frequency is less than the recorded one, leading to a re-examination of the seismic design code that should definitively integrate site-related coefficient, to account for the up to now neglected site amplification, as well as a re-modeling of the actual design spectra. Finally, both the proposed Algerian attenuation law and the worldwide laws usually used in Algeria underestimate the recorded accelerations of the 6.8 (M_w) Boumerdes earthquake, clearly showing that it is not possible to extrapolate the proposed Algerian law to major earthquakes.     

Cost-efficient management of coastal aquifers via recharge with treated wastewater and desalination of brackish groundwater: application to the Akrotiri basin and aquifer,Cyprus

Abstract

We investigate the general methodology for an intensive development of coastal aquifers, described in a companion paper, through its application to the management of the Akrotiri aquifer, Cyprus. The Zakaki area of that aquifer, adjacent to Lemessos City, is managed such that it permits a fixed annual agricultural water demand to be met, as well as and a fraction of the water demand of Lemessos, which varies according to available surface water. Effluents of the Lemessos wastewater treatment plant are injected into the aquifer to counteract the seawater intrusion resulting from the increased pumping. The locations of pumping and injection wells are optimized based on least-cost, subject to meeting the demand. This strategy controls sea intrusion so effectively that desalting of only small volumes of slightly brackish groundwater is required over short times, while ～2.3 m³ of groundwater is produced for each 1 m³ of injected treated wastewater. The cost over the 20-year period 2000–2020 of operation is ～40 M€ and the unit production cost of potable water is under 0.2 €/m³. The comparison between the deterministic and stochastic analyses of the groundwater dynamics indicates the former as conservative, i.e. yielding higher groundwater salinity at the well. The Akrotiri case study shows that the proposed aquifer management scheme yields solutions that are preferable to the widely promoted seawater desalination, also considering the revenues from using the treated wastewater for irrigation.

Citation Koussis, A. D., Georgopoulou, E., Kotronarou, A., Mazi, K., Restrepo, P., Destouni, G., Prieto, C., Rodriguez, J. J., Rodriguez-Mirasol, J., Cordero, T., Ioannou, C., Georgiou, A., Schwartz, J. & Zacharias, I. (2010) Cost-efficient management of coastal aquifers via recharge with treated wastewater and desalination of brackish groundwater: application to the Akrotiri basin and aquifer, Cyprus. Hydrol. Sci. J. 55(7), 1234–1245.