Variations in short-period shear-wave attenuation in the Baikal Rift Zone and their relationship to seismicity

This paper presents results from a study of variations in short-period shear-wave attenuation in the lithosphere of the Baikal Rift Zone (BRZ). We used earthquake records made at the Ulan-Bator station (ULN) at epicentral distances of ～400–1300 km. The ratios of maximum amplitudes in the Sn and Pn waves were considered. We show that these ratios are on the whole considerably higher than those in other areas of Central Asia. It was found that zones of low shear wave attenuation coincide with the rupture zones of large earthquakes that occurred during the 19th and 20th centuries. We identified zones of high attenuation where no large (M～ > 7.0) seismic events have occurred during at least 180 years. The hypothesis we propose is that precursory processes before future large earthquakes may be occurring in these zones. We discuss the question of whether wave attenuation characteristics may be related to seismicity.     

Estimation of shear-wave attenuation characteristics for the Klyuchevskoi volcanic edifice

This paper reports a study of intrinsic attenuation and scattering in the Klyuchevskoi volcanic edifice. The data set consisted of small volcano-tectonic earthquakes occurring as deep as 30 km beneath Klyuchevskoi Volcano and recorded by radio telemetry seismograph stations installed on the edifice and near it. The digital seismograms of small volcano-tectonic earthquakes were processed by the multiple lapse time window analysis (MLTWA) method currently in use in seismology. The method uses experimental normalized integrals of 3D seismic energy density determined from several time windows applied to earthquake records that have been put through bandpass filters. The parameters that characterize the intrinsic attenuation and scattering of seismic energy of small volcano-tectonic earthquakes in Klyuchevskoi Volcano were estimated by adjusting the coefficients to ensure the best fit between experimental and theoretical integrals. An analytical solution to the seismic energy transfer equation was used to calculate the theoretical integrals of 3D seismic energy. Reliable estimates of the parameters that characterize the intrinsic attenuation and scattering in the material of the Klyuchevskoi volcanic edifice have been obtained. Our estimates of the Q for the edifice are below those derived by other workers for the Kamchatka lithosphere.     

华北中部岩石圈磁场变化与岩石圈结构间的关系

对2016-2019年华北中部地区(34.7°-41.1°N,110.3°-119.7°E)流动地磁矢量观测数据进行处理,得到连续3期岩石圈磁场年变化数据,并对岩石圈磁场空间分布形态进行分析.研究发现,磁异常分布与岩石圈结构之间有一定相关性,在太行山隆起以西、临清坳陷、鲁西断隆和鲁西断隆以东等主要结构单元表现出不同程度...     

Subduction zone seismicity and the thermo-mechanical evolution of downgoing lithosphere

In this paper we discuss characteristic features of subduction zone seismicity at depths between about 100 km and 700 km, with emphasis on the role of temperature and rheology in controlling the deformation of, and the seismic energy release in downgoing lithosphere. This is done in two steps. After a brief review of earlier developments, we first show that the depth distribution of hypocentres at depths between 100 km and 700 km in subducted lithosphere can be explained by a model in which seismic activity is confined to those parts of the slab which have temperatures below a depth-dependent critical valueT _cr.Second, the variation of seismic energy release (frequency of events, magnitude) with depth is addressed by inferring a rheological evolution from the slab's thermal evolution and by combining this with models for the system of forces acting on the subducting lithosphere. It is found that considerable stress concentration occurs in a reheating slab in the depth range of 400 to 650–700 km: the slab weakens, but the stress level strongly increases. On the basis of this stress concentration a model is formulated for earthquake generation within subducting slabs. The model predicts a maximum depth of seismic activity in the depth range of 635 to 760 km and, for deep earthquake zones, a relative maximum in seismic energy release near the maximum depth of earthquakes. From our modelling it follows that, whereas such a maximum is indeed likely to develop in deep earthquake zones, zones with a maximum depth around 300 km (such as the Aleutians) are expected to exhibit a smooth decay in seismic energy release with depth. This is in excellent agreement with observational data. In conclusion, the incoroporation of both depth-dependent forces and depth-dependent rheology provides new insight into the generation of intermediate and deep earthquakes and into the variation of seismic activity with depth.Our results imply that no barrier to slab penetration at a depth of 650–700 km is required to explain the maximum depth of seismic activity and the pattern of seismic energy release in deep earthquake zones.     

地磁低点位移异常类型特征与地震活动

通过对大量的地磁低点位移异常震例研究,结果表明: ① 地磁低点位移异常的形态、空间展布有明显的地区特征。异常大致可分为: 大范围异常和区域性异常二大类, 还可细分为 5个类型 ; ② 地磁低点位移异常与我国的地质活动构造有较密切的联系。 异常范围的大小、形态与异常所在地区的活动构造的规模、展布形态特征,以及这一地区即将发生的地震强度有关。     

Heterogeneities in the field of short period seismic wave attenuation in the lithosphere of central Tien Shan

Records of deep-focus Hindu Kush earthquakes in the depth ranges 70–110 and 190–230 km made by 45 digital and analogue seismic stations were analyzed to study the attenuation field of short period seismic waves in the lithosphere of central Tien Shan. The dynamic characteristics studied include the ratio of peak amplitudes in S and P waves (S/P) and the ratio of the S-wave maximum to the coda level in the range t = 400 ± 5 s, where t is the lapse time (S/c400) for 1.25 Hz. Comparatively high values of S/P are shown to prevail in most of the area, corresponding to lower S-wave attenuation. Upon this background is a band of high and intermediate attenuation in the west of the area extending along the Talas-Fergana fault in the south and afterwards turning north-northeast. The rupture areas of the two largest (M ≥ 7.0) earthquakes which have occurred in Tien Shan during the last 25 years are confined to this band. Abnormally high values of S/c400 were obtained for stations situated in the rupture zone of the August 19, 1992, magnitude 7.3 Suusamyr earthquake and around it. For two of the stations we found considerable time variations in the coda envelope before the earthquake. The effective Q was derived from compressional and shear wave data for the entire area, as well as for the band of high attenuation. Comparison with previous data shows that the attenuation field in the area has changed appreciably during 20–25 years, which can only be due to a rearrangement of the fluid field in the crust and uppermost mantle. It is hypothesized that a large earthquake is very likely to occur in the northern part of the attenuating band.     

Space-time variations of the shear wave attenuation field in the upper mantle of seismic and low seismicity areas

This paper deals with characteristics of the short period S-wave attenuation field in the rupture zones of 37 large and great earthquakes with M _s = 7.0–8.6, as well as in low seismicity areas. We estimate the effective quality factor from Sn and Lg coda envelopes in two time intervals (Q ₁ and Q ₂). The quantity Q ₁ is a measure of shear wave attenuation in the uppermost mantle, at depths of down to approximately 200–250 km, while Q ₂ is relevant to deeper horizons of the upper mantle. We studied variations in the attenuation field in the rupture zone of the 1950 Assam earthquake. We examined the parameters Q ₁, Q ₂, and Q ₁/Q ₂ as functions of the time ΔT elapsed after a large earthquake. It is shown that the parameter Q ₂ in rupture zones is practically independent of ΔT, while the quantities Q ₁ and Q ₁/Q ₂ increase until ΔT ～ 20–25 years, especially rapidly for normal, normal-oblique, and strike-slip earthquake mechanisms. This analysis provides evidence that, as ΔT increases, so does the quality factor in the upper mantle for shear waves. It is supposed that this is related to the rise of mantle fluids to the crust. Geodynamic mechanisms are discussed that can support a comparatively rapid “drying” of the upper mantle beneath earthquake rupture zones.     

Unified approach to amplitude attenuation and coda excitation in the randomly inhomogeneous lithosphere

A unified model is proposed for explaining the frequency dependent amplitude attenuation and the coda wave excitation on the basis of the single scattering process in the randomly inhomogeneous lithosphere. Adopting Birch's law and a direct proportion between density and wave velocity, we statistically describe the inhomogeneous medium by one random function characterized by the von Karman autocorrelation function. We calculate the amplitude attenuation from the solid angle integral of scattered wave energy on the basis of the Born approxiimation after subtracting the travel-time fluctuation effect caused by slowly varying velocity inhomogeneities. This subtraction is equivalent to neglect energy loss by scattering within a cone around the forward direction. The random inhomogeneity of the von Karman autocorrelation function of order 0.35 with the mean square fractional fluctuation of 7.2×10^–3 1.3×10^–2 and the correlation distance of 2.15.1 km well explains observed backward scattering coefficientg and the ratioQ _P ^–1 /Q _S ^–1 , and observed and partially conjecturedQ _S ^–1 for frequencies between 0.5 Hz and 30 Hz.     

On the correlation between seismicity characteristics and S-wave attenuation in the ring structures that appear before large earthquakes

We discuss seismicity characteristics in the source zones of two great earthquakes: the December 26, 2004 Sumatra (M_w = 9.0) and the November 14, 2001 Kunlun (M_w = 7.8) events. Ring structures of low magnitude seismicity have been forming prior to these earthquakes for several decades. We studied the short period shear-wave attenuation field in the area of these ring structures. The method we used is based on the analysis of the rate of attenuation for the early Sn and Lg codas to detect attenuation inhomogeneities in the uppermost mantle. We show that the ring structures have comparatively high attenuation of shear waves compared with the crustal volumes inside the rings. The fact that there is no recent volcanism in the area of the seismicity rings shows that this effect is due to a high content of free fluids in the uppermost mantle. Proceeding by analogy with our results, we identified a zone in northern Tien Shan that is anomalous for these parameters; the zone may be related to the precursory process of a large earthquake. We discuss the geodynamic mechanisms that may be responsible for fluid concentration in the seismicity rings.     

Periodic spectral characteristics of seismicity before strong earthquakes and their application

IntroductionMaximumentropyspectralmethod(MEM)(Burg,1972)hadbeenamethodusuallyusedinstudyingtheseismicityanditsmainpurposeistofindthedominantspectrainthelong-termseismicityprocessesinthepastyears(Zhu,1985).Inthispaper,themethodisappliedtostudywhethertherearesomespecialspectraofseismicityinsomespecificstagesinearthquake-generatingprocesses.Sowestudyseparatelythenormalandabnormalstageofearthquakeactivity,whoseactiveprocessisregardedasstablestochasticprocess,inordertofindtheirspectracharactersan…     

Intrinsic attenuation and scattering of shear waves in the lithosphere of Kamchatka

Records of small local Kamchatka earthquakes were processed using Multiple Lapse Time Window Analysis (MLTWA). The method makes use of normalized integrals of 3D seismic energy density in several windows applied to an earthquake record that has been put through a bandpass filter. The intrinsic attenuation and scattering properties of the earth were estimated by choosing parameters that provide the best agreement between experimental and theoretical integrals as functions of hypocentral distance. The theoretical normalized integrals as functions of distance were computed using an analytical solution to the equation of seismic energy transport based on a simple model of isotropic scattering for scalar seismic waves excited by an impulse point source in an earth that is uniform as to scattering and intrinsic attenuation. The resulting estimates of attenuation and scattering parameters are similar to those derived in other studies of Kamchatka, as well as of other continents: America (California, US), Europe (the Canary Is., Spain, and Italy), and Asia (Japan).     

The seismicity and tectonic stress field characteristics of the Longmenshan fault zone before the Wenchuan M_S8.0 earthquake

The seismicity of Longmenshan fault zone and its vicinities before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan MS8.0 earthquake is studied.Based on the digital seismic waveform data observed from regional seismic networks and mobile stations, the focal mechanism solutions are determined.Our analysis results show that the seismicities of Longmenshan fault zone before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake were in stable state.No obvious phenomena of seismic activity intensifying appeared.According to focal mechanism solutions of ...     

西宁盆地浅层滑脱面与地震关系探讨

滑脱面空间特征的研究可以反映次级浅断裂与区域深断裂之间的构造关系, 在西宁盆地中, 第三纪地层在NNE向区域挤压应力作用下, 沿近NW向发生弯曲褶皱变形。 利用平衡剖面方法, 通过对垂直构造走向的一条剖面进行反演, 得到西宁盆地的滑脱面深度在4~5 km, 并向南倾, 与物探资料得到的盆地沉积盖层的底界位置和形态基本相同。 因此得出盆地沉积盖层的变形方式以柔皱褶曲为主, 并沿沉积盖层底界进行滑脱。 同时根据区域地震背景分析, 认为在西宁盆地浅滑脱的结构面不具备强震的发震条件。     

Stresses and seismicity at the present stage of evolution of the Baikal rift zone lithosphere

The paper presents results of studying stresses and seismicity of the lithosphere in the Baikal rift zone at the present (instrumental) stage of its evolution. These results are well consistent with the theory of self-organization of complex dynamic systems and can be used for the classification of certain features and properties of the Baikal rift seismogenic system studied. Application of the theory of nonlinear dynamic systems to the analysis of stresses and seismicity allowed us to develop a concept of a complex spatiotemporal structure of the stress state of the lithosphere and seismicity in the region. In terms of this concept, the distribution of strong earthquakes in time is explained in terms of bifurcations (catastrophes) of stresses in the rift zone. Extrapolation of the results indicates that a stress catastrophe in lithosphere of the rift zone can take place in the next few years years, which increases the probability of occurrence of strong (M ≈ 7) earthquakes in the Baikal region. A model with bifurcation of triple equilibrium most consistent with the phase image of regional stresses is proposed as a scenario of the stress state evolution in the lithosphere of the Baikal rift zone.     

华北地区中东部岩石圈挠曲与均衡特性以及地震活动性分析

华北地区中东部涵盖北京、天津以及即将建设的雄安新区等大型城市,区内发育了张渤地震带等多条大型活动断裂,地震活动性较强,历史上发生过多次6级以上地震.本文利用Fan小波的布格重力异常一致性方法研究该区的岩石圈有效弹性厚度和均衡调整初始加载比分布,同时基于均衡调整方法计算该区垂向构造应力分布,并将以上结果与历史地震活动进行统计分析.岩石圈挠曲分析表明,华北地区中东部的岩石圈有效弹性厚度为10~65 km,分布特征为自东南向西北逐渐减小.均衡调整初始加载比为0.5~0.8,表明现今的岩石圈挠曲状态主要由莫霍面加载形成.该区地壳承载的垂向构造应力约为-20~20 MPa,中西部地区垂向构造应力向上,东北和西南地区向下.统计分析结果显示,华北地区中东部的地震活动性随着岩石圈有效弹性厚度和均衡调整初始加载比的增加而减弱,垂向构造应力零值区域地震活动性较弱.雄安新区的岩石圈有效弹性厚度大约为15 km,均衡调整初始加载比为0.5~0.6,垂向构造应力为15~20 MPa,岩石圈参数对应的地震活动性较强,相关结果对于新区建设具有一定参考价值.

     

台湾及邻近地区地震活动间歇性的一些特征

从地震活动间隔时间的角度出发,结合1970～2003年台湾及邻近地区的地震活动,对其震级一最大间隔时间对数的关系进行了分析。从地震活动等待时间的角度出发,分析了地震活动次数百分比与等待时间的关系,最后简略地介绍了地震活动次数百分比等值线图的一些特征。     

The gravity and isostatic Moho in North China Craton and their implications to seismicity

The Bouguer gravity is the combination of field sources in different depths. Based on the multi-scale analysis of the Bouguer gravity, we can get the gravity anomaly caused by the Moho undulation. This study presents the various orders of approximation of gravity anomaly in North China Craton (NCC), the possible source depths with radial logarithmic power spectrum, and the relationship between the deep structure and gravity anomaly. Furthermore, we discuss the isostatic compensation about the Moho depth from gravity and deep seismic sounding profiles (DSS). The results show that: (1) the fourth approximation could have resulted from the Moho undulation, (2) in contrast to the isostatic Moho, the inverted gravity Moho and the DSS Moho show that most of NCC has been isostatically compensated, and (3) the isostatic compensation rate has some close relation to the seismicity.     

龙门山断裂带最新地震活动特征及其意义

综合最新布设的龙门山断裂带地震空段台阵（LmsSGA）与四川省地震局固定地震台网数据,对龙门山断裂带新近一年（2016年11月21日到2017年10月28日）的23479个地震事件开展双差定位工作,共获取包括汶川地震余震和芦山地震余震在内的6111个重定位地震事件.在此基础上,分别与汶川地震和芦山地震的早期余震空间分布特征进行比较.研究发现在汶川地震发生近十年后,其余震活动依旧活跃.汶川地震现今余震活动主要分布在10~25 km的深度区间,震源深度呈现西南段较东北段偏深的特征.此外,汶川近年余震分布相比早期余震偏深,破裂带西南段的余震活动有向深部迁移的趋势.对于芦山地震,其近期余震活动较弱,余震主要分布在10~15 km的深度区间,比早期余震的分布区间偏浅.龙门山断裂带最新余震活动分布特征表明,余震活动随着时间的推移有迁移的现象.考虑到距离主震事件已分别有5~10年的流逝时间,余震迁移现象可能由以流体扩散方式为主的准静态应力机制触发.

     

Mining seismicity, gas outburst and the significance of their relationship in the study of physics of earthquake source

This paper presents an overview of mining seismicity, gas outburst and their origin. The internal relation of mining seismicity and gas outburst in the dynamic process is studied on the basis of the fact that these disasters sometimes occur simultaneously. The examples show a close relationship between mining seismicity and gas outburst in high gassy coal mines. It is proposed that strong mine shocks plus the response of low value and delay time are early warning signals. The mechanism of the relationship between mining seismicity and gas outburst is analyzed by using the location of mining shocks, focus mechanism, cause of mining shocks and conditions of gas outburst. The trigger action of gas fluid on mining shocks, especially the effect of the anomalous property of supercritical fluid on the preparation and occurrence of mining shocks is discussed. According to the similarity between min-ing-induced earthquakes and tectonic earthquakes in terms of mechanism, the significance of the above results in the study of physics of earthquake source is also discussed.