Field of tectonic stresses from focal mechanisms of earthquakes and recent crustal movements from GPS measurements in China

Orientations of the principal axes of the tectonic stress field reconstructed from seismological data on focal mechanisms of earthquakes and strain fields determined from GPS measurements in China are compared. The data of GPS measurements used in the paper were obtained by the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (about 1000 stations) in the period of 1998–2004. On the basis of information on the recent horizontal crustal motions, the strain field is calculated for the study territory by the finite element method. Calculations of the strain tensor using GPS data were carried out with a step of 1° in latitude and longitude. A catalog of earthquake focal mechanisms was used for the reconstruction of tectonic stress field components. Focal mechanisms of earthquakes were calculated with the use of seismological data on signs of first arrivals from the bulletin of the International Seismological Center. To estimate characteristics of the regional stress field, an approach based on the kinematic method proposed by O.I. Gushchenko was applied. The tectonic stress field was reconstructed in depth intervals of 0 < H < 35 km and 35 km < H < 70 km from data on focal mechanisms of earthquakes over the periods of 1998–2004 and 1985–2004. Comparison of directions of the principal strain axes at the surface (according to GPS measurements) and directions of the principal stress axes (reconstructed from focal mechanisms of earthquakes) showed their good convergence. Seismotectonic strains and GPS measurements coincide within a larger part of the territory. The coincidence is best in a depth interval of 0 < H < 35 km. Maximum misfit values are confined to areas of high 3-D gradients of strain axis directions and are possibly related to the structural heterogeneity of the region, zones with strains of the same type along both horizontal axes (compression or extension along all directions), or areas of small absolute values of recent horizontal movements. Areas with invariable directions of the stress axes are recognizable regardless of the depth of initial data. Good reproducibility of results obtained by two different methods made it possible to check the method of stress field reconstruction using data on focal mechanisms of earthquakes.     

Stress studies in the Central Alborz by inversion of earthquake focal mechanism data

The Alborz is one of the most important seismotectonic provinces in Iran. Furthermore, emplacement of Tehran as a mega city in southern part of the Alborz intensifies the seismic vulnerability in this area. In this study, the focal mechanism data from teleseismic and local seismic networks are used for stress tensor inversion. The earthquake focal mechanisms in the Central Alborz are divided into several groups with respect to their location. Two different stress tensor inversions, linear and nonlinear, are used for obtaining the principal stress orientations. The results show spatial variations in tectonic stress field, consistent with fault orientations and faulting mechanisms. The maximum compressional stress directions obtained in this study are confirmed by fast S-wave polarization axes reported by a previous shear wave splitting study. The maximum horizontal stress directions are also compared with GPS strain rates. The results indicate a partitioning of deformation in the area due to regional stresses along preexisting faults.     

On Stress Distribution in Layered Rock Masses

Spatial distribution of principal stresses in a layered elastic medium is considered in the paper. Transformations of the principal stresses across an interface between the layers are analyzed. A method for reconstructing the spatial stress distributions in layered medium from several spot measurements is proposed. The introduced approach is capable of obtaining the stable solution of the stress reconstruction problem with respect to the noise in input data. A typical layered medium is considered for which the stresses are reconstructed from few independent spot measurements of the stress state. The proposed approach may be used for solving an inverse problem of tectonic stresses reconstruction from the borehole logging data.     

中国西部及邻区活动地块边界带现代构造应力场

利用哈佛全球矩心矩张量解数据和许忠淮认为1920mdash;1999年可靠的中国大陆震源机制解数据, 反演了中国西部及邻区活动地块边界带上现代构造应力场．通过对FMSI反演程序多次的输入和检验, 得到了边界带上的应力场．边界带上最大主压应力sigma;1轴绝大多数近水平. 在90deg;E以西的中国西部大陆及邻区, sigma;1轴水平方向基本上为近SN向;在青藏高原的东北部, sigma;1轴水平方向基本上为近NE向;在青藏高原的东南部, sigma;1轴水平方向绕喜马拉雅构造东端顺时针方向旋转．最小主压应力sigma;3轴倾角呈两极分布,西域地块区内活动地块边界带和青藏地块区内东北缘部分段sigma;3轴倾角较陡, 而青藏地块区内sigma;3轴倾角近水平, 所以西域地块区和青藏地块区内东北部相对于其它大部分青藏地块区, 有更多的逆冲地震．应力场在同一个边界带具有非均匀性. 北天山带、南天山带、西秦岭mdash;德令哈带、岷山mdash;龙门山带和安宁河mdash;小江带的非均匀性相对要小一些, 西昆仑带、海原mdash;祁连带、东昆仑带、玛尼mdash;玉树带、澜沧江带和滇西西边界带的非均匀性相对要大, 而喀喇昆仑mdash;嘉黎带和喜马拉雅带的非均匀性最显著．由于震源机制解数据的限制, 本文给出的是边界带上部分段的应力场．      

Preliminary analysis on the tectonic stress level in the source region of Tangshan earthquake

Introduction Analyzing tectonic stress field based on focal mechanism data is an important way to the study tectonic evolvement of lithosphere and associated dynamic process. Such studies growrapidly in China and abroad (Zoback, 1992; Plenefisch, Bonjer, 1997; XU, 1985; CUI, XIE, 1999). At present most of the studies focus on the inversion of focal mechanism data for the direction and relative magnitude of stress tensor, and few on absolute stress. Using focal mechanism and fault scratch,…     

Characteristics of present-day active strain field of Chinese mainland

On the basis of the GPS data obtained from repeated measurements carried out in 2004 and 2007,the horizontal principal strain of the Chinese mainland is calculated,which shows that the direction of principal compressive strain axis of each subplate is basically consistent with the P-axis of focal mechanism solution and the principal compressive stress axis acquired by geological method.It indicates that the crustal tectonic stress field is relatively stable in regions in a long time.The principal compressive stress axes of Qinghai-Tibet and Xinjiang subplates in the western part of Chinese mainland direct to NS and NNE-SSW,which are controlled by the force from the col-lision of the Eurasia Plate and India Plate.The principal compressive strain axes of Heilongjiang and North China subplates in the eastern part direct to ENE-WSW,which shows that they are subject to the force from the collision and underthrust of the Eurasia Plate to the North America and Pacific plates.At the same time,they are also af-fected by the lateral force from Qinghai-Tibet and Xinjiang subplates.The principal compressive strain axis of South China plate is WNW-ESE,which reflects that it is affected by the force from the collision of Philippine Sea Plate and Eurasia Plate and it is also subject to the lateral force from Qinghai-Tibet subplate.It is apparent from the comparison between the principal compressive strain axes in the periods of 2004～2007 and 2001～2004 that the acting directions of principal compressive stress of subplates in both periods are basically consistent.However,there is certain difference between their directional concentrations of principal compressive stress axes.The sur-face strain rates of different tectonic units in both periods indicate that the events predominating by compressive variation decrease,while the events predominating by tensile change increase.     

应用地震学方法研究中国大陆活动地块应力应变场

在中国大陆活动地块假说及活动边界研究的基础上，将中国大陆按照地震活动特征进行分区. 利用大地震的震源机制资料和历史强震资料，结合小震综合节面解，研究了各地震区的应力应变状态，给出了各地震区的平均应力主轴方向和平均应变率. 应用地震应变能积累释放模型研究了各地震区的地震活动水平. 结果表明最大剪切应变率与地震活动水平存在线性关系. 将地震资料给出的中国大陆地壳应力应变场与GPS测量给出的结果进行了比较，初步说明了两种结果存在着统一性，从而显示出活动地块运动变形与强震活动的内在联系.     

First estimates of the principal directions of strains compared to those of stresses in seismic friuli,NE Italy

Three Cambridge wire strainmeters and a pair of horizontal-pendulum tiltmeters operate since 1978, in a cave in the northern Friuli seismic area. Straightforward considerations, based on the principles of continuum mechanics, permit a first estimate of the secular and seasonal variations of the cave strain rate tensor, under the assumption of homogeneous, constant-volume strain, together with an analysis of the effects on the tensor components of particular tiltmeter installation sites with respect to the orientation of both the strainmeters plane and the principal axes.The area lies at the complex intersection of NW-SE Dinaric rock structures and E-W Alpine ones. The latest period of strong seismic activity there started in mid-1976. The fault-plane solutions of the main shock revealed a direction of maximum compression perpendicular to the Alpine trend, but later in 1976 and 1977 such a direction seemed to have changed, having become perpendicular to the Dinaric trend.A plain analysis of the strain gauge data show that, from 1978 to 1981, the maximum shortening secular strain changed progressively from a SW bearing to a SSE one or even SE one. Hence, it would appear that by 1981 the direction of maximum compression had become Alpine again.In the same time interval, the principal axes of the five observed yearly seasonal strain rates maintained a Dinaric orientation similar to that of the geological structures around the cave.Finally the orientations of the secular strain acceleration principal axes appear to be nearly coaxial with those of the stress obtained from various 1977 fault-plane solutions, the compressional stress corresponding to extensional accelerations andvice-versa. Such observation suggests that the modifications of secular strain rates are related to the stress release connected with the seismic activity.     

Crustal Stress Map of Iran: Insight From Seismic and Geodetic Computations

We used the focal mechanisms of crustal earthquakes (depth <40 km) in the period 1909–2012 and the available GPS velocities, derived from the data collected between 1999 to 2011, to estimate the magnitude and directions of maximum principal stress and strain rates in Iran. The Pearson product moment correlation was used to find the correlation between the stress field obtained from the focal mechanism stress inversion and that obtained using the seismic and geodetic strain rates. Our assumption is that stresses in a continuum are produced by tectonic forces and the consequent deformation on the crustal scale. Therefore, the direction of the stress and strain (or strain rate) are ideally to be the same. Our results show a strong correlation between the directions of the principal components of stress and strain (rate) obtained using the different data/methods. Using weighted average analysis, we present a new stress map for Iran.     

Selective Manifestation of Sesmogenic Stress Field within the Mediterranean Belt (Based on Earthquake Focal Mechanism Solutions)

Separate domains of the Mediterranean belt (Zagros, Vrancea, and the Crimea-Caucasus-Black-Sea region) are discussed to argue for a diversity of earthquake-generation mechanisms as an impact of very variable systems of tectonic stresses, which are at the same time characterized by selectiveness in the orientations of the principal axis. We give stereographic models of earthquake-generation mechanisms, as well as the results from parameterization and structural kinematic identification of elements in the internal structure of seismogenic regions. We have identified a discrete character of earthquake-generating stress fields both with respect to the cardinal points (to the Earth’s axis of rotation) and with respect to the ground (horizontal) surface. We show that the diversity of seismogenic settings results from the transformations of stress fields that occur both at the regional and at local levels in the zones affected by the impact of major seismogenic structures in the study regions.     

利用GPS和震源机制解研究青藏块体东北部构造应力场方向变化特征

利用1970年以来至今青藏块体东北部大量的震源机制解,分时间统计其主压应力方位并求其归一化分布。根据P轴的优势分布方位,推测其主压应力方向。同时,借助有限元方法,利用GPS大地水平形变观测资料,把1999年以来青藏块体东北部大量的GPS资料经过解算,计算其最大主应变率场及最大剪切应变率场。将震源机制解P轴的主压应力方向和GPS计算的最大主应力方向进行对比,分析青藏块体东北部构造应力场随时空的变化特点及时空差异性,探讨震源机制解P轴的优势分布方位、GPS资料的最大主应力方向与地震孕育之间的关系。     

岩石磁组构可以揭示应变吗？——以华南地块早三叠世灰岩为例

一般认为磁组构能有效地反映岩石所经历的应变特征.为了研究不同类型的磁组构和不同期次应变之间的关系,对来自华南地块两个地区的早三叠世灰岩样品进行了岩石磁学、磁组构以及应变特征的对比分析.来自湖北通山县的样品经历了三期构造变形,这为解析磁组构和多期次应变提供了理想的机会.岩石磁学结果显示携磁矿物主要为磁铁矿.磁化率各向异性（AMS）和非磁滞剩磁各向异性（AAR）结果显示其最小轴与层面垂直,最大轴和中间轴分布于层面内,反映了沉积和压实作用产生的应变,而后期构造应变在磁组构中没有体现.来自广东连县的样品发育有渗透性压溶缝面理和方解石脉,说明经历了构造应变.AMS结果没有显示占优势的组构方向.AAR结果显示三轴组构,其最大轴分布于最大应力方位,与构造应变特征吻合,最初的压实组构被构造应变组构所代替.上述结果表明：（1）AAR可以很好地反映渗透性应变的特征,而AMS有时会失效;（2）应变的尺度要小于样品的尺度,磁组构才能有效地反映应变.     

板块边界构造应力场的反演及其对华北地震的影响研究

利用全球震源机制解资料,采用力轴张量计算法,反演中国大陆附近板块边界线上的构造应力场空间分布,其最大主压应力轴的方位角与GPS研究得到的板块运动方向一致,太平洋板块西边界和菲律宾板块琉球岛弧段的最大主压应力轴的倾角与板块俯冲倾角基本相当,因此认为该方法反演的构造应力场真实可靠。1999年、2005年和2011年太平洋板块日本本州段的最大主压应力轴方位角存在转折现象,震例总结显示该转折现象往往对应华北地区5级以上,甚至6级左右地震,但2011年的转折变化对应华北地震的震级在5级左右。根据对太平洋板块西边界的分段研究,认为2011年的转折变化主要是由42°~50°N段的构造应力场转折引起的,而该段从地理位置结合俯冲方向来看,影响的主要地区是东北地区,而对华北的影响相对较小,因此导致对应地震的震级偏低。1992—2000年菲律宾板块琉球岛弧段的最大主压应力轴方位角存在大幅度、长时间的逆时针偏转现象,分析认为是造成同期华北南部地区发生多次具有典型华南应力场特征地震的原因。     

震源应力场与构造应力场

每个地震按照双力偶模型所得到的震源应力场,有的反映构造应力场,有的反映转换应力场。凡是在已存在的活动断裂上由粘滑发震的震源机制解而得出的P、B和T轴与构造应力场的最大、中等、最小的压力主轴是对应的,只是略有偏离。分析了岩块相对滑动产生的转换应力场,证明由转换应力场所产生的脆性剪切破裂而发震的震源机制解得出的P、B、T轴则与构造应力场三个主轴方向可以完全不符。通过对具体震例分析表明,当考虑了转换应力场之后可对几个地震区的应力场得到统一的解释。因此,在一个地区根据震源机制解来恢复构造应力场时必须先判明:是构造应力的直接作用下的粘滑或剪切破裂,还是转换应力场所形成的、共轭剪切破裂,前者可直接恢复构造应力场,后者则应经过转换寸能恢复构造应力场。     

Source mechanism of small-moderate earth- quakes and tectonic stress field in Yunnan Province

IntroductionYunnanProvinceislocatedinthesouthofNorth-SouthseismiczoneinChina.ItisoneofthehighseismicactiveregionsinChinesemainland.Morethanonehundredstrongearthquakeswithmagnitude6ormoreoccurredinthisregioninhistory.AsanimportantsoutheasternmarginofTibetanPlateau,YunnanregionisahotspotinstudyonthedynamicsofTibetanPlateau.Theactionsofcompressivestressinnorth-southorientationandgravitationalpotentialcausedlateralextrusionofmaterialintheplateauwiththeupliftingofTibetanPlateau.Severalblocksa…     

利用多个震源机制解求东大别地区平均应力场

利用地震的震源机制解资料,得到应力张量在地理坐标系下的表达式,进而可计算平均应力张量.通过求平均应力张量的本征向量,即可得到其主轴方向,并由此推断区域应力场方向.利用东大别地区219次地震的震源机制解资料,比较了不同相似程度和不同起算震级资料得到的主轴方向,认为该方法计算结果非常稳定,主轴方位角的误差小于5°,倾角的误...     

A present-day tectonic stress map for eastern Asia region

Introduction Tectonically the eastern Asia refers to the region bounded by the following three active tec-tonic zones: in the east the western Pacific subduction zone, including Japan trench, Ryukyu trench and Philippine trench; in the southwest the Himalaya continental collision zone and the Burma-arc-Java-trench subduction zone; in the northwest the Tianshan-Baikal continental defor-mation zone (Figure 6). In the world the eastern Asia is one of the regions with the strongest pre-sent-da…     

柴达木-祁连山地块内部震间上地壳块体运动特征与变形模式研究

以青藏高原北缘及东北缘的柴达木-祁连山地块内的活动断裂、由断裂所围限的微小块体为研究对象,系统收集整理区内活动断裂定量参数和GPS速度场等资料,使用球面应变率计算方法分析研究区内GPS 速度场得到现今构造应变率场,讨论区内最大剪应变率、面膨胀率与旋转率等参数与区域构造变形之间的关系;同时,依据区内详实的活动断裂资料建立精细的微小活动块体模型,利用Backslip模型反演断裂所围限的各个块体边界断裂的滑动速率、块体内部统一应变率及块体欧拉运动学参数等,并与活动构造方法获得的滑动速率做对比;最后,讨论研究区内由GPS速度场所揭示的地壳运动变形模式.结果表明:(1)柴达木-祁连山地区地壳运动,在沿着山脉走向上具有带状区域分块运动特征,大范围内具有弥散变形特征;(2)青藏高原北部变形场应是通过不同断裂差异性相对运动、区域内部逆冲挤压和块体旋转共同作用的结果.从鄂拉山到古浪民勤一带具有强烈的逆冲活动,其两侧地壳块体分别具有逆向旋转的运动性质;(3)在研究区东部GPS速度场所呈现顺时针旋转的形态,应是处于不同地块边界处的中下地壳与地幔介质差异驱动机制对上地壳块体所产生的作用,并以近地表断层应变率积累形式表现的结果,是祁连山地块、阿拉善块体、鄂尔多斯地块等大型块体推挤旋转影响下的复杂运动学形态.     

Analysis of the b-value and Seismic Deformation in the North of China

The accuracy of b-value is limited by the uncertainty of the magnitude.In order to improvethe accuracy of the b-value,a statistic methodology was used to estimate the number of eventsbased on that there are several magnitude values for one historical event by several methods toestimate the magnitude.The b-value and seismic strain rates were calculated for the threeregions in the North of China.The method proved to be valid for all the regions,especiallyfor the data with large fluctuation.In order to study the stress state,the strain rate tensorand the principal axes of tension and compression were calculated for each of three regions bythe data of the focal mechanism,finally the stress state in each region was discussed.     

Northeast-southwest compressive stress in Alberta evidence from oil wells

The introduction of the four-arm dipmeter well-logging tool has permitted hole asymmetry to be recognised and hole ellipticity to be measured and oriented. Many wells in Alberta, western Canada, have been shown to exhibit depth ranges over which they are non-circular as a result of caving of their walls. These break-outs occur so as to elongate the holes in a northwest-southeast direction. This direction of elongation is consistent between the break-outs in a given well, and between wells distributed over an area of more than 3 × 10⁵ km². Asymmetric hole elongation occurs in siltstones, sandstones, limestones, dolomites and one shale formation, and through the stratigraphic column from Devonian to Cretaceous. It is unrelated to dip of the strata. The hypothesis is advanced that the break-outs are caused by concentration of stress at the walls of the wells, in a stress field with large, unequal horizontal principal stresses, the larger oriented NE-SW. It is shown that a normal stress field (with the largest principal stress, σ₁, vertical) is unlikely to produce large enough horizontal stresses to produce the break-outs. Consequently our hypothesis requires σ₁ to be horizontal and oriented NE-SW. The vertical principal stress could be either σ₂ (strike-slip stress field) or σ₃ (thrust stress field). The orientation of σ₁ at right angles to the Rocky Mountains fold axes suggests the possibility that the stress field responsible for the thrust faulting in the mountains is still present. A strike-slip stress field is also possible. The most prominent system of surface joints outcropping in Alberta, shown by Babcock to have sets oriented NE-SW and NW-SE, could have been formed in the proposed stress field. Direct measurements of the stress tensor at two or three points, if they verified this interpretation, would combine with the oil well break-outs to demonstrate a remarkably uniform stress field over a substantial part of the North American plate. The stresses in the Alberta crust here proposed may be related to tractions now acting on the edges and underside of the North American plate, including those producing postglacial uplift of Hudson's Bay; or may be residual stresses from past tectonic events such as the Laramide compression of the Rocky Mountains.