The Chi-Chi 1999 earthquake: Correlation between the spatio-temporal distribution of aftershocks and viscoelastic stress changes

The Chi-Chi 1999 (M_L = 7.3) earthquake generated a large number of aftershocks in the vicinity of the rupture plane. The spatial-temporal distribution of these aftershocks was recorded with high precision and thus provided a unique possibility to study whether the correlation between aftershocks and stress changes are primary due to coseismically induced stress changes (static), or whether stress relaxation processes (viscoelastic) in the lower crust contribute significantly to this correlation. From our analysis of a 3D finite element model simulating the viscoelastic stress changes due to the coseismic displacement and tectonic loading we found that the aftershocks are highly correlated with the stress variations (static and viscoelastic) caused by the main shock. Although we found that the correlation between seismicity rate changes and viscoelastic stress fluctuation is slightly better than that of the static stress changes, these differences can only be identified well in the lower crust. As a result, it is reasonable to conclude that static stress changes are the key mechanism for triggering early and shallow aftershocks in the upper crust. It is reasonable to infer that the viscoelastic relaxation in the lower crust does affect the occurrence of early aftershocks in the deep crust, but it does not significantly affect the shallow aftershocks. However, the stress changes induced from the lower crust gradually transfer to the upper crust and may influence the occurrence of aftershocks after a longer time period (>four Maxwell times).     

Seismically reactivated Hattian slide in Kashmir, Northern Pakistan

The Pakistan 2005 earthquake, of magnitude 7.6, caused severe damage on landscape and infrastructure, in addition to numerous casualties. The event reactivated Hattian Slide, creating a rock avalanche in a location where earlier mass movements had happened already, as indicated by satellite imagery and ground investigation. The slide originated on Dana Hill, in the upper catchment area of Hattian on Karli Stream, a tributary of Jhelum River, Pakistan, and buried the hamlet Dandbeh and several farms nearby. A natural dam accumulated, impounding two lakes, the larger one threatening parts of downstream Hattian Village with flooding. An access road and artificial spillways needed to be constructed in very short time to minimize the flooding risk. As shown by this example, when pointing out the risk of large-scale damage to population and infrastructure by way of hazard indication maps of seismically active regions, and preparing for alleviation of that risk, it is advisable to consider the complete Holocene history of the slopes involved.     

1970年通海7.7级大地震强余震触发

1970年1月5日云南通海发生了M_S7.7地震, 震后发生了多次M_S＞5.0的强余震。 文中计算了1970年通海7.7级大地震后, 主震分别在5次强余震破裂面上诱发的库仑破裂应力变化(ΔCFS)。 结果表明, 有4次强余震发生在库仑破裂应力增加(ΔCFS＞0)的地区, 增加的范围为10^-2～10^-1 MPa; 有1次强余震按2种震源机制解结果给出的破裂面计算, 得到2种结果, 分别发生在库仑破裂应力变化为正和在库仑破裂应力变化为负的地区。 研究结果表明, 主震位错产生的库仑破裂应力变化可能是1970年通海7.7级大地震强余震活动的重要原因。     

降雨入渗诱发黄土滑塌的模式及临界值初探

国内外对诱发滑坡的降雨阈值的研究多采用统计方法对历史滑坡和降雨量数据进行相关分析,而在分析过程中很少按降雨入渗诱发模式的不同进行分类.实际上,降雨临界值与被触发的滑坡类型紧密相关,不同模式的降雨可以触发不同类型和规模的滑坡,而不同类型的滑坡也“需要”不同的降雨临界值.本文以陕北黄土高原广泛发育的-种典型地质灾害-黄土滑塌作为研究对象,从定性分析降雨入渗的机理入手,探讨了不同入渗模式下雨水对滑塌的诱发作用,初步建立了缓慢下渗诱发型、下渗阻滞诱发型、下渗贯通诱发型三种降雨诱发黄土滑塌的模式.运用统计学的方法,对陕西北部地区25个县(市、区)1960年～2008年发生的有准确日期记录的227个黄土滑塌和降雨数据进行分类,建立了不同降雨入渗诱发类型下的黄土滑塌降雨临界值或预警值.     

Application of the hydrologic visibility concept to estimate rainfall measurement quality of two planned weather radars

This paper presents a practical application of the “hydrologic visibility” concept to select the future site of two planned weather radars of the French national network ARAMIS. This selection was realised by simulating the errors in radar rainfall measurement due to interactions of the radar beam with relief, and to the vertical variation of the radar reflectivity with altitude. Results show the interest of these simulations to optimise the radar location according to the objectives of radar coverage. Beyond these results, this paper highlights aspects interesting for hydrology: this type of simulation can be used to assess the radar measurement quality before initiating a quantitative exploitation of radar data, and before making a comparison or a combination with rain gauge data.     

北京及周边地区雷暴阵风锋特征统计分析

为全面和系统研究北京及周边地区阵风锋各方面特征,使用2006—2015年暖季（5—9月）北京多普勒雷达探测资料及北京、河北、天津自动气象站观测资料对北京及周边地区的阵风锋过程进行综合统计分析。结果表明,346次阵风锋过程有232次触发了对流,占总数的67%,表明阵风锋对雷暴具有较强的抬升触发能力。阵风锋在6—8月出现的日数占5—9月阵风锋总日数的85%;出现的时段主要是午后至傍晚（12—21时,北京时）,维持时间0.5—3 h;阵风锋在北京东南方向生成的数量最多,且触发对流的次数也最多;其次为偏东和东北方向;偏南和西南方向生成阵风锋数量居中,而偏北、偏西和西北地区阵风锋个例相对较少,触发对流的比例也相对较低。产生阵风锋的母风暴中48%为孤立雷暴（包括孤立多单体和超级单体风暴）,31%为雷暴群,21%为飑线;97%的母风暴最强回波在50 dBz以上,阵风锋的回波强度为10—25 dBz。91%的阵风锋移动速度集中在10—60 km/h,84%的阵风锋与母风暴的最大距离为1—60 km;在母风暴回波强度减弱到30 dBz以下时,80%的阵风锋能够继续维持的时间不超过2 h。阵风锋母风暴向东南方向移动的个例最多,从阵风锋和母风暴移动方向的关系来看,阵风锋与母风暴移向一致的情况占比最高,为32%,其次为母风暴无移动及阵风锋弧形扩散情况,各占17%;阵风锋与母风暴移向相反情况所占比例最低,只有3%。最后统计了阵风锋经过地面自动气象站时,自动观测量的变化情况。结果显示,阵风锋在经过地面自动气象站时会造成风速增大、温度降低、相对湿度增大、气压升高。      

南亚高压在高原建立的路径类型及其分析

利用1948-2006年NCEP／NCAR逐日再分析资料分析了南亚高压的移动路径、特征及其触发机制。根据高压的移动情况及其环流等特征发现,南亚高压的移动路径分为东路型,南路型和西路型。对比不同路径的温度场、风场及热源整层积分场等特征,发现不同路径之间存在很大差异。通过SVD分析以及合成分析发现,高原附近热源强弱配置的差异是造成路径差异的可能原因;同时,高原地区热力、动力作用造成的中低纬度的大气长波波型配置对路径的影响也至关重要。     

Lunar and solar tidal components in the occurrence of earthquakes in Italy

Summary. A method for the determination of lunar and solar daily components of earthquakes is proposed. Its application to the most intense earthquakes with epicentres in Italy (from 1900 to 1983) provides for the first time large and significant lunar and solar tidal terms. The absence of significant results from the analysis of 9157 world-wide large shocks processed according to the proposed method and to routine spherical harmonic techniques indicates that the Italian earthquakes are locally tidally triggered.     

Stress triggering of normal aftershocks due to strike slip earthquakes in compressive regime

A few cases of occurrence of normal aftershocks after strike slip earthquakes in compressive regime have been reported in the literature. Occurrence of such aftershocks is intriguing as they occurred despite the apparent stabilizing influence of compressive plate tectonic stresses on the normal faults. To investigate the occurrence processes of such earthquakes, we calculate change in static stress on optimally oriented normal and reverse faults in the dilational and compressional step over zones, respectively, due to slip on a vertical strike slip fault under compressive regime. We find that change in static stress is much more pronounced on normal faults as compared to that on reverse faults, for all values of fault friction. Change in static stress on reverse fault is marginally positive only when the fault friction is low, whereas for normal faults it is positive for all values of fault friction, and is maximum for high fault friction. We suggest that strike slip faulting in compressive regime creates a localized tensile environment in the dilational step over zone, which causes normal faulting in that region. The aftershocks on such normal faults are considered to have occurred as an almost instantaneous response of stress transfer due to strike slip motion.     

Gaussianity and linearity tests of hydrologic time series

Although the non-Gaussian nature of many hydrologic time series is well recognized and their nonlinearity is suspected, neither property is well tested. This situation has existed partly because of a lack of appropriate tests. Recently Hinich (1982) has developed a test to test the linearity of time series which is based on the bispectral characteristics of the series. This test is used in this study to investigate the linearity and non-Gaussian characteristics of annual and daily rainfall and runoff series. The annual series may be modeled by linear models with Gaussian inputs. The daily data, on the other hand, often demonstrate nonlinear characteristics and are non-Gaussian as well.