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.     

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.     

汶川MS8.0级大震前后的水压致裂原地应力测量

在汶川M_S8.0级大震发生前一周,采用水压致裂技术在龙门山发震断裂带±400 m深度上测得的最大水平主应力值为21～22 MPa,与其附近下盘之差高达8～10 MPa.大震后的原地重复测量结果表明,发震断裂带上的最大、最小水平主应力值分别降低了29％和23％,而在下盘大震前后的地应力作用状况并无变化.测量结果分析表明,活动断裂带的地应力高值异常是圈定地震危险区的可靠依据,是强震孕育和发生的警示标志.     

2008年汶川8.0级地震发生的历史与现今地震活动背景

为了了解2008年5月12日四川汶川M_S8.0地震发生的地震活动背景,本文综合历史与现代地震资料,从南北地震带中段及其邻区的视野研究了汶川地震前1~2千年的强震活动性,以及震前20年的地震活动性背景.结果主要表明：（1）至少在2008年之前的1100~1700年中,龙门山断裂带未发生M≥7的地震,相对其南、北两侧的其他活动断裂带（或段）形成一个地震空区,2008年汶川M_S8.0地震发生在该空区中;（2）17世纪以来,在由龙门山断裂带大部分地区、川北岷江-虎牙断裂带以及甘南文县-武都断裂带组成的巴颜喀拉块体东边界上共发生了12次M=6.5~8.0地震,显示出一个已持续了近400年、逐渐加速的应变能释放过程,2008年汶川M_S8.0地震属于该过程中两次巨大地震之一;（3）汶川地震前20年,龙门山断裂带中、南段不存在背景地震活动的平静,反而显示出比曾经发生过1879年M_S8地震的甘南文县-武都断裂带还略高的地震活动背景水平;（4）2008年汶川地震的强度远远超出龙门山断裂带的历史最大地震,说明仅基于数百年至一、两千年的历史地震记载,远不足以正确评估较低滑动速率的、大型活动断裂带的潜在地震危险性.     

PI Forecast for the Sichuan-Yunnan Region: Retrospective Test after the May 12, 2008, Wenchuan Earthquake

The May 12, 2008, Wenchuan M _S 8.0/M _w 7.9 earthquake occurred in the middle part of the north–south seismic zone in central west China, being one of the greatest thrust events on land in recent years. To explore whether there were some indications of the increase of strong earthquake probabilities before the Wenchuan earthquake, we conducted a retrospective forecast test applying the Pattern Informatics (PI) algorithm to the earthquakes in the Sichuan-Yunnan region since 1992. A regional earthquake catalogue complete to M _L 3.0 from 01/01/1977 to 15/06/2008 was used. A 15-year long ‘sliding time window’ was used in the PI calculation, with ‘anomaly training time window’ and ‘forecast time window’ both set to 5 years. With a forecast target magnitude of M _S 5.5, the ROC test shows that the PI forecast outperforms not only random guess but also the simple number-counting approach based on the clustering hypothesis of earthquakes (the RI forecast). ‘Hotspots’ can be seen in the region of the northern Longmenshan fault which is responsible for the Wenchuan earthquake. However, when considering bigger grid size and higher cutoff magnitude, such ‘hotspots’ disappear and there is very little indication of an impending great earthquake.     

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.

     

龙门山断裂带南段岩石圈磁场变化分析

根据巴颜喀拉块体东部2011—2014年3期岩石圈磁场年变化情况,结合地壳应力资料,重点分析龙门山断裂带南段的岩石圈磁场变化与应力积累的关系。该区域2011—2012年和2012—2013年岩石圈磁场变化明显弱于周边区域,实测地壳应力结果反映汶川M_S8.0地震震后应力积累水平很高。压磁效应分析认为汶川M_S8.0地震后该区域高应力积累、低应变率的动力学背景是控制该区域岩石圈磁场弱变化的主要因素。此外,芦山M_S7.0地震及康定M_S6.3地震前震中区存在局部岩石圈磁场水平矢量的弱变化现象,尤其是2012—2013年水平矢量大小和方向均与周边区域相比存在明显差异,这可能是两次地震的前兆异常。     

Coseismic responses of groundwater levels in the Three Gorges well-network to the Wenchuan MS8.0 earthquake

We systematically analyze coseismic responses and post-seismic characteristics of groundwater levels in the Three Gorges well-network to the M_S8.0 Wenchuan earthquake on 12 May 2008. The results indicate that these characteristics differ among wells. On the conditions of similar borehole configurations, the differences are associated with geological structural sites of wells, burial types of aquifers monitored, and transmissivities of aquifer systems. We explored coseismic and post-seismic step-rise and step-drop mechanical mechanisms and their implication to earthquake prediction. We validated the inference that the residual step-rise zone is a possible earthquake risk zone based on recent seismic activity on the Xiannüshan fault in the area.     

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.     

纪念古浪8级大震九十周年——暨对特大地震的研究讨论

置甘肃古浪8级地震发生90周年之际,本文用几种方法回顾性地讨论了特大地震的预测问题。分别用块体交界带指标、高山峰指标探讨了1920年海原8.5级地震发生的位置,并以这两个指标讨论了1927年古浪8级大震发生的位置。从国内某些大震25年周期的相关性和太阳活动峰年讨论了1927年古浪8级大震的发生年份。这些回顾性的指标研究对今后地震动、地震风险区划和预测大地震有一定的参考价值。     

Seismicity anomalies before the great earth—quake of Ms=8.1 in the Kunlun Pass and its significance to earthquake prediction

A great earthquake of M _S=8.1 took place in the west of Kunlun Pass on November 14, 2001. The epicenter is located at 36.2°N and 90.9°E. The analysis shows that some main precursory seismic patterns appear before the great earthquake, e.g., seismic gap, seismic band, increased activity, seismicity quiet and swarm activity. The evolution of the seismic patterns before the earthquake of M _S=8.1 exhibits a course very similar to that found for earthquake cases with M _S≥7. The difference is that anomalous seismicity before the earthquake of M _S=8.1 involves in the larger area coverage and higher seismic magnitude. This provides an evidence for recognizing precursor and forecasting of very large earthquake. Finally, we review the rough prediction of the great earthquake and discuss some problems related to the prediction of great earthquakes.     

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.     

Geodynamic and Seismotectonic Activity in Eastern Tibet in the 21st Century

At the beginning of the 21st century, a series of great earthquakes were recorded in northeastern Tibet, along the periphery of the Bayan Hara lithospheric block. An earthquake with M_S = 8.1 occurred within the East Kunlun fault zone in the Kunlun Mountains, which caused an extended surface rupture with left-lateral strike slip. An earthquake with M_S = 8 occurred in Wenchuan (China) on May 12, 2008, giving rise to an extended overthrust along the Lunmanshan fault zone. An earthquake with M_S = 7.1 occurred in Yushu (China) on April 14, 2010; its epicenter was on the Grazze–Yushu–Funchuoshan fault; a left-lateral strikeslip offset was observed on the surface. An earthquake with M_S = 7 occurred in the vicinity of Lushan on April 20, 2013; its epicenter was within the Lunmanshan fault zone, 103 km southwest of the zone of the catastrophic Wenchuan earthquake. An earthquake with M_S = 8.2 occurred in Nepal on April 25, 2015. Based on the CSN seismic catalog, the energy of all earthquakes in eastern Tibet at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries was estimated. It was found that Tibet was seismically quiet from 1980 to 2000. The beginning of the 21st century has been marked by seismic activation with earthquake sources migrating southward to surround the Bayan Hara lithospheric block from every quarter. Therefore, this block can be regarded as one of the most seismically active regions of China.     

基于同震GPS数据的汶川大震同震应变特征研究

利用同震GPS观测数据,采用多面函数法,以数据分片拟合方式对2008年5月12日汶川MS8.0大震同震面应变进行计算,评定了计算结果的精度,并分析与强震有关的面应变变化特征。结果表明:在计算同震应变变化时,分片拟合较整体拟合得到的应变结果精度更高;同震应变结果对龙门山断裂能量释放特征及地表破坏分布有一定的反映。     

Spatio-temporal variation and focal mechanism of the Wenchuan MS8.0 earthquake sequence

Based on abundant aftershock sequence data of the Wenchuan M_S8.0 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 anisomerous wedgy distribution characteristic of aftershock concentrated regions; it is related to the force form of the Longmenshan nappe tectonic belt. The stronger aftershocks could be divided into northern segment and southern segment apparently and the focal depths of strong aftershocks in the 50 km area between northern segment and southern segment are shallower. It seems like 'to be going to rupture' segment. We also study focal mechanisms and segmentation of strong aftershocks. The principal compressive stress azimuth of aftershock area is WNW direction and the faulting types of aftershocks at southern and northern segment have the same proportion. Because aftershocks distribute on different secondary faults, their focal mechanisms present complex local tectonic stress field. The faulting of seven strong earthquakes on the Longmenshan central fault is mainly characterized by thrust with the component of right-lateral strike-slip. Meantime six strong aftershocks on the Longmenshan back-range fault and Qingchuan fault present strike-slip faulting. At last we discuss the complex segmentation rupture mechanism of the Wenchuan earthquake.     

紫坪铺水库附近都江堰震群小震震源机制解分析

2008年2—4月,位于汶川大震初始破裂点的紫坪铺水库附近发生了一系列的小震活动,它们与汶川地震和紫坪铺水库小震的关系值得研究。本文采用CAP方法,反演了紫坪铺水库7个专用数字地震台站的数据,得到震级大于M_L 1.0的28个震源机制解。结果表明:有19个地震事件集中在紫坪铺水库东南方向的都江堰附近,最大地震为逆冲型,发震机制为逆冲型带走滑分量,少量带正断层分量;从深度剖面看,地震震源深度主要集中分布在地下13km附近区域,都江堰震群丛集在前山断裂带上,其它地震散布在中央断裂带上;发震最大主压应力方向随时间的变化具有从最大主压应力方向变化比较大到趋向一致的演化过程。这些现象说明龙门山断裂带在都江堰附近存在1个凸凹体,形成应力集中点,引发都江堰震群活动,由此迫使龙门山断裂带前山断裂发生逆冲性活动,从而加剧了龙门山断裂带中央断裂的活动,在一定程度上加速了汶川地震的发生。     

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.     

Deformation Evolution Characteristics Revealed by GPS and Cross-fault Leveling Data before the MS8.0 Wenchuan Earthquake

Based on GPS velocity during 1999-2007, GPS baseline time series on large scale during 1999-2008 and cross-fault leveling data during 1985-2008, the paper makes some analysis and discussion to study and summarize the movement, tectonic deformation and strain accumulation evolution characteristics of the Longmenshan fault and the surrounding area before the M_S8.0 Wenchuan earthquake, as well as the possible physical mechanism late in the seismic cycle of the Wenchuan earthquake. Multiple results indicate that:GPS velocity profiles show that obvious continuous deformation across the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau before the earthquake was distributed across a zone at least 500km wide, while there was little deformation in Sichuan Basin and Longmenshan fault zone, which means that the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau provides energy accumulation for locked Longmenshan fault zone continuously. GPS strain rates show that the east-west compression deformation was larger in the northwest of the mid-northern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone, and deformation amplitude decreased gradually from far field to near fault zone, and there was little deformation in fault zone. The east-west compression deformation was significant surrounding the southwestern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone, and strain accumulation rate was larger than that of mid-northern segment. Fault locking indicates nearly whole Longmenshan fault was locked before the earthquake except the source of the earthquake which was weakly locked, and a 20km width patch in southwestern segment between 12km to 22.5km depth was in creeping state. GPS baseline time series in northeast direction on large scale became compressive generally from 2005 in the North-South Seismic Belt, which reflects that relative compression deformation enhances. The cross-fault leveling data show that annual vertical change rate and deformation trend accumulation rate in the Longmenshan fault zone were little, which indicates that vertical activity near the fault was very weak and the fault was tightly locked. According to analyses of GPS and cross-fault leveling data before the Wenchuan earthquake, we consider that the Longmenshan fault is tightly locked from the surface to the deep, and the horizontal and vertical deformation are weak surrounding the fault in relatively small-scale crustal deformation. The process of weak deformation may be slow, and weak deformation area may be larger when large earthquake is coming. Continuous and slow compression deformation across eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau before the earthquake provides dynamic support for strain accumulation in the Longmenshan fault zone in relative large-scale crustal deformation.     

青藏高原东缘地应变演化特征

利用青藏高原东缘1999—2013年间多期GPS水平速率观测数据,基于多面函数拟合,计算球面坐标系下区域不同时期的面应变和最大剪应变,分析地应变的时空演化特征,结合不同时期发生的中强以上地震(MS6.0),研究期间大震分布与地应变时空演化特征的关系,主要结论如下:(1)青藏高原东缘面应变分布与地块有一定的对应关系,面应变的差异会在块体边界和内部形成不同的断层闭锁形式,与地震发生位置和震源机制有一定的关联;(2)区域最大剪应变的高值区对应于构造活动性较强的断裂带,这些断裂带鲜有地震发生;低值区对应于活动性较弱的断裂带,在区域地壳运动剧烈的背景下,在这些活动性相对较弱的断层上易形成应变能积累,因而会发生地震。区域绝大多数地震都发生在最大剪应变的低值区。     

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.