Spatio-temporal variation and focal mechanism of the Wenchuan M_S8.0 earthquake sequence

Based on abundant aftershock sequence data of the Wenchuan MS8.0 earthquake on May 12, 2008, we studied the spatio-temporal variation process and segmentation rupture characteristic.Dense aftershocks distribute along Longmenshan central fault zone of NE direction and form a narrow strip with the length of 325 km and the depth between several and 40 km.The depth profile(section of NW direction) vertical to the strike of aftershock zone(NE direction) shows anisomer-ous wedgy distribution characteristic of aft...     

Ground motion attenuation of MS8.0 Wenchuan earthquake

The great M_S8.0 Wenchuan earthquake has been the most destructive earthquake since 1949 in China. The earthquake occurred no more than half a year after the establishment of the National Strong Motion Observation Network System (NSMONS) of China; what is more, the epicenter was located in the area with dense strong motion observation stations so that a large number of strong motion records of the main shock were obtained. In this paper, 501 strong motion records from 167 observation stations are utilized to establish the ground motion attenuation relations in three directions in the range of fault distance less than 600 km. The result shows the difference of seismic motion attenuation in two horizontal directions is insignificant. It is the first time that strong-motion records are used to establish the ground motion attenuation relations of the M_S8.0 earthquake in China.

     

The seismicity and tectonic stress field characteristics of the Longmenshan fault zone before the Wenchuan MS8.0 earthquake

The seismicity of Longmenshan fault zone and its vicinities before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan M_S8.0 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 some small earthquakes before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, the direction of principal compressive stress P-axis is WNW-ESE. The two hypocenter fault planes are NE-striking and NW-striking. The plane of NE direction is among N50°?70°E, the dip angles of fault planes are 60°?70° and it is very steep. The faultings of most earthquakes are dominantly characterized by dip-slip reverse and small part of faultings present strike-slip. The azimuths of principal compressive stress, the strikes of source fault planes and the dislocation types calculated from some small earthquakes before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake are in accordance with that of the main shock. The average stress field of micro-rupture along the Longmenshan fault zone before the great earthquake is also consistent with that calculated from main shock. Zipingpu dam is located in the east side 20 km from the initial rupture area of the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. The activity increment of small earthquakes in the Zipingpu dam is in the period of water discharging. The source parameter results of the small earthquakes which occurred near the initial rupture area of the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake indicate that the focal depths are 5 to 14 km and the source parameters are identical with that of earthquake.     

基于GRACE卫星和地表流动重力的汶川MS 8.0地震前重力时空变化

利用GRACE卫星重力场模型和地表流动重力观测资料,计算2008年汶川M_S 8.0地震发生前6年的重力变化,对卫星和流动重力段差结果与卫星重力反映的重力场动态变化特征进行研究,结果表明：①GRACE卫星重力段差受滤波半径影响显著,与地表流动重力观测结果相比,在重力变化数值上差异较大,在变化率上较为一致;②在汶川地震孕育阶段,川滇地区重力等值线呈“增大—减速增大—减小”的特征,震前2年形成近似垂直于龙门山断裂带的重力变化梯度带。     

Characteristics of seismic activity before the MS8.0 Wenchuan earthquake

The characteristics of spatio-temporal seismicity evolution before the Wenchuan earthquake are studied. The results mainly involve in the trend abnormal features and its relation to the Wenchuan earthquake. The western Chinese mainland and its adjacent area has been in the seismically active period since 2001, while the seismic activity shows the obvious quiescence of M≥?7.0, M≥?6.0 and M?≥5.0 earthquakes in Chinese mainland. A quiescence area with M?≥7.0 has been formed in the middle of the North-South seismic zone since 1988, and the Wenchuan earthquake occurred just within this area. There are a background seismicity gap of M?≥5.0 earthquakes and a seismogenic gap of M_L?≥4.0 earthquakes in the area of Longmenshan fault zone and its vicinity prior to the Wenchuan earthquake. The seismic activity obviously strengthened and a doughnut-shape pattern of M?≥4.6 earthquakes is formed in the middle and southern part of the North-South seismic zone after the 2003 Dayao, Yunnan, earthquake. Sichuan and its vicinity in the middle of the doughnut-shape pattern show abnormal quiescence. At the same time, the seismicity of earthquake swarms is significant and shows heterogeneity in the temporal and spatial process. A swarm gap appears in the M4.6 seismically quiet area, and the Wenchuan earthquake occurred just on the margin of the gap. In addition, in the short term before the Wenchuan earthquake, the quiescence of earthquake with M_L≥?4.0 appears in Qinghai-Tibet block and a seismic belt of M_L?≥3.0 earthquakes, with NW striking and oblique with Longmenshan fault zone, is formed.     

2020年云南巧家M_S 5.0地震震源机制解与发震断层归属

2020年5月18日云南巧家发生M_S 5.0地震,基于国家和区域数字地震台网14个宽频带台的波形资料,利用CAP方法进行反演,得到其震源机制:节面Ⅰ:走向175°,倾角70°,滑动角-18°;节面Ⅱ:走向271°,倾角73°,滑动角-159°;震源矩心深度约9 km。结合主震震中位置、余震序列空间分布、地震烈度等值线图及区域地质背景,讨论此次巧家MS 5.0地震的发震断层,初步判定,包谷垴—小河断裂的雁列状次级隐伏构造走向SSE,具高角度左旋走滑性质,可能为其发震断层。     

A new technique for moment tensor inversion with applications to the 2008 Wenchuan M S8.0 earthquake sequence

A MS8.0 earthquake occurred in Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province, China, on May 12, 2008, and subsequently, numerous aftershocks followed. We obtained the moment tensor solutions and source time functions (STFs) for the Wenchuan earthquake and its seven larger aftershocks (MS5.0~6.0) by a new technique of moment tensor inversion using the broadband and long-period seismic waveform data from the Global Seismic Network (GSN). Firstly, the theoretical background and technical flow of the new technique was briefly introduced, and an aftershock of the Wenchuan earthquake sequence was employed to illustrate the real procedure for inverting the moment tensor; secondly, the moment tensor solutions and STFs of the eight events, including the main shock, were presented, and finally, the interpretation of the results was made. The agreement of our results with the GCMT results indicates the new approach is efficient and feasible. By using this approach, not only the moment tensor solution can be obtained but also the STF can be retrieved; the inverted STFs indicate that the source rupture process may be com-plicated even for the moderate earthquakes. The inverted focal mechanisms of the Wenchuan earthquake sequence show that the most of the aftershocks occurred in the main faults of the Longmenshan fault zone with predomi-nantly thrustingwith minor right-lateral strike-slip component, but some of them may have occurred in the sub-faults with strike-slip faulting in the vicinity of the main faults.     

Short-term and imminent geomagnetic anomalies of the Wenchuan MS8.0 earthquake and exploration on earthquake forecast

The diurnal variation of the geomagnetic vertical component is exhibited mainly by changes of phase and amplitude before strong earthquakes. Based on data recorded by the network of geomagnetic observatories in China for many years, the anomalous features of the appearance time of the minima of diurnal variations (i.e, low-point time) of the geomagnetic vertical components and the variation of their spatial distribution (i.e, phenomena of low-point displacement) have been studied before the Wenchuan M_S8.0 earthquake. The strong aftershocks after two months' quiescence of M6 aftershocks of the M_S8.0 event were forecasted based on these studies. There are good correlativities between these geomagnetic anomalies and occurrences of earthquakes. It has been found that most earthquakes occur near the boundary line of sudden changes of the low-point time and generally within four days before or after the 27th or 41st day counting from the day of the appearance of the anomaly. In addition, the imminent anomalies in diurnal-variation amplitudes near the epicentral areas have also been studied before the Wenchuan earthquake.     

Fast assessment of earthquake loss and its application to the 2008 MS8.0 Wenchuan earthquake

The paper introduces firstly the seismic loss assessment method based on macro-economic indicators and new vulnerability models determined by the data from the on-site damage and loss survey to earthquakes occurred in China during the last two decades. The fast assessment for the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake with M_S8.0 is given based on an empirical intensity attenuation relationship. Compared with the assessment based on the practical seismic intensity map of the event according to the on-site investigation, the result demonstrates the usability of the seismic vulnerability models introduced in the paper. In addition, it is indicated that the main uncertainty of losses in the fast loss assessment comes from the uncertainty of the estimation of seismic ground motion.     

汶川MS8.0地震余震震源机制时空分布特征

本文利用CAP波形反演方法,获取了汶川M_S8.0地震序列中312个具有较高信噪比波形资料的4级以上余震的震源机制解和震源深度. 基于震源深度空间分布与震源机制时空分布,分析了主震后余震区断层行为特征与应力场时空变化,并对龙门山断裂带中北段的发震断层面几何形态进行了初步探讨. 获得的主要认识如下:(1)余震震源深度分布存在显著的空间分段差异. 绵竹以西的余震区南段与平武以东的北段余震深度范围大于中段(绵竹-平武段),但深度小于5 km的5级以上超浅源地震主要分布在明显偏离龙门山断裂带走向的理县NW向分支与余震区北端NNE向分支,而中段余震主要分布在7~19 km深度. (2)余震机制类型存在明显的时空差异. 余震区中段逆冲型地震占绝对优势,理县NW向分支余震则以走滑型为主,机制类型随时间变化不显著. 沿龙门山断裂带走向的余震区南段,早期(2008年8月底前)逆冲型地震比例高于走滑型、晚期走滑型地震比例显著升高并超过逆冲型;而余震区北段早期走滑型地震占绝对优势、晚期逆冲型地震比例大幅上升且超过走滑型. 南、北两段余震机制类型比例的显著变化,可能是余震区两端断层调整性运动的表现. (3)节面走向及P轴方位优势方向均存在显著的空间差异. 南段NWW向P轴方位与区域应力场一致,中段及理县NW向分支P轴优势方向NEE,而北段具NWW和NEE两个优势方向,这种差异反映了余震活动除了受区域应力场控制外,还受到主震引发的局部应力场的控制. 节面走向的多方位分布则反映不同走向的构造参与了主震后的余震活动. (4)沿龙门山断裂带走向,余震区南段具深部缓倾角、浅部高倾角的铲形断面特征;中段深部倾角均值较稳定、浅部倾角均值随深度减小而增大;北段倾角均值相对稳定,显示其断面几何形态相对简单. 上述不同区段倾角均值随深度的变化揭示龙门山断裂带中北段断层面几何形态复杂.     

2020年7月12日唐山古冶MS 5.1地震震源参数

利用河北及邻区地震台网提供的震相观测报告,使用双差定位方法,对2020年7月12日唐山古冶M_S 5.1地震序列进行重新定位,并基于部分地震台站记录的波形资料,采用近震全波形方法,反演得到主震震源机制解。精定位结果显示,此次地震序列展布长度约8 km,余震自主震位置向SW扩展,震源深度优势分布范围在10—18 km,发震断层面较陡,倾向SE。震源机制解显示,主震为一次走滑型事件,结合序列展布形态和地震活动背景,SW—NE向近似直立节面为可能发震断层面,与1976年唐山M_S 7.8主震断层特征基本一致。综上所述,古冶M_S 5.1地震为唐山M_S 7.8地震的又一次余震,属唐山老震区正常地震活动。     

汶川地震前地震活动特征的普遍性及其机理探讨

汶川地震前地震活动较为显著的异常是：1970—2008年汶川地震前,从云南北部至甘青川交界形成规模巨大的5.5级以上地震活动增强区（或称环形分布）;1970—1999年围绕龙门山断裂带形成5级以上地震背景空区,汶川地震发生在增强区内的背景地震空区里;2001—2007年形成M_L4.0以上地震孕震空区,震前1年孕震空区内部及其两端相继发生多次M_L 4.0~5.0地震,空区打破.上述地震活动增强区、背景空区和孕震空区是大地震前普遍出现的现象.为对比分析,本文系统研究了2001年以来我国大陆及邻区4次M_S≥7.8级地震和全球10次M_W≥8.0级地震前类似地震活动异常,并给出统计特征.结果显示：地震增强区规模为850~2700 km,持续时间13—38年,增强区长轴对数与主震震级呈正相关关系.增强区与余震区规模之比为2.3~7.7,其对数与主震震级呈负相关.背景空区长轴300~1100 km,持续时间10—32年,其长轴对数与主震震级呈正相关关系.孕震空区长轴为370~780 km,持续时间1—7年,孕震空区长轴对数与主震震级呈正相关关系.对于板内地震,构成增强区的最低震级为5.0级或5.5级,构成背景空区和孕震空区的最低震级分别为5.0级和4.0级.而对于板间地震,构成增强区和背景空区的最低震级为6.0级或6.5级,构成孕震空区的最低震级为5.0级或5.5级.基于坚固体地震孕育模型,认为地震活动增强区的环形分布是由于震源区的破裂强度高于周围介质造成的,地震孕育过程中体应变的范围和强度存在逐渐增大和变小的过程,这是地震活动增强区出现三阶段特征的原因.从包体弹性理论可以推导出增强区尺度的对数与主震震级、增强区与震源体比值的对数与主震震级存在线性关系.

     

基于汶川地震序列震源机制解对龙门山地区构造变形模式的初步探讨

本文采用理论震源机制解的分析方法,以汶川地震序列震源机制解为约束,探讨龙门山地区构造变形模式及其与汶川地震序列的关系.通过有限元模拟,计算了龙门山地区不同构造变形模式下的构造应力场,得到了理论震源机制解,并与汶川地震序列实际震源机制解进行对比分析,初步探讨了该区构造变形模式对汶川地震序列的影响.结果显示,在龙门山地区,青藏高原内深部构造变形快于地表的构造变形模式下,区域构造应力场对应的理论震源机制解与汶川地震序列震源机制解的相符程度较高.这种一致性可能表明:(1)青藏高原内部深部构造变形快于地表,是龙门山地区比较合理的构造模式;(2)构造应力场是影响汶川地震序列震源机制的重要力学因素.     

基于汶川地震序列震源机制解对龙门山地区构造变形模式的初步探讨

本文采用理论震源机制解的分析方法,以汶川地震序列震源机制解为约束,探讨龙门山地区构造变形模式及其与汶川地震序列的关系.通过有限元模拟,计算了龙门山地区不同构造变形模式下的构造应力场,得到了理论震源机制解,并与汶川地震序列实际震源机制解进行对比分析,初步探讨了该区构造变形模式对汶川地震序列的影响.结果显示,在龙门山地区,青藏高原内深部构造变形快于地表的构造变形模式下,区域构造应力场对应的理论震源机制解与汶川地震序列震源机制解的相符程度较高.这种一致性可能表明:(1)青藏高原内部深部构造变形快于地表,是龙门山地区比较合理的构造模式;(2)构造应力场是影响汶川地震序列震源机制的重要力学因素.     

汶川地震前的b值变化

Gutenberg-Richter定理给出了地震频度随震级的分布特征.大量研究表明频度-震级关系的斜率（b值）在大地震孕育的过程中会出现减小.为了考察b值在汶川地震孕育过程中的时间演化特征,本文尝试基于破裂断层选取研究区域,考察了2000年1月至2008年4月间,汶川地震（M_S8.0）破裂区的地震活动性,并对该区域b值的变化进行了探讨.结果表明,在2005年中至2006年底,地震月频度及季度频度有一个较明显的下降.b值从2002年始至地震前呈现出一个长期趋势性减小;在地震前约半年,出现快速、显著的下降.b值的这一时间变化特征与其他研究者报道的日本东北M_W9.0级地震前的b值变化特征具有很高相似性,可能反映了大地震准备过程中的应力变化.以上结果有益于认识和理解大地震孕育演化过程,同时也表明b值在中长期地震灾害评估中具有潜在价值.

     

"Double low-points" anomaly in daily variation of vertical component of geomagnetic field before the MS8.0 Wenchuan earthquake

The "double low-points" anomaly in daily variation of vertical geomagnetic component was observed on May 9, 2008 at 13 geomagnetic observatories belonging to the geomagnetic observatory network center of China Earthquake Administration. These observatories distribute roughly on three belts with the intersection in western Sichuan. On May 12, three days after the anomaly appearance, the great M_S8.0 Wenchuan earthquake occurred. The "double low-points" anomaly in daily variation of vertical geomagnetic component is an anomalous phenomenon of regional geomagnetism, which does exist objectively. The possible cause is the change of extrinsic eddy current system resulting in geomagnetic daily quiet variation (S_q), or the delay of several hours between the intrinsic and the extrinsic eddy current systems. The relationship between the "double low-points" anomaly of daily geomagnetic variation and the earthquake reveals that the former possibly reflects the accelerative alteration of earthquake gestation in the deep Earth.     

Relocation of the M 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake and its aftershock sequence

We relocated M8.0 Wenchuan earthquake and 2706 aftershocks with M⩾2.0 using double-difference algorithm and obtained relocations of 2553 events. To reduce the influence of lateral variation in crustal and upper mantle velocity structure, we used different velocity models for the east and west side of Longmenshan fault zone. In the relocation process, we added seismic data from portable seismic stations close to the shocks to constrain focal depths. The precisions in E-W, N-S, and U-D directions after relocation are 0.6, 0.7, and 2.5 km respectively. The relocation results show that the aftershock epi-centers of Wenchuan earthquake were distributed in NE-SW direction, with a total length of about 330 km. The aftershocks were concentrated on the west side of the central fault of Longmenshan fault zone, excluding those on the north of Qingchuan, which obviously deviated from the surface fault and passed through Pingwu-Qingchuan fault in the north. The dominant focal depths of the aftershocks are between 5 and 20 km, the average depth is 13.3 km, and the depth of the relocated main shock is 16.0 km. The depth profile reveals that focal depth distribution in some of the areas is characterized by high-angle westward dipping. The rupture mode of the main shock features reverse faulting in the south, with a large strike-slip component in the north. Supported by the Basic Research Project of Institute of Geophysics, China Earthquake Administration (Grant No. DQJB08Z03)     

采用CAP方法反演2016年广西苍梧M_S 5.4地震震源机制解

北京时间2016年7月31日广西梧州市苍梧县发生M_S 5.4地震,基于海南地震台网数字波形资料,采用CAP方法反演震源机制解。结果显示,此次M_S 5.4地震震源深度较浅,最佳深度为5.1 km,其中节面Ⅰ参数为:走向340°,倾角37°,滑动角-18°;节面Ⅱ参数为:走向85°,倾角79°,滑动角-125°。初步推断苍梧M_S 5.4地震破裂面运动以走滑为主,兼有正断性质,反演参数与中国地震台网中心结果较为一致。     

四川芦山MS7.0和汶川MS8.0地震前地电场变化研究

应用四川芦山M_S7.0和汶川M_S8.0震中周围部分地电场观测台站的资料,主要利用地电场波形比较和极化方位变化两种方法,并结合观测台站的工作日志,对两次地震前地电场观测资料进行了分析研究,并得出:芦山M_S7.0和汶川M_S8.0地震前部分台站地电场波形出现变异现象,主要表现为两种形式:日变波形的畸变(如盐源台和泸沽湖台)和相应时段地电场频谱特性出现变化,这些变异基本上出现在震前1~2个月内;利用两次地震前地电场观测的日均值计算了部分观测台站的地电场极化方位,发现在震前地电场的极化方位出现了大幅变化,最大变化幅度达160°,最小变化幅度也有10°;初步研究还发现,两次地震前夕,震中周围部分台站极化方位的正向或反向延长线,相汇集的区域与地震的震中有一定联系;对于研究所得结果,从地震电信号的产生机制和震源特性方面进行了尝试性理论解释.     

Effect of Poissonos ratio on stress state in the Wenchuan MS8.0 earthquake fault

The Wenchuan M_S8.0 earthquake occurred on the Longmenshan fault which inclines at a dip angle exceeding 60 degrees. Since most thrust earthquakes occur on faults with dip angles of about 30 degrees, it is enigmatic why the Wenchuan earthquake occurred on such a steep fault. In this study we use a simple finite element model to investigate how the stress state in the fault changes with the variation of Poisson's ratio. The results show that, with the Poisson's ratio in the fault increasing, the magnitudes of the principal stresses increase and the maximum shear stress decrease, and, especially, the angle between the maximum principal stress and the fault plane decreases, which will enhance the driving force to overcome the frictional resistance on the fault. The increase of Poisson's ratio in the fault may be an important factor to affect the occurrence of the fault earthquakes with large angles between maximum principal stress and fault plane.