Use of Potential Foreshocks to Estimate the Short-term Probability of Large Earthquakes, Tohoku, Japan

This study seeks to construct a hazard function for earthquake probabilities based on potential foreshocks. Earthquakes of magnitude 6.5 and larger that occurred between 1976 and 2000 in an offshore area of the Tohoku region of northeast Japan were selected as events for estimating probabilities. Later occurrences of multiple events and aftershocks were omitted from targets. As a result, a total of 14 earthquakes were employed in the assessment of models. The study volume spans 300 km (East-West) × 660 km (North-South) × 60 km in depth. The probability of a target earthquake occurring at a certain point in time-space depends on the number of small earthquakes that occurred per unit volume in that vicinity. In this study, we assume that the hazard function increases geometrically with the number of potential foreshocks within a constrained space-time window. The parameters for defining potential foreshocks are magnitude, spatial extent and lead time to the point of assessment. The time parameter is studied in ranges of 1 to 5 days (1-day steps), and spatial parameters in 20 to 100 km (20-km steps). The model parameters of the hazard function are determined by the maximum likelihood method. The most effective hazard function examined was the following case: When an earthquake of magnitude 4.5 to 6.5 occurs, the hazard for a large event is increased significantly for one day within a 20 km radius surrounding the earthquake. If two or more such earthquakes are observed, the model expects a 20,000 times greater probability of an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 or greater than in the absence of such events.     

中国东北的深源地震波形匹配检测及定位

中国东北珲春周边地区位于环太平洋地震带上,也是中国唯一存在的深源地震带.较大地震发生后常会有若干震级较小的余震发生,但在相同的地震震级情况下深源地震的余震一般比浅源地震的余震数量要少1~3个数量级,且在全球不同深震区的深震余震数量也存在显著差异.针对国际地震中心（ISC）2010年7月至2014年12月目录中给出的中国东北附近27次震源深度超过300 km的深源地震,我们首先利用区域固定地震台及NECsaids流动地震台阵的连续波形数据,选取已知地震事件作为模板,采用Match&Locate及Matched Filter方法进行波形互相关叠加分析来检测微小深震事件;然后对1966至2017年ISC目录中的东北地区深源地震进行双差重定位以提高震源位置的准确性,进一步分析深震活动与俯冲板片的关系.研究结果显示除ISC目录中给出的深震事件,我们未能检测出作为模板的深源地震的前震或余震活动,证明东北深源地震余震活动较少并不是由于台站分布有限而造成的漏检结果;重定位后震源延伸的角度与西太平洋板片在410~660 km地幔转换带内的俯冲角度较为一致,并且大部分深震震源位置位于俯冲板片中的亚稳态橄榄岩楔形区内部.结合双差定位结果、b值分析及前人研究成果,我们认为东北深源地震应不属于与俯冲非直接相关的"孤立地震",而是与西太平洋板块俯冲直接相关.     

Diversity of the 2014 Iquique’s foreshocks and aftershocks: clues about the complex rupture process of a Mw 8.1 earthquake

We study the foreshocks and aftershocks of the 1 April 2014 Iquique earthquake of Mw 8.1. Most of these events were recorded by a large digital seismic network that included the Northern Chile permanent network and up to 26 temporary broadband digital stations. We relocated and computed moment tensors for 151 events of magnitude Mw?≥?4.5. Most of the foreshocks and aftershocks of the Iquique earthquake are distributed to the southwest of the rupture zone. These events are located in a band of about 50 km from the trench, an area where few earthquakes occur elsewhere in Chile. Another important group of aftershocks is located above the plate interface, similar to those observed during the foreshock sequence. The depths of these events were constrained by regional moment tensor (RMT) solutions obtained using the records of the dense broad band network. The majority of the foreshocks and aftershocks were associated to the interplate contact, with dip and strike angles in good agreement with the characteristics of horst and graben structures (>2000 m offset) typical of the oceanic Nazca Plate at the trench and in the outer rise region. We propose that the spatial distribution of foreshocks and aftershocks, and its seismological characteristics were strongly controlled by the rheological and tectonics conditions of the extreme erosive margin of Northern Chile.     

强余震的断层面解特征

本文分析了我国及邻区16次大地震的前震、主震和强余震的断层面解.其结果表明:前震和主震具有很好的一致性;一部分强余震同主震相比具有明显的差异, 具有明显差异的强余震发生的时间, 一般都在主震之后的一、二天内.这些特点有助于对地震趋势的估计.断层面解的差异性可能由于局部应力场引起, 也可能由于震源区断层面错动性质的多样性所致.      

用接收函数方法研究汶川和芦山地震之间未破裂段的地壳结构

芦山与汶川地震之间存在约40 km的地震空区.震源区和地震空区的深部构造背景的研究对深入了解中强地震的深部孕育环境及地震空区的地震活动性具有重要科学意义.利用本小组布设的15个临时观测地震台以及21个芦山科考台站和21个四川省地震局固定台站记录的远震数据,用H-K叠加方法得到各个台站的地壳厚度和平均泊松比,并构建了接收函数共转换点(CCP)偏移叠加图像以及反演得到台站下方的S波速度模型.我们的结果揭示了震源区和地震空区地壳结构特征差异:(1)汶川震源区的地壳平均泊松比为~0.28;芦山震源区为~0.29;而地震空区处于泊松比变化剧烈的区域;(2)汶川地震与芦山地震的震源区以西下方的Moho面呈现深度上的突变(这与前人的研究成果基本一致),分别从~44 km突变到~59 km,~40 km突变到~50 km,而地震空区地壳平均厚度呈现渐变性变化;(3)地震空区Moho面下凹且具有低速的上地壳.综合一维S波速度结构和H-k以及CCP的初步结果,这可能显示汶川地震的发震断裂在深部方向上向西倾斜并形成切割整个地壳的大型断裂;芦山地震则可能是由于上、下地壳解耦引起的;而地震空区处于两种地震形成机制控制区域的过渡带中.     

唐山地震的破裂过程及其力学分析

由 P 波初动符号资料在 DJS-6机上计算了主震及17个较大余震的断层面解,并按照有限移动源模式测定了主震及三个最大余震的震源参数.主震是发生在一个近似直立的右旋走滑断层上,走向 N30°E,破裂方式为不对称的双侧破裂,以2.7公里/秒的平均速度向北东传播70公里,向南西传播45公里.测定的主震震源参数例如平均位错136厘米,地震矩1.24×1027达因·厘米,应力降12巴等.大多数M_L>5.0的余震是发生在主破裂面附近及主破裂面两端的扩展分支上,该扩展分支位于膨胀符号区并与主破裂偏离80°左右.较大余震的多数亦集中在这两个扩展分支上.本文试图从理论上分析这种断裂扩展的力学特征.对于脆性材料的复合变形情形,破裂不再沿原来平面扩展,而是与原来平面偏离一个角度的另一面内扩展.并提出一个力学模型,计算了断层扩展角,计算结果与观测事实比较吻合.根据以上结果,本文讨论了唐山地震特点及发生的力学条件,认为唐山地震不同于发生在大断层上能用粘滑机制解释的那类地震,它和海城地震类似的是,除水平应力场作用外,还可能有地下物质的变迁,由于这种变迁使局部地壳受到垂直力.它和海城地震不同的是,它发生在一个比较均匀的脆性介质内,因而能够积累能量发生大震而没有前震.      

An Overview of the Study on Stress Magnitude

Crustal stress field holds an important position in geodynamics research, such as in plate motion simulations, uplift of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau and earthquake preparation and occurrence. However, most of the crustal stress studies emphasize particularly on the determination of stress direction, with little study being done on stress magnitude at present. After reviewing ideas on a stress magnitude study from geological, geophysical and various other aspects, a method to estimate the stress magnitude in the source region according to the deflection of stress direction before and after large earthquakes and the stress drop tensor of earthquake rupture has been developed. The proposed method can also be supplemented by the average apparent stress before and after large earthquakes. The stress direction deflection before and after large earthquakes can be inverted by massive focal mechanisms of foreshocks and aftershocks and the stress drop field generated by the seismic source can be calculated by the detailed distribution of the earthquakes rupture. The mathematical relationship can then be constructed between the stress drop field, where its magnitude and direction are known and the stress tensor before and after large earthquakes, where its direction is known but magnitude is unknown, thereby obtaining the stress magnitude. The average apparent stress before and after large earthquakes can be obtained by using the catalog of broadband radiated energy and seismic moment tensor of foreshocks and aftershocks and the different responses to stress drops. This relationship leads to another estimation of stress magnitude before a large earthquake. The stress magnitude and its error are constrained by combining the two methods, which provide new constraints for the geodynamics study.     

Time Distribution of Immediate Foreshocks Obtained by a Stacking Method

—We apply a stacking method to investigate the time distribution of foreshock activity immediately before a mainshock. The foreshocks are searched for events with M≥ 3.0 within a distance of 50 km and two days from each mainshock with M≥ 5.0, in the JMA catalog from 1977 through 1997/9/30. About 33% of M≥ 5.0 earthquakes are preceded by foreshocks, and 50–70% in some areas. The relative location and time of three types of representative foreshocks, that is, the largest one, the nearest one to the mainshock in distance, and the nearest one in time, are stacked in reference to each mainshock. The statistical test for stacked time distribution of foreshocks within 30km from and two days before mainshocks shows that the inverse power-law type of a probability density time function is a significantly better fit than the exponential one for all three types of representative foreshocks. Two explanations possibly interpret the results. One is that foreshocks occur as a result of a stress change in the region, and the other one is that a foreshock is the cause of a stress change in the region and it triggers a mainshock. The second explanation is compatible with the relationship between a mainshock and aftershocks, when an aftershock happens to become larger than the mainshock. However the values of exponent of the power law obtained for stacked foreshocks are significantly smaller than those for similarly stacked aftershocks. Therefore the foreshock–mainshock relation should not be explained as a normal aftershock activity. Probably an increase of stress during foreshock activity results in apparently smaller values of the exponent, if the second explanation is the case.     

The 2010 M w 7.2 El Mayor-Cucapah Earthquake Sequence, Baja California, Mexico and Southernmost California, USA: Active Seismotectonics along the Mexican Pacific Margin

The El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake sequence started with a few foreshocks in March 2010, and a second sequence of 15 foreshocks of M?>?2 (up to M4.4) that occurred during the 24?h preceding the mainshock. The foreshocks occurred along a north?Csouth trend near the mainshock epicenter. The M _w 7.2 mainshock on April 4 exhibited complex faulting, possibly starting with a ~M6 normal faulting event, followed ~15?s later by the main event, which included simultaneous normal and right-lateral strike-slip faulting. The aftershock zone extends for 120?km from the south end of the Elsinore fault zone north of the US?CMexico border almost to the northern tip of the Gulf of California. The waveform-relocated aftershocks form two abutting clusters, each about 50?km long, as well as a 10?km north?Csouth aftershock zone just north of the epicenter of the mainshock. Even though the Baja California data are included, the magnitude of completeness and the hypocentral errors increase gradually with distance south of the international border. The spatial distribution of large aftershocks is asymmetric with five M5+ aftershocks located to the south of the mainshock, and only one M5.7 aftershock, but numerous smaller aftershocks to the north. Further, the northwest aftershock cluster exhibits complex faulting on both northwest and northeast planes. Thus, the aftershocks also express a complex pattern of stress release along strike. The overall rate of decay of the aftershocks is similar to the rate of decay of a generic California aftershock sequence. In addition, some triggered seismicity was recorded along the Elsinore and San Jacinto faults to the north, but significant northward migration of aftershocks has not occurred. The synthesis of the El Mayor-Cucapah sequence reveals transtensional regional tectonics, including the westward growth of the Mexicali Valley and the transfer of Pacific?CNorth America plate motion from the Gulf of California in the south into the southernmost San Andreas fault system to the north. We propose that the location of the 2010 El Mayor-Cucapah, as well as the 1992 Landers and 1999 Hector Mine earthquakes, may have been controlled by the bends in the plate boundary.     

Using the ETAS Model for Catalog Declustering and Seismic Background Assessment

The concept of background seismicity is strictly related to the identification of spontaneous and triggered earthquakes. The definition of foreshocks, main shocks and aftershocks is currently based on procedures depending on parameters whose values are notoriously assumed by subjective criteria. We propose a method for recognizing the background and the induced seismicity statistically. Rather than using a binary distinction of the events in these two categories, we prefer to assign to each of them a probability of being independent or triggered. This probability comes from an algorithm based on the ETAS model. A certain degree of subjectivity is still present in this procedure, but it is limited by the possibility of adjusting the free parameters of the algorithm by rigorous statistical criteria such as maximum likelihood. We applied the method to the seismicity of southern California and analyzed the sensitivity of the results to the free parameters in the algorithm. Finally, we show how our statistical declustering algorithm may be used for mapping the background seismicity, or the moment rate in a seismic area.     

中国大陆共轭破裂强震

依据地震破裂、地震形变带、前震和余震分布,对中国大陆共轭破裂强震进行了初步研究。结果表明,强震共轭破裂现象较普遍,据资料至少有12个单强震、7个双主震和2个主震——强余震为共轭破裂强震。其共轭破裂特征在地震形变带展布、烈度等震线形态、前震和余震分布等方面表现明显。另外,共轭破裂强震具有共轭破裂面方位之一多为北北西向、双主震之间和主——强余震之间相隔时间为“7”和“9”的节律这2个主要的共同点。     

云南普洱糯扎渡水库蓄水前后P波速度结构变化特征

基于云南省糯扎渡水库台网17个台站所记录到的2009年11月至2014年9月期间的5 247次地震的P波绝对到时资料和相对到时资料,以及波形互相关得到的相对到时资料,采用双差地震层析成像方法联合反演了糯扎渡水库库区蓄水前和蓄水后2011年11月30日至2012年12月31日及2013年1月1日至2014年9月30日这3个阶段的震源参数和三维P波速度结构。结果显示:糯扎渡水库蓄水后,水库库区地震的发生频次增多,经重定位后的震源深度大多在10 km以内,尤其以5 km以内的居多,与前人得到的水库诱发地震震源深度小于10 km的结果基本吻合;随着蓄水量的增加,库水沿断层渗透,孔隙压力变化导致地震增多的区域延伸至左岸支库黑江和库区回水至库区中段的澜沧江段,并进一步向威远江和小黑江延伸,这些区域的P波速度降低;整体的水库渗水作用最大深度不超过7 km。      

基于区域地震活动频次对比的余震删除方法

从尽可能科学地删除余震, 又保留有价值的地震预测信息的目的出发, 提出了一种既考虑地震序列特征, 又基于主震后孕震区内的余震活动频次与区域地震活动正常时段频次相比的删除余震方法(简称SMRZ方法), 编制了相应的计算程序。 以西北地区发生的几次较大地震为例, 对该文提出的SMRZ方法、 广泛使用的K-K方法以及G-C方法的删除余震效果进行了对比研究。 结果表明, 与其他方法相比, 笔者提出的方法识别余震时、 空分布范围比较合理, 同时保留了对未来地震有重要预测意义的前震, 有较好的实际应用效果。     

海城地震的前、余震波谱变化

研究了海城大地震前、后小地震的波谱变化。对M_L=2.5-3.9级小地震引入修改的平均断错概念:F＇=M_L-logS,结果表明:大地震前F＇约3.0,大地震后约2.5。此外,采用公式logM₀=1.7M_L+15.1测定地震矩,并用△σ=CM_{0/S^{3/2测定应力降,结果为:前震应力降为数巴,余震应力降为一巴以下。}}     

1975年2月4日辽宁省海城地震的震源机制

由地震纵波初动符号的资料,求得了海城地震系列中Ms≥4.0的24个地震的断层面解。主震发生于1975年2月4日,它的一个节面走向N70°W,倾向NE,倾角81°;另一个节面走向N23°E,倾向SE,倾角75°。根据余震的空间分布以及地面形变资料选取N70°W的节面为断层面,主震是发生在这个近乎直立的断层面上的左旋走向滑动,略具正的倾向滑动分量。前震及大多数余震的震源机制和主震的相似,有四个Ms≥4.0的余震的震源机制和主震的迥然不同,表现出滑动向量和主震的滑动向量相反的断层错动方式。这种情况的一种可能的解释是主震时在断层的一些地段发生错动过头。 由野外资料及余震的空间分布资料计算了主震的震源参数。主震断层长70公里,宽20公里,平均错距45厘米,地震矩2.1×10²⁶达因·厘米,应力降4.8巴,应变降7.3×10^-6。它是发生在不能积累起较高应力的薄弱地带的一次低应力降的地震。 由地震纵波初动的半周期和振幅的资料计算了81个前震和余震的震源尺度、地震矩、应力降和平均错距。结果表明前震和余震的应力降都比较低,一般在0.1-1巴之间。余震区中有两个应力降相对说来比较高（高于0.8巴）的地区,它们恰好对应于主破裂错动过头的部位。这些结果意味着震前高应力、错动过头、相对高应力降和震源机制反向四者之间     

汶川及芦山地震余震分布的空间尺度效应

基于GIS点格局方法,从余震点分布的不确定性以及烈度区与点空间距离格局的关系角度研究了汶川及芦山余震点格局．结果表明:余震在较小尺度内接近随机分布且关联效应明显; 在较大尺度内余震聚集分布,空间距离关联仍呈幂律关系,无标度区间的上下限与不同烈度区的长短轴间存在关联．汶川、 芦山余震形成东北—西南向矩形的热点、 次热点分布区,区域内最邻近指数为0.99,0.76; 映秀Ⅺ度、 芦山Ⅸ度烈度区内最邻近指数分别为1.02和0.95,显示余震点在强烈度、 高聚集区内趋向随机分布．余震点距离关联特征表明:汶川余震在13.5—20 km和30—43 km区间,芦山余震在7—14.5 km区间内关联程度显著; 汶川余震在66—82 km、 225—236 km、 317—321.5 km区间以及芦山余震在15.5—22 km、 23—32.5 km、 33.5—43.5 km区间仍呈幂律关系. 该结果与汶川地震Ⅺ—Ⅸ度、 芦山地震Ⅸ—Ⅶ度烈度分布区域的长短轴存在一定关联,321.5 km和40 km与两次地震主破裂面长度也较为吻合. 对比核密度估计与地震烈度图可以看出: 带宽越小,核密度面积与较高烈度区域的一致性越大; 随着带宽的扩大,核密度面积与烈度区的差异也越大．      

基于变差函数分析的地震时间相关性定量估算

将变差函数分析方法引入地震时间相关性的研究,并以华北地区的强震和松潘地震的前震和余震序列为例对地震的时间相关性进行了分析,在得到华北地区强震相关性规律的同时还定量估算了其周期,并对比了松潘前震和余震序列时间相关性的差异。     

Spectral analysis of earthquake migration in South America

Earthquake migration along linear seismic belts is investigated by analyzing spacetime diagrams using spectral analysis. In order to sample the earthquakes in the space-time domain, they must first be convolved with a (sinx sint)/xt surface to obtain an unbiased and alias free twodimensional Fourier spectrum. Further enhancements are provided by selectively stacking patterns (a pattern is defined as the distribution of earthquakes in space and time before a particular earthquake), thereby reinforcing the similarities within the various patterns. With these techniques, it is possible to quantitatively estimate the migration rates (from theirspatial frequencies) and recurrence intervals (from theirtemporal frequencies) of large earthquakes in South America.Preliminary examination of the spectra for South America indicates that a low frequency peak occurs at approximately 2500 km and 27 years for earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 7.7. The results suggest a migration rate of approximately 95 km/yr from south to north and a recurrence interval of 27 years.     

Laboratory Generated M -6 Earthquakes

We consider whether mm-scale earthquake-like seismic events generated in laboratory experiments are consistent with our understanding of the physics of larger earthquakes. This work focuses on a population of 48 very small shocks that are foreshocks and aftershocks of stick–slip events occurring on a 2.0 m by 0.4 m simulated strike-slip fault cut through a large granite sample. Unlike the larger stick–slip events that rupture the entirety of the simulated fault, the small foreshocks and aftershocks are contained events whose properties are controlled by the rigidity of the surrounding granite blocks rather than characteristics of the experimental apparatus. The large size of the experimental apparatus, high fidelity sensors, rigorous treatment of wave propagation effects, and in situ system calibration separates this study from traditional acoustic emission analyses and allows these sources to be studied with as much rigor as larger natural earthquakes. The tiny events have short (3–6 μs) rise times and are well modeled by simple double couple focal mechanisms that are consistent with left-lateral slip occurring on a mm-scale patch of the precut fault surface. The repeatability of the experiments indicates that they are the result of frictional processes on the simulated fault surface rather than grain crushing or fracture of fresh rock. Our waveform analysis shows no significant differences (other than size) between the M -7 to M -5.5 earthquakes reported here and larger natural earthquakes. Their source characteristics such as stress drop (1–10 MPa) appear to be entirely consistent with earthquake scaling laws derived for larger earthquakes.     

A seismic gap on the Anninghe fault in western Sichuan,China

Through integrated analyses of time-varying patterns of regional seismicity, occurrence background of strong and large historical earthquakes along active faults, and temporal-spatial distribution of accu- rately relocated hypocenters of modern small earthquakes, this paper analyzes and discusses the im- plication of a 30-year-lasting seismic quiescence in the region along and surrounding the Anninghe and Zemuhe faults in western Sichuan, China. It suggests that the seismic quiescence for ML≥4.0 events has been lasting in the studied region since January, 1977, along with the formation and evaluation of a seismic gap of the second kind, the Anninghe seismic gap. The Anninghe seismic gap has the background of a seismic gap of the first kind along the Anninghe fault, and has resulted from evident fault-locking and strain-accumulating along the fault during the last 30 years. Now, two fault sections either without or with less small earthquakes exist along the Anninghe fault within the An- ninghe seismic gap. They indicate two linked and locked fault-sections, the northern Mianning section and the Mianning-Xichang section with lengths of 65 km and 75 km and elapsed time from the latest large earthquakes of 527 and 471 years, respectively. Along the Anninghe fault, characteristics of both the background of the first kind seismic gap and the seismicity patterns of the second seismic gap, as well as the hypocenter depth distribution of modern small earthquakes are comparable, respectively, to those appearing before the M=8.1 Hoh Xil earthquake of 2001 and to those emerging in the 20 years before the M=7.1 Loma Prieta, California, earthquake of 1989, suggesting that the Anninghe seismic gap is tending to become mature, and hence its mid- to long-term potential of large earthquakes should be noticeable. The probable maximum magnitudes of the potential earthquakes are estimated to be as large as 7.4 for both the two locked sections of the Anninghe fault.