2017年九寨沟地震前重力场异常特征提取

2017年8月8日九寨沟发生7.0级地震,此次地震发生在塔藏断裂、岷江断裂和虎牙断裂附近,震源机制为走滑型。重力场静态异常和动态异常变化可为研究深地壳结构性质提供重要的物理场信息。本文利用WGM计算的布格重力异常数据及实测流动重力数据进行小波多尺度分解,分离得到不同深度场源特征的地壳介质横向不均匀性。结果表明,WGM布格重力异常数据和实测重力数据的小波多尺度结果较为一致,通过对比分析发现,九寨沟地震发生在区域重力场的四象限分布中心位置,不同时空尺度的重力场变化对于深入认识潜在地震危险性趋势具有一定的科学意义。     

The NE Directed Seismicity Belt in Tibet after the MS8.1 Nepal Earthquake and Its Predictive Significance

After the 2015 M_S8.1 Nepal earthquake, a strong and moderate seismicity belt has formed in Tibet gradually spreading along the northeast direction. In this paper, we attempt to summarize the features and investigate the primary mechanism of this behavior of seismic activity, using a 2-D finite element numerical model with tectonic dynamic settings and GPS horizontal displacements as the constraints. In addition, compared with the NE-trending seismicity belt triggered by the 1996 Xiatongmoin earthquake, we discuss the future earthquake hazard in and around Tibet. Our results show that:the NE-directed seismicity belt is the response of enhanced loading on the anisotropic Qinghai-Tibetan plateau from the Indian plate and earthquake thrusting. Also, this possibly implies that a forthcoming strong earthquake may fill in the gaps in the NE-directed seismicity belt or enhance the seismic hazard in the eastern (the north-south seismic zone) and western (Tianshan tectonic region) parts near the NE-directed belt.     

Intermediate to Long-term Estimation of Strong Earthquake Risk Areas in the Chinese Mainland Based on Geodesic Measurements

Based on previous research results, present-day crustal deformation and gravity fields in the Chinese mainland are analyzed using the GPS data, leveling, gravity and cross-fault deformations. We analyzed strain accumulation of the major faults, and identified locked or high strain accumulation segments. Combining the effects of large earthquakes in the study area, the long-term (decade) probability of large earthquakes in the Chinese mainland is estimated.     

Analysis of Gravity Changes before and after the Akto MS6.7 Earthquake in 2016

This paper analyzes the characteristics of time sequence changes of gravity points near the epicenter, different changes of measuring lines and gravity changes of measuring areas in point-line-area manner respectively with the 5-period mobile gravity data through densified observation by the South Xinjiang Observation Network after the 2015-2016 Akto earthquake in Xinjiang. The gravity observation results before the earthquake indicate that the Wuqia-Bulungkol area near the epicenter presented the trend of gravity value increasing since 2015, but the gravity value decreased half a year before the earthquake, and witnessed a high gradient zone of gravity changes during some periods before the earthquake. The gravity observation results after the earthquake show that there is a trend of opposite changes in gravity difference on the northern and southern sides of Bulunkou, and good correspondence exists between the characteristics of gravity field changes near the epicenter before and after the earthquake and the geologic structure distribution in the area.     

地闪对崇明地震台地球物理观测的干扰

通过对比崇明地区地闪及崇明地震台地球物理观测资料,发现受地闪引起的电磁场变化的直接作用或对仪器元件的间接作用,地磁、地电、电磁扰动和水位观测干扰比例较高,干扰幅度与地闪距离及形成的电流强度有关。具体干扰形态如下：①对电磁扰动干扰表现为单向突跳和测值的整体抬升;②对地磁测项干扰表现为正负方向的单点突跳;③对大地电场干扰表现为大幅震荡;④对水位观测干扰表现为大幅突跳。     

蓟县地震台小辛庄山洞定点形变观测干扰

整理蓟县地震台小辛庄山洞定点形变观测资料,分析强降雨、气压变化、机井抽水、爆破、仪器故障和标定、人为干扰等因素对观测数据的影响,强化认识干扰特征和一般规律,为地震前地球物理异常判定提供准确可靠依据,为同类型地震观测台站提供借鉴。     

Seismic behavior of self-centering reinforced concrete wall enabled by superelastic shape memory alloy bars

Reinforced concrete (RC) wall is a common type of structural component used in high-rise buildings to resist lateral loads induced by earthquakes. RC walls are typically designed and detailed to dissipate energy through significant inelastic responses to meet expected seismic performance under moderate-to-strong earthquakes. However, costly repair or even demolition caused by excessive residual deformation is usually inevitable. Given this deficiency, this study investigates the feasibility of utilizing superelastic shape memory alloy (SMA) bars to achieve self-centering (SC) RC walls. Under this condition, the residual deformation of SC–RC walls is reduced by superelastic SMA with large recoverable strain and remarkable fatigue properties. The mechanical properties of superelastic nickel–titanium bars and SC–RC wall design are described. A numerical SC–RC wall model is developed and validated by comparing the test results. Parametric studies of SC–RC wall systems are then conducted to investigate the effects of axial compressive load ratio, bottom slit length, and lower plateau stress factor of SMA. Results show that the proposed SC–RC walls have excellent SC ability and moderate energy dissipation capacity. The damage regions and levels of the SC–RC wall systems are also discussed.     

Targeted observation analysis of a Northwestern Tropical Pacific Ocean mooring array using an ensemble-based method

An important supplement for ocean observing systems, the Northwestern Tropical Pacific Ocean (NWTPO) mooring array including 15 moorings equipped with Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP) devices was developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and deployed in 2013. This study assessed the performance of this mooring array in monitoring the intra-seasonal and low-frequency (above 91 days) variability of oceanic currents by conducting targeted observation analyses using an ensemble-based method. Key regions for monitoring intra-seasonal variability of the NWTPO circulation are the equator, Indonesian throughflow (ITF), headstream of the North Equatorial Countercurrent (NECC), and Subtropical Countercurrent (STCC). For monitoring intra-seasonal variability, the range of each mooring is confined to a local scale. Therefore, NWTPO moorings cannot adequately resolve intra-seasonal variability in areas of the ITF, the headstream of the NECC, and STCC due to location constraints of the moorings. For monitoring low-frequency variability of NWTPO circulation, the key regions are the Western Boundary Current (WBC), NECC, and the Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC). NWTPO moorings performed relatively well in monitoring the low-frequency variability, as indicated by the strong background correlations between each of the currents. The NWTPO mooring array plays an important role in monitoring the location and intensity of background currents. Because moorings are costly and require a high-density distribution for optimal performance, understanding the multi-timescale dynamical nature of the NWTPO current system is critical for the deploying future moorings in this region.     

Modeling studies of tidal dynamics and the associated responses to coastline changes in the Bohai Sea,China

Over the past 30 years, reclamation projects and related changes have impacted the hydrodynamics and sediment transport in the Bohai Sea. Three-dimensional tidal current models of the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea were constructed using the MIKE 3 model. We used a refined grid to simulate and analyze the effects of changes in coastline, depth, topography, reclamation, the Yellow River estuary, and coastal erosion on tidal systems, tide levels, tidal currents, residual currents, and tidal fluxes. The simulation results show that the relative change in the amplitude of the half-day tide is greater than that of the full-day tide. The changes in the tidal amplitudes of M₂, S₂, K₁, and O₁ caused by coastline changes accounted for 27.76–99.07% of the overall change in amplitude from 1987 to 2016, and water depth changes accounted for 0.93–72.24% of the overall change. The dominant factor driving coastline changes is reclamation, accounting for 99.55–99.91% of the amplitude changes in tidal waves, followed by coastal erosion, accounting for 0.05–0.40% of the tidal wave amplitude changes. The contribution of changes in the Yellow River estuary to tidal wave amplitude changes is small, accounting for 0.01–0.12% of the amplitude change factor. The change in the highest tide level (HTL) is mainly related to the amplitude change, and the correlation with the phase change is small. The dominant factor responsible for the change in the HTL is the tide amplitude change in M2, followed by S2, whereas the influence of the K1 and O1 tides on the change in the HTL is small. Reclamation resulted in a decrease in the vertical average maximum flow velocity (V_VAM) in the Bohai Sea. Shallower water depths have led to an increase in the V_VAM; deeper water depths have led to a decrease in the maximum flow velocity. The absolute value of the maximum flow velocity gradually decreases from the surface to the bottom, but the relative change value is basically constant. The changes in the tidal dynamics of the Bohai Sea are proportional to the degree of change in the coastline. The maximum and minimum changes in the tidal flux appear in Laizhou Bay (P-LZB) and Liaodong Bay (P-LDB), respectively. The changes in the tidal flux are related to the change in the area of the bay. Due to the reduced tidal flux, the water exchange capacity of the Bohai Sea has decreased, impacting the ecological environment of the Bohai Sea. Strictly controlling the scale of reclamation are important measures for reducing the decline in the water exchange capacity of the Bohai Sea and the deterioration of its ecological environment.     

Modeling lateral circulation and its influence on the along-channel flow in a branched estuary

A numerical modeling study of the influence of the lateral flow on the estuarine exchange flow was conducted in the north passage of the Changjiang estuary. The lateral flows show substantial variabilities within a flood-ebb tidal cycle. The strong lateral flow occurring during flood tide is caused primarily by the unique cross-shoal flow that induces a strong northward (looking upstream) barotropic force near the surface and advects saltier water toward the northern part of the channel, resulting in a southward baroclinic force caused by the lateral density gradient. Thus, a two-layer structure of lateral flows is produced during the flood tide. The lateral flows are vigorous near the flood slack and the magnitude can exceed that of the along-channel tidal flow during that period. The strong vertical shear of the lateral flows and the salinity gradient in lateral direction generate lateral tidal straining, which are out of phase with the along-channel tidal straining. Consequently, stratification is enhanced at the early stage of the ebb tide. In contrast, strong along-channel straining is apparent during the late ebb tide. The vertical mixing disrupts the vertical density gradient, thus suppressing stratification. The impact of lateral straining on stratification during spring tide is more pronounced than that of along-channel straining during late flood and early ebb tides. The momentum balance along the estuary suggests that lateral flow can augment the residual exchange flow. The advection of lateral flows brings low-energy water from the shoal to the deep channel during the flood tide, whereas the energetic water is moved to the shoal via lateral advection during the ebb tide. The impact of lateral flow on estuarine circulation of this multiple-channel estuary is different from single-channel estuary. A model simulation by blocking the cross-shoal flow shows that the magnitudes of lateral flows and tidal straining are reduced. Moreover, the reduced lateral tidal straining results in a decrease in vertical stratification from the late flood to early ebb tides during the spring tide. By contrast, the along-channel tidal straining becomes dominant. The model results illustrate the important dynamic linkage between lateral flows and estuarine dynamics in the Changjiang estuary.