Abnormal Earthquake Intensity Areas and Formation Mechanism of the Minxian-Zhangxian M_S6.6 Earthquake on July 22,2013,Gansu

On July 22,2013,the Minxian-Zhangxian M_S6.6 earthquake occurred on the east segment of Lintan-Dangchang fault. The analysis of digital elevation and remote sensing imaging shows that the east segment of Lintan-Dangchang fault is still active and the main thrust feature of the fault switches to left lateral slip. With the field research of intensity and damage,several abnormal areas of degree Ⅷ spread in the isoseismal line of degree Ⅶ and some abnormal areas of degree Ⅶ spread in the isoseismal line of degree Ⅵ. These abnormal areas are distributed along the hanging wall of the fault in a width of 2km. The analysis based on the remote sensing and digital elevation model shows that the segment of the Lintan-Dangchang fault south of Minxian mainly slips in left literal. The fault movement made the soil soft in the fault zone. The earthquake motion propagated along the fault zone. Therefore the strong earthquake motion caused foundation failure in the soft soil along the fault zone and the abnormal intense areas of disaster formed.

On July 22, 2013, the Minxian-Zhangxian Ms6. 6 earthquake occurred on the east segment of Lintan-Dangchang fault. The analysis of digital elevation and remote sensing imaging shows that the east segment of Lintan-Dangchang fault is still active and the main thrust feature of the fault switches to left lateral slip. With the field research of intensity and damage, several abnormal areas of degree VIII spread in the isoseismal line of degree VII and some abnormal areas of degree VII spread in the isoseismal line of degree VI. These abnormal areas are distributed along the hanging wall of the fault in a width of 2km. The analysis based on the remote sensing and digital elevation model shows that the segment of the Lintan-Dangchang fault south of Minxian mainly slips in left literal. The fault movement made the soil soft in the fault zone. The earthquake motion propagated along the fault zone. Therefore the strong earthquake motion caused foundation failure in the soft soil along the fault zone and the abnormal intense areas of disaster formed.