Statistical analysis and long-term prediction of seismicity for linear zones

The model of the Poisson point process is too vague for earthquake locations in space and time: earthquakes tend to cluster in middle distances and to repulse in large ones. The Poisson point model with variable density makes it possible to describe the tendency for clustering but does not reveal the periodicity of clusters. The author proposes the point-process model where locations of points are determined not by densities of point distribution, but by densities of interpoint differences distribution. In the model, a latent periodicity is revealed and used for prediction of a point process. In 1983, the point-process model prediction was made for the Kuril Islands for 1983–1987 and two signs of danger in time and location were determined. Then they were confirmed by strong earth-quakes. In 1989, a similar prediction was made for North Armenia. The Spitak earthquake in 1988 is clearly seen from the data of previous earthquakes.     

东帝汶海槽断裂特征与构造演化模式

东帝汶海槽位于澳大利亚板块西北帝汶海与帝汶岛之间,晚中新世澳大利亚板块与东南亚班达岛弧碰撞引发了帝汶岛与帝汶海槽的构造变形,由于弧-陆碰撞过程的复杂性,帝汶海槽的变形时间与机制仍然存在较大争议。为约束帝汶海槽变形时间、探讨其演化过程,依据二维地震数据,对东帝汶海槽的断裂特征进行定量分析,并结合钻井与天然地震事件探讨弧-陆碰撞背景下帝汶海槽的构造演化模式。研究结果表明,晚中新世（约6 Ma）澳大利亚板块与班达岛弧碰撞,引发了帝汶岛的隆升与帝汶海槽的沉降,变形持续至晚上新世（约3 Ma）,形成现今帝汶海槽形态。现今澳大利亚板块与班达岛弧之间的相对运动速率已逐渐减小趋于停止,未来二者可能会以一个整体继续向北运动。     

基于跨断层监测资料的金州断裂活动性研究

利用金州地震台跨断层形变观测资料分析金州断裂现今活动特征.长趋势分析结果表明,金州断裂以右旋兼正断为主,活动水平总体较弱.断裂活动分段分析结果表明,北段活动速率高于南段.GPS资料分析表明,2011-03-11日本MW9.1地震对东北地区应力积累具有缓解作用,结合金州断裂跨断层数据认为,金州断裂在2011～2014年活...     

辽宁兴城地区地球物理探测效果评价

以辽宁兴城实验区为重点,详细分析了重力、磁力、大地电磁测深和地震勘探等不同的物探方法对研究区内地质目标的识别作用。根据重力剖面测量、磁力剖面测量、大地电磁测深以及地震勘探等方法对实验区进行野外勘探工作和详细的数据分析。结果表明,重力异常对于构造单元划分、断裂识别、基底起伏的识别等均能发挥重要的作用;磁异常对于断裂识别、不同磁性岩石单元的识别、岩浆活动的分析等方面均能发挥重要的作用;大地电磁测深,在划分构造单元、确定断裂分布、垂向地层分层方面均能提供重要信息;地震勘探横向上可划分出盆地等构造界限,纵向上可分层。     

Probabilistic versus deterministic seismic hazard analysis: an integrated approach for siting problems

A methodology is proposed to determine design earthquakes for site-specific studies such as the siting of critical structures (power plants, waste disposals, large dams, etc.), strategic structures (fire stations, military commands, hospitals, etc.), or for seismic microzoning studies, matching the results of probabilistic seismic hazard analyses. This goal is achieved by calculating the source contribution to hazard and the magnitude–distance deaggregation, showing that, varying the selected frequency and the level of hazard, the reference earthquakes are changed as a result. A procedure is then adopted to minimize the residuals between the uniform hazard spectrum (target motion) and the design earthquake spectrum, to provide a specific earthquake scenario encompassing all the frequencies of the target motion. Finally, some considerations on the use and the influence exerted by ground motion uncertainty (σ) on hazard deaggregation are outlined.     

Delineation of Potential Seismic Source Regions of Moderately Strong Earthquakes Without Seismogenic Tectonics

In this paper,approaches are developed to delineate the potential seismic source regions of moderately strong earthquakes that do not have clear seismotectonic settings.Based on comprehensive analysis of regional tectonic backgrounds and seismicity,the data,such as isoseisrnals,spatial distribution of after shocks,regional tectonic stress field,and focal mechanisms,are employed for the delineation of the potential seismic source regions.The reliability of such potential seismic source regions is also discussed.     

Dynamic faulting under rate-dependent friction

We discuss the effects of rate-dependent friction on the propagation of seismic rupture on active faults. Several physicists using Burridge and Knopoff's box and spring model of faulting have proposed that fault complexity may arise from the spontaneous development of a self-similar stress distribution on the fault plane. If this model proves to be correct, it has important consequences for the origin of the complexity of seismic sources. In order to test these ideas on a more realistic earthquake model, we developed a new boundary integral equation method for studying rupture propagation along an antiplane fault in the presence of nonlinear rate-dependent friction. We study rupture dynamics of models with single and twin asperities. In our models, asperities are places on the fault with a higher value of prestress. Othewise all fault parameters are homogeneous. We show that for models with such asperities, a slip velocity weakening friction leads to the propagation of supersonic healing phases and to the spontaneous arrest of fracture if the prestress outside the asperities is low enough. For models with asperities, we can also observe narrow slip velocity pulses, qualitatively similar to the so-called Heaton pulses observed in some earthquake accelerograms. We also observe a complex distribution of stress after the rupture that depends on details of the initial distribution of asperities and on the details of the friction law.     

Numerical Simulation of the 1918 Puerto Rico Tsunami

The Caribbean Sea region is well known for its hurricanes, and less known for tsunamis. As part of its responsibilities in hazard assessment and mitigation, the U.S.A. Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Puerto Rico Civil Defense, funded a pilot study to perform a numerical simulation of the 1918 Puerto Rico tsunami, one of the most deadly in the region. As part of the study a review has been made of the tectonic and tsunamigenic environment around Puerto Rico, the fault parameters for the 1918 event have been estimated, and a numerical simulation has been done using a tsunami propagation and runup model obtained through the Tsunami Inundation Modeling for Exchange (TIME) program. Model results have been compared with the observed runup values all along the west coast of Puerto Rico.     

Limit states and failure mechanisms of viscous dampers and the implications for large earthquakes

Fluid viscous dampers are used to control story drifts and member forces in structures during earthquake events. These elements provide satisfactory performance at the design‐level or maximum considered earthquake. However, buildings using fluid viscous dampers have not been subjected to very large earthquakes with intensities greater than the design and maximum considered events. Furthermore, an extensive database of viscous damper performance during large seismic events does not exist. To address these issues, a comprehensive analytical and experimental investigation was conducted to determine the performance of damped structures subjected to large earthquakes. A critical component of this research was the development and verification of a detailed viscous damper mathematical model that incorporates limit states. The development of this model and the laboratory and simulation results conclude good correlation with the new model and the damper limit states and provide superior results compared with the typical damper model when considering near collapse evaluation of structures. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic parameters controlling far-field tsunami amplitudes: A review

We present a review of the influence of various parameters of the sources of major oceanic earthquakes on the amplitude of tsunamis at transoceanic distances. We base our computations on the normal mode formalism, applied to realistic Earth models, but interpret our principal results in the simpler framework of Haskell theory in the case of a water layer over a Poisson half-space. Our results show that source depth and focal geometry play only a limited role in controlling the amplitude of the tsunami; their combined influence reaches at most 1 order of magnitude down to a depth of 150 km into the hard rock. More important are the effects of directivity due to rupture propagation along the fault, which for large earthquakes can result in a ten-fold decrease in tsunami amplitude by destructive interference, and the possibility of enhanced tsunami excitation in material with weaker elastic properties, such as sedimentary layers. Modelling of the so-called tsunami earthquakes suggests that an event for which 10% of the moment release takes place in sediments generates a tsunami 10 times larger than its seismic moment would suggest. We also investigate the properties of non-double couple sources and find that their relative excitation of tsunamis and Rayleigh waves is in general comparable to that of regular seismic sources. In particular, landslides involving weak sediments could result in very large tsunamis. Finally, we emphasize that the final amplitude at a receiving shore can be strongly affected by focusing and defocusing effects, due to variations in bathymetry along the path of the tsunami.