Analysis of Abnormal Characteristics of Regional Crustal Deformation before the Menyuan MS6.4 Earthquake by GPS Continuous Data

In order to study the characteristics of crustal deformation around the epicenter before the 2016 M_S6. 4 Menyuan earthquake,the GPS continuous stations of the period from 2010 to 2016 were selected according to the observation data of the tectonic environment monitoring network in Chinese Mainland. The deformation characteristics of the crust before the earthquake were discussed through inter-station baseline time series analysis and the strain time series analysis in the epicentral region. The results show that a trend turn of the baseline movement state around the epicenter region occurred after 2014,and the movement after 2014 reflects an obvious decreasing trend of compressional deformation.During this period,the stress field energy was in a certain accumulation state. Since the beginning of 2014,the EW-component linear strain and surface strain rate weakened gradually before the earthquake. It shows that there was an obvious deformation deficit at the epicentral area in the past two years,which indicates that the region accumulated a high degree of strain energy before the earthquake. Therefore,there was a significant background change in the area before the earthquake. The results of the study can provide basic research data for understanding the seismogenic process and mechanism of this earthquake.

Study on Focal Mechanism Changing Characteristics of the 2013 Zogang-Markam Ms6. 1 Earthquake Sequence

The M_S6. 1 earthquake was a foreshock-mainshock-aftershock type which occurred in the boundary region between Zogang and Markam counties on August 12,2013. Within 9hours before the main shock seven earthquakes of greater than M_L2. 0 occurred,with a maximum of M_L4. 7. In this paper,the earthquake focal mechanism changing process of the Zogang-Markam M_S6. 1 earthquake sequence is studied by calculating the correlation coefficient of body wave spectral amplitudes,and the result shows that the correlation coefficients of spectral amplitude of foreshocks present high value fluctuation with an average value of 0. 86,which shows that the focal mechanism of foreshocks are similar;and the correlation coefficients of spectral amplitude of aftershocks present low value,which shows that the possibility of a large earthquake is not high after a time.

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 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.

The Study on Apparent Stress before and after the Minxian M_S6.6 Earthquake on July 22,2013

Based on the waveform data observed by the regional seismic network of Gansu Province,we calculated the apparent stress of 422 earthquakes with M_L≥ 2. 0 occurring in the surrounding area of the Minxian earthquake from January 2010 to July 2014 and obtained the temporal and spatial variation of apparent stress before and after the Minxian earthquake. Results show that( 1) the high value of apparent stress of earthquakes with M_L≥4. 0 was concentrated in the epicenter area before the Minxian earthquake while that of earthquakes with M_L< 4. 0 was not;( 2) Apparent stress around the epicenter area showed an obvious increasing process before the Minxian earthquake and the increasing process has continued after the main shock,which means that this study area is still in the danger of strong earthquakes.

Field Investigation of the M_S6.8 Wuqia,Xinjiang Earthquake on October 5,2008

A Ms6. 8 earthquake occurred on October 5, 2008 in the Wuqia region in Xinjiang. The macroseismic epicenter is situated in the Nula village of the Kyrghyz Republic, 7km southwest of the Wuqia Yierkeshitan Port in Xinjiang. The epicenter intensity is VIII degrees （outside borders）. The areas of intensity VII and VI are 7354km^2 and 1031km^2, respectively. This seismic event is related with movement of the NE-trending Kzikeaerkate fault belt. Buildings in the earthquake-stricken area were damaged or affected to a certain extent by this earthquake, accompanied with some phenomena of geological disaster.

Research on Stress Drops and the Focal Mechanisms of the Xinyuan- Hejing ML6.8 Earthquake Sequences

Based on the digital waveform data recorded by Xinjiang Digital Seismic Network for the Xinyuan-Hejing M_L6.8 earthquake sequences of June 30,2012,this paper analyzes the stress drops of earthquake sequences and the correlation coefficients of focal mechanisms significant for strong aftershocks.Firstly,the source parameters of the Xinyuan-Hejing M_L6.8 earthquake sequences are obtained by applying the spectrum analysis and the Brunes source model.Then,the correlation coefficients of spectral amplitudes are calculated using the low-frequency spectral amplitude recorded by the same station for the different events.Finally,based on the results of the correlation coefficients of spectral amplitudes,the events with similar focal mechanisms are grouped using the clustering method.The results show that:(1)The stress drop values show a steady trend in the aftershock sequence calm period and the stress drop values show a rise-fall in strong aftershocks.(2)The moving average correlation coefficient of amplitude spectrum begins to spread after the main shock.It shows that the correlation decreases between the main shock and the aftershocks in mechanisms.(3)The results of focal mechanism groups show that the earthquake sequences are mainly strike slips.The stress distribution of the main pressure axis is nearly NS,which is the same as the structural stress field.(4)The magnitude and mechanism show that there is an agreement before the strong aftershock,which shows that the regional stress field is enhanced.

Research on the Accurate Location of the 2007 M_S6.4 Ning'er, Yunnan Earthquake

Five mobile digital seismic stations were set up by the Earthquake Administration of Yunnan Province near the epicenter of the main shock after the Ning＇er M6. 4 earthquake on June 3, 2007. In this paper, the aftershock sequence of the Ning＇er M6. 4 earthquake is relocated by using the double difference earthquake location method. The data is from the 5 mobile digital seismic stations and the permanent Simao seismic station. The results show that the length of the aftershock sequence is 40kin and the width is 30km, concentrated obviously at the lateral displacement area between the Pu＇er fault and the NNE-trending faults, with the majority occurring on the Pu＇er fault around the main shock. The depths of aftershocks are from 2kin to 12km, and the predominant distribution is in the depth of 8 ~ 10km. The mean depth is 7. 9kin. The seismic fault dips to the northwest revealed from the profile parallel to this aftershock sequence, which is identical to the dip of the secondary fault of the NE-trending Menglian-Mojiang fault in the earthquake area. There are more earthquakes concentrated in the northwest segment than in the southeast segment, which is perhaps related to the underground medium and faults. The depth profile of the earthquake sequence shows that the relocated earthquakes are mainly located near the Pu＇er fault and the seismic faults dip to the southwest, consistent with the dip of the west branch of the Pu＇er fault. In all, the fault strike revealed by earthquake relocations matches well with the strike in the focal mechanism solutions. The main shock is in the top of the aftershock sequence and the aftershocks are symmetrically distributed, showing that faulting was complete in both the NE and SW directions.

Seismic Sequence Characteristics and Precursory Anomalies of the M_S6.3 and M_S6.4 Da Qaidam Earthquakes in 2008～2009

In this paper,the seismogenic structures of the Da Qaidam strong earthquakes are preliminarily discussed by using the regional seismotectonic data and focal mechanism solutions. Analysis is done on the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of the two strong earthquake sequences in Da Qaidam in combination with the sequence distribution characteristics of the M6. 6 earthquake of 2003 and the five strong earthquakes of about M5. 0 in 2004 in Delingha. At the same time,the regional characteristics of the historical seismic activity are also investigated. Preliminary analysis is done on the influence of the two M8. 0 earthquakes in the past 10 years on this region. Precursory anomalies and their characteristics are discussed in combination with the analysis of the precursor observation data of Qinghai Province.

Deep electrical structures of Qinzhou-Fangcheng Junction Zone in Guangxi and seismogenic environment of the 1936 Lingshan M6^(3/4)earthquake

The tectonic position of the southwest section of the Qinzhou Bay-Hangzhou Bay Tectonic Junction Zone(QHTJZ)can be determined by examining the Qinzhou-Fangcheng Junction Zone(QFJZ)in Guangxi.This zone is significant because it was the location of the largest earthquake ever recorded in the inland region of South China,specifically the 1936 Lingshan M6^(3/4)earthquake in Guangxi.Therefore,this region serves as an optimal location for researching the origins of intraplate earthquakes in South China.This study presents a display of a broadband magnetotelluric(MT)prospecting profile that traverses the Guangxi QFJZ and the Lingshan earthquake zone,extending from the northwest(NW)to the southeast(SE).A resistivity structure model was generated using three-dimensional(3D)inversion technology along the profile.The main faults in QFJZ were analyzed in terms of their deep extension forms and tectonic attributes.This analysis was performed by integrating the results obtained from geology,gravity,wave velocity ratio,Global Position System(GPS),and geothermal flow.The results showed that(1)the Dongzhong-Xiaodong fault(DXf),the eastern Fangcheng-Lingshan fault(FLf2),and the eastern Hepu-Beiliu fault(HBf2)were all trans-crustal deep faults,and crust-mantle ductile shear zones developed in the deep part.Two electrical boundary zones,DXf and HBf2,were identified.DXf inclined towards the northwest,while HBf2 inclined towards the southeast.The FangchengLingshan fault(FLf)exhibits a tectonic style resembling a“flower”shape in the upper crust.In the deeper section,it is characterized by an electrical boundary zone that gradually slopes towards the southeast direction.(2)The Hunan-Guangxi Passive Continental Margin(HGPCM)on the NW side of DXf had a stratified resistivity structure and relatively stable Bouguer gravity anomalies,which conformed to the quasi-craton tectonic attribute of the local failure at the southeastern margin of the Yangtze Block(YB).The southeastern side of this block is marked by the presence of the QFJZ and Yunkai Magmatic Arc(YKMA).These areas exhibit varying Bouguer gravity anomalies,indicating a combination of high and low resistivity in their electrical structures.This suggests that this zone has undergone multiple stages of structural evolution and transformation.The giant high-resistivity body under the Qinzhou-Fangcheng Remnant Ocean Basin(QFROB)might be the trace left by the extinction of the South China Ocean and the collision orogeny between YB and the Cathaysian Block(CB).The presence of sublow-resistivity layers in the middle-lower crust between the Liuwandashan Magmatic Arc(LMA)and YKMA indicates that this particular zone is being influenced from a distance by magmatic activities originating from the Leiqiong mantle.(3)The focal area of the 1936 Lingshan earthquake was located in the brittle high-resistivity body with a low strain rate.Under the coupling action of NWW-SEE regional tectonic stress and deep thermodynamic force,the brittle high-resistivity body in the upper crust became the main body for accumulating the tectonic stress.The Lingshan earthquake occurred due to the dextral strike-slip fracture instability of FLf2,a rock layer with slightly lower strength in the sub-high-resistivity zone.This instability was triggered when the accumulated stress reached the ultimate rock strength.The unveiling of the seismogenic model of the Lingshan earthquake,as presented in this study,holds significant scientific importance in comprehending the factors contributing to intraplate earthquakes in the South China region.

Activity of the Lenglongling fault system and seismotectonics of the 2016 MS6.4 Menyuan earthquake

The MS6.4 Menyuan earthquake occurred on the northern side of the Lenglongling fault(LLLF) in the mid-western of the Qilian-Haiyuan fault zone on January 21, 2016. The earthquake epicenter was distant from the Minle-Damaying and Huangcheng-Shuangta faults, eastern of the Northern Qilian Shan fault zone. A near northwest-striking rupture plane intersects the two faults at a certain angle. The focal mechanism solution shows that this was a thrust-type earthquake, slightly different from the strike-slip movement with a thrust component of the LLLF. Field geological mapping, tectonic geomorphology analysis, trench excavation and 14 C dating reveal that(1) the LLLF has been obviously active since the Holocene, and may behave with characteristic slip behavior and produce M_W7.3–7.5 earthquakes;(2) the LLLF appears as a flower structure in terms of structure style, and dips NNE at a steep angle; and(3) the most recent earthquake event occurred after 1815–1065 a BP. An associated fault, the Northern Lenglongling fault(NLLLF), is located at the northwestern end of the LLLF. Consequently, the NLLLF was continually subject to tectonic pushing effects from the left-lateral shear at the end of the LLLF, and, accordingly, it bent and rotated outward tectonically.Subsequently, the fault deviated from the dominant rupture azimuth and activity weakened. In the late Quaternary, it behaved as a thrust fault with no obvious deformation at the surface. This is indicated by the arc shape, with a micro-protrusion northeastward,and no geologic or geomorphic signs of surface rupturing since the late Quaternary. However, such faults could still rupture at depth, producing moderate-strong earthquakes. The geometric and kinematic properties of the NLLLF are in good agreement with the occurrence and kinematic properties of nodal plane 2, and with the distribution characteristics of the aftershocks and seismic intensity. Therefore, the NLLLF is a more suitable seismogenic structure for the MS 6.4 Menyuan earthquake. In addition, the thrust movement of the NLLLF accommodates subsequent movement of the LLLF. During the historical evolution of the NLLLF,the LLLF and the NLLLF have affected the local topography through tectonic uplift.