川东南长宁地区地震活动及b值演化特征

利用全国统一目录和流动台站目录,研究了四川盆地东南部长宁地区的地震活动特征和b值的空间分布特征.研究结果显示,长宁地区的地震活动在时间上呈现明显的分段特征,地震活动在2015年后明显增强;在空间上,长宁地区的地震活动主要集中在以28.3°N为界限的南、北2个地区,对于这2个区域的b值演化,计算结果显示出不同的分段特征....     

Machine learning-based automatic construction of earthquake catalog for reservoir areas in multiple river basins of Guizhou province,China

Large reservoirs have the risk of reservoir induced seismicity. Accurately detecting and locating microseismic events are crucial when studying reservoir earthquakes. Automatic earthquake monitoring in reservoir areas is one of the effective measures for earthquake disaster prevention and mitigation. In this study, we first applied the automatic location workflow (named LOC-FLOW) to process 14-day continuous waveform data from several reservoir areas in different river basins of Guizhou province. Compared with the manual seismic catalog, the recall rate of seismic event detection using the workflow was 83.9%. Of the detected earthquakes, 88.9% had an onset time difference below 1 s, 81.8% has a deviation in epicenter location within 5 km, and 77.8% had a focal depth difference of less than 5 km, indicating that the workflow has good generalization capacity in reservoir areas. We further applied the workflow to retrospectively process continuous waveform data recorded from 2020 to the first half of 2021 in reservoir areas in multiple river basins of western Guizhou province and identified five times the number of seismic events obtained through manual processing. Compared with manual processing of seismic catalog, the completeness magnitude had decreased from 1.3 to 0.8, and a b-value of 1.25 was calculated for seismicity in western Guizhou province, consistent with the b-values obtained for the reservoir area in previous studies. Our results show that seismicity levels were relatively low around large reservoirs that were impounded over 15 years ago, and there is no significant correlation between the seismicity in these areas and reservoir impoundment. Seismicity patterns were notably different around two large reservoirs that were only impounded about 12 years ago, which may be explained by differences in reservoir storage capacity, the geologic and tectonic settings, hydrogeological characteristics, and active fault the reservoir areas. Prominent seismicity persisted around two large reservoirs that have been impounded for less than 10 years. These events were clustered and had relatively shallow focal depths. The impoundment of the Jiayan Reservoir had not officially begun during this study period, but earthquake location results suggested a high seismicity level in this reservoir area. Therefore, any seismicity in this reservoir area after the official impoundment deserves special attention.     

2017年九寨沟MS7.0地震序列活动特征分析

中强地震序列的主震发生后,短时间内受台站距震中较远、尾波干扰和波形重叠等因素的影响,往往会遗漏大量的地震,而地震目录的完整性会直接影响到震后趋势判定和余震序列特征分析的科学性和可靠性。本文利用基于GPU加速的模板匹配方法对2017年8月1～12日的连续波形进行扫描计算,检测九寨沟M_S7.0地震前后遗漏的地震事件,选取台网目录中信噪比较高的1033个地震事件作为模板,在主震前7天至震后5天期间识别出4854个检测地震事件,为台网可定位目录的3.3倍,除去对台网单台地震事件的修正外,还检测到1797个遗漏地震事件,将完备震级从1.6级降低到1.4级。基于补充了遗漏地震的完整地震目录,对2017年8月8日九寨沟M_S7.0地震序列活动特征进行分析。结果表明,前震序列在主震前短时间内出现了地震活动的密集增强,b值也显示为低值状态,可能是深部断层发生破裂之前的加速蠕动的结果。随着时间的推移,余震序列的完备震级逐渐下降并趋于稳定,b值存在缓慢升高的趋势,未来较长时期内余震序列仍将处于持续衰减的状态。     

On the seismic regime of the Japan region before the Tohoku mega-earthquake (M w = 9)

The seismic regime taking place before the Tohoku mega-earthquake was studied using the catalog of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). We show that the Tohoku earthquake was preceded by a 6–7-year period of regional reduction in the b-value and in the rate of main shocks. The space-time regions that involved precursory activation were nearly identical with the predictive phenomena that were previously detected by A.A. Lyubushin from an analysis of seismic noise based on data from the Japanese F-net. We discovered a previously unknown effect of correlation between the number of main shocks and the b-value. Both the ordinary foreshock activation and the longer weaker tendency, which consist in a precursory increase in the seismicity rate, were identified in the vicinities of M ≈ 7 Japanese earthquakes (similarly to the seismicity in the Generalized Vicinities of large earthquakes based on worldwide data).     

A 15-year-Long catalog of seismicity in the Eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone (ETSZ) using matched filter detection

We present a detailed catalog of 13 671 earthquakes in the Eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone (ETSZ) that spans January 1, 2005 to July 31, 2020. We apply a matched filter detection technique on over 15 years of continuous data, resulting in arguably the most complete catalog of seismicity in the ETSZ yet. The magnitudes of newly detected events are determined by computing the amplitude ratio between the detections and templates using a principal component fit. We also compute the b-value for the new catalog and comparatively relocate a subset of newly detected events using XCORLOC and hypoDD, which shows a more defined structure at depth. We find the greatest concentration along and to the east of the New York-Alabama Lineament, as defined by the magnetic anomaly, supporting the argument that this feature likely is related to the generation of seismicity in the ETSZ. We examine seismicity in the vicinity of the Watts Bar Reservoir, which is located about 5 ?km from the epicenter of the M_W 4.4 December 12, 2018 Decatur, Tennessee earthquake, and find possible evidence for reservoir modulated seismicity in this region. We also examine seismicity in the entire ETSZ to search for a correlation between shallow earthquakes and seasonal hydrologic changes. Our results show limited evidence for hydrologically-driven shallow seismicity due to seasonal groundwater levels in the ETSZ, which contradicts previous studies hypothesizing that most intraplate earthquakes are associated with the dynamics of hydrologic cycles.     

The spatiotemporal analysis of the minimum magnitude of completeness <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mc</Emphasis> and the Gutenberg–Richter law <Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-value parameter using the earthquake catalog of Greece

Spatiotemporal mapping the minimum magnitude of completeness Mc and b-value of the Gutenberg–Richter law is conducted for the earthquake catalog data of Greece. The data were recorded by the seismic network of the Institute of Geodynamics of the National Observatory of Athens (GINOA) in 1970–2010 and by the Hellenic Unified Seismic Network (HUSN) in 2011–2014. It is shown that with the beginning of the measurements at HUSN, the number of the recorded events more than quintupled. The magnitude of completeness Mc of the earthquake catalog for 1970–2010 varies within 2.7 to 3.5, whereas starting from April 2011 it decreases to 1.5–1.8 in the central part of the region and fluctuates around the average of 2.0 in the study region overall. The magnitude of completeness Mc and b-value for the catalogs of the earthquakes recorded by the old (GINOA) and new (HUSN) seismic networks are compared. It is hypothesized that the magnitude of completeness Mc may affect the b-value estimates. The spatial distribution of the b-value determined from the HUSN catalog data generally agrees with the main geotectonic features of the studied territory. It is shown that the b-value is below 1 in the zones of compression and is larger than or equal to 1 in the zones dominated by extension. The established depth dependence of the b-value is pretty much consistent with the hypothesis of a brittle–ductile transition zone existing in the Earth’s crust. It is assumed that the source depth of a strong earthquake can probably be estimated from the depth distribution of the b-value, which can be used for seismic hazard assessment.     

基于模板匹配定位法的江苏盐城附近微震检测和构造分析

利用基于GPU加速的匹配定位法和双差定位法,对江苏盐城及邻区18个台站记录的2009~2018年共10年的连续地震资料进行分析。首先从台网目录中挑选211个地震事件作为模板事件,使用匹配定位技术对江苏盐城附近连续10年的地震进行检测和识别,共识别出1349个地震事件,约为台网目录地震事件的3倍,最小完备震级由台网目录的M_L1.9降为M_L1.2。然后利用双差定位法对检测到的地震事件进行精定位,精定位的结果揭示：建湖地区的地震密集带与洪泽-沟墩断裂有关,震源深度优势分布为5~20km,断裂两侧震源深度有显著差异,断裂带倾向NW;射阳震群震源深度比建湖震群有所加深,优势分布为10~25km,震源深度由南东向西北逐渐变浅;宝应地区地震丛集分布;东台地区由于模板事件相对较少,扫描定位后,地震事件在陈家堡-小海断裂带附近零星分布。研究结果为研究盐城地区的地震活动性、发震断层的深部构造提供了基础数据支撑。     

Seismic activities before and after the impoundment of the Xiangjiaba and Xiluodu reservoirs in the lower Jinsha River

The lower Jinsha River basin is located at the junction of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces in Southwest China, a region with intense tectonic movements and frequent moderate to strong seismic activities. Cascade hydropower stations have been constructed along the lower Jinsha River since 2012. However, research on the effect of the impoundment of large-scale cascade reservoirs in a river basin on local seismic activities is currently lacking. Accurately identifying earthquake locations is essential for studying reservoir-induced earthquakes. Analyzing the spatiotemporal migration process of seismic activities based on complete and precise earthquake relocation is fundamental for determining the fluid diffusion coefficient, constructing fault models for reservoir areas, identifying earthquake types, exploring earthquake mechanisms, and evaluating seismic hazards. The seismicity pattern in the Xiangjiaba and Xiluodu reservoir areas, where seismic activities had been weak for a long time, has changed with the successive impoundment of the two reservoirs, showing microseismic events and seismic clusters. We investigated the spatiotemporal characteristics of seismic activities in the Xiangjiaba and Xiluodu reservoir areas using the waveform cross-correlation-based double-difference relocation technique and the b-value analysis method. We discovered that seismic events after the impoundment of these two reservoirs exhibited different characteristics in different regions. The seismic activities at the Xiluodu dam quickly responded to the rising water level, with the seismic intensity decaying rapidly afterward. These events were concentrated in the limestone strata along both sides of the Jinsha River, with a shallow focal depth, generally within 5 km, and a high b-value of approximately 1.2. Such features are close to those of karst-type earthquakes. Microseismic activities frequent occur on the eastern bank of the Yongshan reservoir section downstream of the Xiluodu dam, with two parallel NW-trending earthquake strips visible after precise earthquake relocation. The M_S5.2 earthquake near Wuji town on August 17, 2014, had prominent foreshocks and aftershocks distributed in a clear NW-trending 20-km-long strip, perpendicular to the riverbank. These seismic events had a low b-value of approximately 0.7. The orientation of the node plane revealed by the strike-slip focal mechanism of the mainshock is consistent with that of the strip formed by the foreshock-mainshock-aftershock sequence, indicating the existence of a NW-striking concealed fault. Seismic activities near the Yanjin-Mabian fault upstream of the Xiangjiaba reservoir area since 2013 were concentrated in a NW-trending strip, with several near EW-trending seismic clusters on its western side, and with the largest event having a magnitude of M_L3.7. So far, the impoundment of the Xiangjiaba and Xiluodu reservoirs has not triggered seismic activities on the large Jinyang-Ebian and Yanjin-Mabian faults nearby.     

A summary of seismic activities in and around China in 2021

In this article, we review the general characteristics of seismicity in and around China and the overall statistics of earthquake damage in 2021, focusing on several significant events and related scientific topics. Among them, the largest event is the M_S 7.4 Madoi earthquake in Qinghai Province, northwest China. The event marks another M_S ?≥ ?7 earthquake occurring near the boundary of the Bayan Har Block that has ended a remarkable quiescence of the M_S ?≥ ?7 earthquakes within the Chinese mainland. In addition, the M_S 6.4 Yangbi earthquake in Yunnan Province, southwest China draws the most attention because of its abundant foreshocks, which are well recorded by the densely distributed seismic stations in the surrounding regions. Regarding this event, we review several recent publications focusing on the Gutenberg-Richter b-value change and the physical mechanism of foreshocks associated with this sequence. The M_S 6.0 Luxian earthquake in Sichuan Province, southwest China has caused serious damage with a relatively low magnitude, partly because the focal depth of the mainshock is relatively shallow (3.5 ?km). It is another strong earthquake occurring within the southeast Sichuan basin with low historical seismicity yet has increased significantly since 2015, probably due to shale gas development and associated hydraulic fracturing.     

Study of theQ-value in and around Minle Basin

The digital seimograph network set up by China and France in Zhangye of China had been operated in 1988. The Zhangye network is situated in the middle segment of Hexi corridor and Qilina mountain, which was regarded as a monitoring earthquake area. Using the records of Zhangye digital network theQ-values in and around Minle basin have been measured. The results of this study showed that theQp-values range from 500 to 780, andQs-values range from 230 to 460. TheQ-values of inside of Minle basin are higher than that around the basin. The greater parts of moderate and strong earthquakes occurred along tectonic belts around the Minle basin. Moreover, TheQ-values increased with the depth of penctration of wave ray. The attenuation of S wave is stronger than P wave in shallow layer of crust. Some problems ofQ-value change versus time before and after Sunan eathquake (M _s=5.7) have been also disscussed. These results can be applied to study and to monitor seismic danger of the Minle monitoring area.     

The b-value and fractal dimension of local seismicity around Koyna Dam (India)

Earthquakes began to occur in Koyna region (India) soon after the filling of Koyna Dam in 1962. In the present study, three datasets 1964–1993, 1993–1995, and 1996–1997 are analyzed to study the b-value and fractal dimension. The b-value is calculated using the Gutenberg–Richter relationship and fractal dimension D _corr. using correlation integral method. The estimated b-value and D _corr. of this region before 1993 are found to be in good agreement with previously reported studies. In the subsequent years after 1995, the b-value shows an increase. The estimated b-values of this region are found within the limits of global average. Also, the pattern of spatial clustering of earthquakes show increase in clustering and migration along the three zones called North-East Zone, South-East Zone (SEZ), and Warna Seismic Zone. The earthquake events having depth ≤5 km are largely confined to SEZ. After 1993, the D _corr. shows decrease, implying that earthquake activity gets clustered. This seismic clustering could be helpful for earthquake forecasting.     

Earthquake activity in the Aswan region,Egypt

The November 14, 1981 Aswan earthquake (M _L= 5.7), which was related to the impoundment of Lake Aswan, was followed by an extended sequence of earthquakes, and is investigated in this study. Earthquake data from June 1982 to late 1991, collected from the Aswan network, are classified into two sets on the basis of focal depth (i.e., shallow, or deeper than 10 km). It is determined that (a) shallow seismicity is characterized by swarm activity, whereas deep seismicity is characterized by a foreshock-main shock-aftershock sequence; (b) the b value is equal to 0.77 and 0.99 for the shallow and deep sequences, respectively; and (c) observations clearly indicate that the temporal variations of shallow seismic activity were associated with a high rate of water-level fluctuation in Lake Aswan; a correlation with the deeper earthquake sequence, however, is not evident. These features, as well as the tomographic characteristics of the Aswan region (Awad andMizoue, this issue), imply that the Aswan seismic activity must be regarded as consisting of two distinct earthquake groups.We also relocated the largest 500 earthquakes to determine their seismotectonic characteristics. The results reveal that the epicenters are well distributed along four fault segments, which constitute a conjugate pattern in the region. Moreover, fault-plane solutions are determined for several earthquakes selected from each segment, which, along with the 14 November 1981 main shock, demonstrate a prominent E-W compressional stress.     

Analysis of deep focal mechanisms and revealing of possible large earthquake zones in the Kuril-Okhotsk region

The relationship between shallow and deep seismicity is investigated. The 2006 and 2007 large earthquakes of M = 8.3 and 8.1, which occurred off the southeast coast of Simushir, Kuril Islands, have been preceded by noticeable deep seismicity in the subducting slab. The methods and algorithms of focal mechanism analysis are developed for revealing possible large earthquake zones in the Kuril-Okhotsk region. Deep-focus earthquakes occurring in distant regions of the subducting slab with significant probability have triggered the large shallow earthquakes along the deep sea trench.     

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.     

A parametric representation of Kamchatka seismicity over time

This paper presents a set of seismicity parameters that are estimated at the Kamchatka Branch of the Geophysical Service, Russian Academy of Sciences based on the regional catalog data with the purpose of routine monitoring of the current seismic situation in the region. The focus is on the identification of changes in the seismic regime (seismic quiescences and seismicity increases) in earth volumes adjacent to the maturing rupture zone of a large earthquake. The techniques we use include estimation of the seismicity level for the region using the SOUS’09 scale; calculation of the variations in the slope of the recurrence relation, identification of statistically significant anomalies in the slope using the Z test, and calculation of the seismic activity A ₁₀; monitoring the RTL parameter and variations in the area of seismogenic ruptures; using the Z test to detect areas of statistically significant decreases in the rate of seismicity; and identification of earthquake clusters. We furnish examples of such anomalies in these seismicity parameters prior to large earthquakes in Kamchatka.     

Seismicity and strain accumulation around Karliova Triple Junction (Turkey)

GPS studies in Turkey date back to the early 1990s, but were mostly focused on the seismically active North Anatolian Fault System (NAFS), or on the more populated Western Anatolia. Relatively few studies were made of the seismically less-active East Anatolian Fault System (EAFS), although it has the potential to produce large earthquakes. In this study, we present the results of a combination of geodetic and seismological data around the Karliova Triple Junction (KTJ), which lies at the intersection of the North- and East Anatolian Fault Systems. In particular, the geodetic slip rates obtained through block modeling of GPS velocities were compared with b-values to assess seismicity in the region. Yedisu segment, one of the best-known seismic gaps in Turkey, was specifically analyzed. The relatively low b-values across Yedisu segment verify the accumulation of seismic energy in this segment, and the GPS-derived geodetic slip rates suggest that it has the potential to produce an earthquake of Mw 7.5 across an 80-km rupture zone.Additionally, analysis of earthquake data reveals that the study area has a ductile or rigid–ductile behavior with respect to its surroundings, characterized by varying b-values. Although, seismic events of moderate- to high magnitudes are confined along the major fault zones, there are also low-seismicity zones along the eastern part of the Bitlis Suture Zone and around Yedisu. Since the high seismicity areas within the region may not accumulate sufficient stress for a large earthquake to occur, it is considered that the deformation in such areas occurs in a ductile manner. On the other hand, the areas characterized by low b-values may have the capacity of stress accumulation, which could lead to brittle deformation.     

Large Earthquake Hazard of the San Jacinto Fault Zone,CA, from Long Record of Simulated Seismicity Assimilating the Available Instrumental and Paleoseismic Data

We investigate spatio-temporal properties of earthquake patterns in the San Jacinto fault zone (SJFZ), California, between Cajon Pass and the Superstition Hill Fault, using a long record of simulated seismicity constrained by available seismological and geological data. The model provides an effective realization of a large segmented strike-slip fault zone in a 3D elastic half-space, with heterogeneous distribution of static friction chosen to represent several clear step-overs at the surface. The simulated synthetic catalog reproduces well the basic statistical features of the instrumental seismicity recorded at the SJFZ area since 1981. The model also produces events larger than those included in the short instrumental record, consistent with paleo-earthquakes documented at sites along the SJFZ for the last 1,400 years. The general agreement between the synthetic and observed data allows us to address with the long-simulated seismicity questions related to large earthquakes and expected seismic hazard. The interaction between m ≥ 7 events on different sections of the SJFZ is found to be close to random. The hazard associated with m ≥ 7 events on the SJFZ increases significantly if the long record of simulated seismicity is taken into account. The model simulations indicate that the recent increased number of observed intermediate SJFZ earthquakes is a robust statistical feature heralding the occurrence of m ≥ 7 earthquakes. The hypocenters of the m ≥ 5 events in the simulation results move progressively towards the hypocenter of the upcoming m ≥ 7 earthquake.     

基于蒙特卡洛方法的地震目录模拟及相符性检验——以汾渭地震带为例

人工地震目录模拟是改进现有地震目录不完备性、弥补大地震记录稀缺,以及完善地震学相关研究的有效途径之一。本文基于地震活动的泊松分布模型、古登堡-里克特震级-频度关系,利用能较逼真描述具有随机性质事物特点及物理实验过程的蒙特卡洛方法,模拟汾渭地震带未来30、50、100年等不同时长的地震目录,并对其进行统计检验。分析表明,模拟地震目录符合设定的地震活动性参数和泊松分布假设特征。依据模拟地震目录,对未来该区域地震趋势进行了分析,以期为地震危险性分析提供参考。     

2014年鲁甸MS6.5地震前后地震活动性

2014年 8月3日在云南省鲁甸县发生M_S6.5地震,造成了巨大的人员伤亡和财产损失.关于鲁甸地震的起因,特别是鲁甸地震与溪洛渡水库之间的关系存在一些争议.分析中强地震前后地震活动性的变化可以为判断主震起源提供一定的依据.然而,由于鲁甸地震震中附近固定台站数目少、台站距离震中远及主震后尾波干扰等因素的影响,会造成地震目录的缺失,从而可能影响地震活动性的可靠分析.为了获得更加完备的地震目录,本文采用模板匹配方法对鲁甸地震前后小地震进行了搜索和识别.以台网目录中的541个事件作为模板,在主震之前33天到主震后5天的连续波形中识别出991个未在目录中列出的地震,使余震的完备震级从1.8降低到1.3.根据检测目录得到主震前33天内的b值为1.04±0.18,余震的b值在震后5天内由0.5左右逐渐上升至0.9附近并保持稳定;根据2009年到主震发生前的台网目录得到该区域的背景b值为0.93±0.04.即鲁甸地震前后区域地震活动b值均与背景b值接近,这与典型水库诱发的中强震具有的b值特征不相符.同时通过进一步分析台网目录,未发现溪洛渡水库蓄水前后研究区域内的地震活动性存在明显变化,这也与典型水库诱发地震区域的地震活动性特征不相符.综合以上结果,我们认为2014年鲁甸M_S6.5地震不具有典型水库诱发地震的特征.     

Patterns of seismic swarm activity in the Corinth Rift in 2000–2005

Based on the data of the detailed earthquake catalog provided on the website of the Corinth Rift Laboratory, zones of swarm activity are revealed and the variations in the statistical parameters of seismic swarms that occurred in the western part of the Gulf of Corinth are calculated. The preliminary analysis of the catalogue is carried out; the magnitude of completeness and the accuracy of the location of the earth-quake are estimated; the changes in these parameters associated with the development of the observational network are assessed. The b-value (b-values) and the cluster dimension of the set of hypocenters are estimated, and time variations in these parameters in the course of the evolution of swarm activity are revealed. The style of changes in the parameters characterizing the seismic regime during intervals of swarm activity indicates that the process of failure exhibits scale redistribution over the course of time, changing from upscaling (progression from smaller to larger scales) at the stage of increasing seismicity to downscaling (progression from larger to lower scales) at the stage of decay. These particular features of enhancement and reduction of swarm seismicity are qualitatively similar to the scenarios of source preparation and aftershock relaxation of strong earthquakes. The pattern of variations of the swarm seismicity studied is similar to those identified in the previous laboratory and field modeling of various transient modes of seismicity. This fact confirms the relevancy of the retrieved results and conclusions based on the laboratory studies of transient modes, and suggests that the latter have a universal governing mechanism.