New seismogenic source and deep structures revealed by the 1999 Chia-yi earthquake sequence in southwestern Taiwan

In a tectonically active setting large earthquakes are always threats; however, they may also be useful in elucidating the subsurface geology. Instrumentally recorded seismicity is, therefore, widely utilized to extend our knowledge into the deeper crust, especially where basement is involved. It is because the earthquakes are triggered by underground stress changes that usually corresponding to the framework of geological structures. Hidden faults, therefore, can be recognized and their extension as well as orientation can be estimated. Both above are of relevance for assessment on seismic hazard of a region, since the active faults are supposed to be re-activated and cause large earthquakes. In this study, we analysed the 1999 October 22 earthquake sequence that occurred in southwestern Taiwan. Two major seismicity clusters were identified with spatial distribution between depths of 10 and 16 km. One cluster is nearly vertical and striking 032°, corresponding to the strike-slip Meishan fault (MSF) that generated the 1906 surface rupture. Another cluster strikes 190° and dips 64° to the west, which is interpreted as west-vergent reverse fault, in contrast to previous expectation of east vergence. Our analysis of the focal solutions of all the larger earthquakes in the 1999 sequence with the 3-D distribution of all the earthquakes over the period 1990–2004 allows us reinterpret the structural framework and suggest previously unreognized seismogenic sources in this area. We accordingly suggest: (1) multiple detachment faults are present in southwestern Taiwan coastal plain and (2) additional seismogenic sources consist of tear faults and backthrust faults in addition to sources associated with west-vergent fold-and-thrust belt.     

The reflection seismic survey of project TIPTEQ—the inventory of the Chilean subduction zone at 38.2° S

We describe results of an active-source seismology experiment across the Chilean subduction zone at 38.2°S. The seismic sections clearly show the subducted Nazca plate with varying reflectivity. Below the coast the plate interface occurs at 25 km depth as the sharp lower boundary of a 2–5 km thick, highly reflective region, which we interpret as the subduction channel, that is, a zone of subducted material with a velocity gradient with respect to the upper and lower plate. Further downdip along the seismogenic coupling zone the reflectivity decreases in the area of the presumed 1960 Valdivia hypocentre. The plate interface itself can be traced further down to depths of 50–60 km below the Central Valley. We observe strong reflectivity at the plate interface as well as in the continental mantle wedge. The sections also show a segmented forearc crust in the overriding South American plate. Major features in the accretionary wedge, such as the Lanalhue fault zone, can be identified. At the eastern end of the profile a bright west-dipping reflector lies perpendicular to the plate interface and may be linked to the volcanic arc.     

塔西南甫沙地区被动顶板双重构造和乌泊尔地区背驮盆地的数值模拟

塔里木盆地西南缘前陆褶皱冲断带发育被动顶板双重构造(甫沙地区)和背驮盆地(乌泊尔地区)两种明显不同的构造类型。为了探讨它们的不同成因,利用有限差分软件FLAC开展了一系列二维数值模拟研究。采用遵循平面应变的黏弹塑性本构模型,设置两个滑脱层和三个能干层。同时考虑基底沉降、同构造剥蚀和沉积,缩短速率为8mm/a,剥蚀速率为每年侵蚀基准面以上高程的3×10-7(相当于每1000m每年剥蚀0.3mm)。在基底水平的情况下,采用均一的沉降速率1.6mm/a并以填平补齐的方式进行沉积时,3.5 Ma后发育成与甫沙地区相似的被动顶板双重构造。而当模型采用中部小两端大的拱形沉降速度以及填平补齐的沉积时最终发育成背驮盆地,和乌泊尔地区地质原型接近。模拟结果表明,同构造沉积地层对褶皱冲断带的影响巨大,当沉积物大量堆积在褶皱冲断带前缘时有利于被动顶板双重构造的形成,而沉积物大量堆积在逆冲楔顶与斜坡时则更有利于背驮盆地的发生。模拟结果认为甫沙地区和乌泊尔地区都接受了填平补齐的沉积方式,但基底沉降差异造成了两者的构造样式明显不同。在小范围内(后陆至前陆小于80km),甫沙地区基底以水平方式发生沉降,褶皱冲断带前缘接受了大量沉积;而乌泊尔地区基底在挤压下发生弯曲,使得后陆发生了更大的沉降从而接受了更多的沉积。     

扬子地块西、北缘中元古代地层的划分与对比

广泛分布于扬子地块西缘和北缘的中元古代地层经历了强烈的变形和绿片岩相的变质改造。根据形成时代,该区的中元古代可以识别出两个阶段,中元古代早期(1.8~1.4Ga)和中元古代晚期(1.4~1.0Ga)。中元古代早期的地层包括大红山群、东川群、河口群和通安组(1~4段),中元古代晚期的地层主要由分布在扬子地块西南缘的昆阳群、会理群和分布于扬子地块北缘的神农架群和打鼓石群组成。新的锆石原位定年结果表明,通安组的凝灰岩形成于1744±14Ma左右,河口群角斑岩形成于1659±23Ma左右,侵入会理群天宝山组的辉长辉绿岩形成于1026±7Ma左右。根据岩石组合、形成环境以及年代学资料,中元古代早期的大红山群、东川群、河口群和通安组(1~4段)形成时代相近,地层组成基本相同,它们都含有与岩浆热液有关的铁氧化物铜金(IOCG)矿床或层状铜矿床(SSC),都在1.75~1.45Ga期间形成于大陆裂解环境。扬子地块北缘的火地垭群也可能属于中元古代早期地层。中元古代晚期地层在扬子地块西缘北缘均有分布,其中的昆阳群和会理群大体形成于1.2~1.0Ga,神农架群和打鼓石群形成于1.4~1.0Ga,它们的顶界可能延伸到新元古代早期。在中元古代晚期的地层中含有大量叠层石,表明它们形成于温暖潮湿的浅海环境。除上述的中元古代晚期地层之外,云南元谋地区的苴林群、川西的登相营群、通安组五段等也属于中元古代晚期的地层。     

Lunar noise correlation,imaging and monitoring

Passive seismic techniques have revolutionarised seismology,leading for example to increased resolution in surface wave tomography,to the possibility to monitor changes in the propagation medium,and to many new processing strategies in seismic exploration.Here we review applications of the new techniques to a very particular dataset,namely data from the Apollo 17 lunar network.The special conditions of the lunar noise environment are investigated,illustrating the interplay between the properties of the noise and the ability to reconstruct Green's functions.With a dispersion analysis of reconstructed Rayleigh waves new information about the shallow shear velocity structure of the Moon are obtained.Passive image interferometry is used to study the effect of temperature changes in the subsurface on the seismic velocities providing direct observation of a dynamic process in the lunar environment.These applications highlight the potential of passive techniques for terrestrial and planetary seismology.     

Seismic response of steel structures with seesaw systems using viscoelastic dampers

Vibration control systems are being used increasingly worldwide to provide enhanced seismic protection for new and retrofitted buildings. This paper presents a new vibration control system on the basis of a seesaw mechanism with viscoelastic dampers. The proposed vibration control system comprises three parts: brace, seesaw member, and viscoelastic dampers. In this system, only tensile force appears in bracing members. Consequently, the brace buckling problem is negligible, which enables the use of steel rods for bracing members. By introducing pre‐tension in rods, long steel rods are applicable as bracing between the seesaw members and the moment frame connections over some stories. Seesaw mechanisms can magnify the damper deformation according to the damper system configuration. In this paper, first, the magnification factor, that is, the ratio of the damper deformation to the story drift, is delivered, which includes the rod deformation. Results of a case study demonstrate that the magnification factor of the proposed system is greater than unity for some cases. Seismic response analysis is conducted for steel moment frames with the proposed vibration control system. Energy dissipation characteristics are examined using the time‐history response results of energy. The maximum story drift angle distributions and time‐history response results of displacement show that the proposed system can reduce the seismic response of the frames effectively. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

饱和土体中空沟对移动荷载被动隔振的 2.5D边界元法分析

根据饱和土Biot理论及移动荷载特性,采用积分变换方法,推导了半无限饱和土体频域-波数内的边界积分方程,讨论了2.5D边界积分方程中Cauchy的奇异性,并分析了空沟对移动荷载引起饱和土体振动的被动隔振效果。通过与已知文献结果比较,验证了算法的正确性。数值结果表明,采用2.5D BEM不仅可以解决具有复杂表面的移动荷载作用下动力响应问题,而且可极大减小计算工作量。对于饱和土体受高速移动荷载作用,空沟更能有效减小土体孔压、竖向位移的振幅;当荷载速度较小时,空沟对土体表面的水平向位移几乎不起衰减作用,甚至有放大效应。另外,随空沟距振源的距离增大,空沟能够更好阻隔土体表面波传播。     

澳大利亚西北陆架深水盆地油气分布规律

澳大利亚西北陆架边缘海型被动大陆边缘是目前全球深水区油气勘探的热点地区之一,近年来的一系列深水(＞500m)油气重大发现使其备受关注.澳大利亚西北陆架油气分布总体上具有显著的不均一性.平面上呈“内油外气”的分布特征,油气主要分布于富烃凹陷的凹边隆和凹中隆.远岸带深水区发育大型、超大型气田且成群成带分布,近岸带浅水区以发育中、小型油田为主,亦成群成带分布.纵向上呈“上油下气”的分布特征,天然气和凝析油主要富集于上三叠统和中-下侏罗统,石油主要富集于上侏罗统和下白垩统.