Constraint on the focal mechanism of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake from the radial modes

Different from other normal modes of the Earth’s free oscillation that depend on all the six components(M_(rr),M_(tt),M_(pp),M_(rt),M_(rp),and M_(tp))of the centroid moment tensor,the amplitudes of the radial modes depend on the M_(rr)component(e.g.,scalar moment(M_(0)),dip(δ),and slip(λ))and hypocenter depth of the focal mechanism,and hence can be easily used to constrain these parameters of the focal mechanism.In this study,we use the superconducting gravimeter(SG)records after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake to analyze the radial modes_(0)S_(0)and_(1)S_(0).Based on the solutions of the focal mechanism provided by the GCMT and USGS,we can obtain the theoretical amplitudes of these two radial modes.Comparing the theoretical amplitudes with the observation amplitudes,it is found that there are obvious differences between the former and the latter,which means that the GCMT and USGS focal mechanisms cannot well represent the real focal mechanism of the 2011 event.Taking the GCMT solution as a reference and changing the depth and the three parameters of the M_(rr)moment,the scalar moment(M_(0))and the dip(δ)have significant influences,but the effects of the slip(λ)and the depth are minor.After comparisons,we provide a new constraint(M_(0)=5.8±0.09×10^(22)N·m,δ=10.1±0.08°,λ=88°,and depth=20 km)for the focal mechanism of the 2011 event.In addition,we further determine the center frequency(1.631567±2.6e^(-6)mHz)and quality factor(2046.4±50.1)of the_(1)S_(0)mode.

Towards fast focal mechanism inversion of shallow crustal earthquakes in the Chinese mainland

We have developed an automatic regional focal mechanism inversion system based on the Earthquake Rapid Report(ERR) system and the real-time three-component seismic waveform stream of 1 000 broadband seismic stations provided by the China Earthquake Networks Center(CENC). The system can rapidly provide a double couple solution and centroid depth within 5–15 min after receiving earthquake information from the ERR system.The data processing is triggered by earthquake information obtained from the ERR system. The system is capable of determining the focal mechanism of all shallow-depth earthquakes in the Chinese mainland with a magnitude of 5.5–6.5. It utilizes waveform data recorded by seismic stations located within 500 km from the epicenter,enabling the reporting of a focal mechanism solution within 5–15 min of an earthquake occurrence. Additionally,the system can assign a corresponding grade(A B C) to the focal mechanism solution. We processed a total of 301earthquakes that occurred from 2021 to June 2022, and after the quality control, 166 of them were selected.These selected solutions were manually checked, and 160 of them were compiled in a focal mechanism catalog.This catalog can be conveniently downloaded online via the Internet. The automatic focal mechanism solution of earthquakes in eastern China exhibits a good agreement with that provided by the Global Centroid Moment Tensor(GCMT), when available. The average Kagan angle between this catalog and GCMT is 22°, and the average difference in MWis 0.17. Furthermore, compared with GCMT, the minimum magnitude of our catalog has been reduced from approximately 5.0 to 4.0. The correlation between the centroid depth and crustal thickness in the Chinese mainland confirms the distribution of the centroid depth.

Focal mechanism of Luding M 6.8 earthquake, September 2022 and analysis of the loading role of the tectonic stress on the seismogenic fault

To reveal the seismogenic mechanism of the Luding earthquake, we employed the 118 China Seismic Network stations to collect the P-wave polarity data from each station, which was then used in the P-wave first motion approach to calculate the focal mechanism solution of the M6.8 Luding earthquake that occurred on September 5,2022. We have also studied the loading effect of tectonic stress on the Luding earthquake fault based on the stress field data for the research area. The results indicate that this earthquake was a strike-slip type, the nodal plane I:strike 167°, dip angle 78°, slip angle 2°;Nodal plane II: strike 77°, dip angle 88°, slip angle 168°. The two fault planes’ instability coefficients of the Luding earthquake are examined considering the region’s background stress field’s condition. The nodal plane I in the Moho circle is discovered to practically coincide with the Coulomb failure line and the tangent point of the Moho circle, indicating that this nodal plane has a high instability coefficient compared to the nodal plane II. The conclusion is that the nodal plane I has a higher likelihood of being the seismogenic fault plane, which is congruent with the seismogenic fault plane suggested by the aftershock distribution, the earthquake radiation energy distribution of a single station, and seismic intensity distribution.The Luding earthquake’s focal mechanism is highly like the theoretical focal mechanism of the fault situated at the location where the Coulomb failure line intersects the Mohr circle, demonstrating that background stress is what caused the earthquake. The substantial fault instability and similarity between the solved and theoretical focal mechanisms make it easier to comprehend the loading effect of tectonic stress on the Luding earthquake fault.

Focal mechanism solution statistics of seismic tsunami sources

In recent years, tsunami happens frequently in the world, which caused huge losses. In order to find objective features of tsunamigenic source, global CMT data from 1976 to 2010 and tsunami data from NOAA are analyzed statistically, tsunami is compared with bigger tsunamis. At last, some features of seismic tsunami sources are concluded.

Spatial distribution and focal mechanism solutions of the Wenchuan earthquake series:Results and implications

We relocate the spatial distribution of its aftershocks. The relocation database is obtained the devastating 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and from 89 stations deployed by the China Earthquake Administration, including 54 525 seismograms from 1 376 local earthquakes over Ms3.5 between 12 May 2008 and 3 August 2008. The cross-correlation technique used in this paper has greatly improved the relocation precision by giving much more accurate P-wave differential travel-time measurements than those obtained from routinely picked phase onsets. At the same time, we pick P-wave polarity observations of the Wenchuan earthquake series （hereafter referred to as WES） from 1023 stations in China and 59 IRIS （Incorporated Research Institutions of Seismology） stations. Then, employing a newly developed program CHNYTX, we obtain 83 well-determined focal mechanism solutions （hereafter referred to as FMSs）. Based on spatial distribution and FMSs of the WES, we draw following conclusions： （1） The region near the main shock exhibits a buried low-angle northwest-dipping seismic zone with the main shock at its upper end and two conjugated seismic zones dipping southeast with roughly equal dip-angle; （2） The compressional directions of all kinds of FMSs of the WES are subhorizontal, which reflects the dominant stress in this area is eompressional; （3） The principal compressional direction of the regional stress around Wenchuan is roughly perpendicular to the strike of Beichuan-Yingxiu fault, while around Qingchuan it is roughly parallel to the strike of Qingehuan fault. In intermediate part of the Longmenshan area, the principal compressional direction of the stress should be in-between; （4） The possibly existed molten materials in the lower crust of Songpan-Garze terrain have small contribution to the local stress state in Longmenshan area. The listric geometries of the Longmenshan faults most probably resulted from subhorizontal compression along NW-SE direction in history.

Seismic relocation,focal mechanism and crustal seismic anisotropy associated with the 2010 Yushu M_S7.1 earthquake and its aftershocks

The 2010 Yushu MsT.1 earthquake occurred in Ganzi-Yushu fault, which is the south boundary of Bayan Har block. In this study, by using double difference algorithm, the locations of mainshock （33.13°N, 96.59°E, focal depth 10.22 km） and more than 600 aftershocks were obtained. The focal mechanisms of the mainshock and some aftershocks with Ms〉3.5 were estimated by jointly using broadband velocity waveforms from Global Seismic Network （GSN） and Qinghai Seismic Network as well. The focal mechanisms and relocation show that the strike of the fault plane is about 125° （WNW-ESE）, and the mainshock is left-laterally strikeslip. The parameters of shear-wave splitting were obtained at seismic stations of YUS and L6304 by systematic analysis method of shear-wave splitting （SAM） method. Based on the parameters of shear-wave splitting and focal mechanism, the characteristics of stress field in seismic source zone were analyzed. The directions of polarization at stations YUS and L6304 are different. It is concluded that after the mainshock and the Ms6.3 aftershock on April 14, the stress-field was changed.

Rupture process and aftershock focal mechanisms of the 2022 M6.8 Luding earthquake in Sichuan

According to the China Earthquake Networks Center,a strong earthquake of M6.8 occurred in Luding County,Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,Sichuan Province,China(102.08°E,29.59°N),on September 5,2022,with a focal depth of 16 km.Rapid determination of the source parameters of the earthquake sequence is vital for post-earthquake rescue,disaster assessment,and scientific research.Near-field seismic observations play a key role in the fast and reliable determination of earthquake source parameters.The numerous broadband seismic stations and strong-motion stations recently deployed by the National Earthquake Intensity Rapid Report and Early Warning project have provided valuable real-time near-field observation data.Using these near-field observations and conventional mid-and far-field seismic waveform records,we obtained the focal mechanism solutions of the mainshock and M≥3.0 aftershocks through the waveform fitting method.We were further able to rapidly invert the rupture process of the mainshock.Based on the evaluation of the focal mechanism solution of the mainshock and the regional tectonic setting,we speculate that the Xianshuihe fault formed the seismogenic structure of the M6.8 strong earthquake.The aftershocks formed three spatially separated clusters with distinctly different focal mechanisms,reflecting the segmented nature of the Xianshuihe fault.As more high-frequency information has been applied in this study,the absolute location of the fault rupture is better constrained by the near-field strong-motion data.The rupture process of the mainshock correlates well with the spatial distribution of aftershocks,i.e.,aftershock activities were relatively weak in the maximum slip area,and strong aftershock activities were distributed in the peripheral regions.

Focal Mechanism Solutions of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake sequence from P-wave polarities and SH/P amplitude ratios:new results and implications

Abstract The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, a major intraplate earthquake with Mw 7.9, occurred on the slowly deforming Longmenshan fault. To better understand the causes of this devastating earthquake, we need knowledge of the regional stress field and the underlying geodynamic processes. Here, we determine focal mechanism solutions （FMSs） of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake sequence （WES） using both P-wave first-motion polarity data and SH/P amplitude ratio （AR） data. As P-wave polarities are more reliable information, they are given priority over SH/ PAR, the latter of which are used only when the former has loose constraint on the FMSs. We collect data from three categories： （1） permanent stations deployed by the China Earthquake Administration （CEA）; （2） the Western Sichuan Passive Seismic Array （WSPSA） deployed by Institute of Geology, CEA; （3） global stations from Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology. Finally, 129 events with magnitude over Ms 4.0 in the 2008 WES are identified to have well-constrained FMSs. Among them, 83 are well constrained by P-wave polarities only as shown by Cai et al. （Earthq Sci 24（1）：115-125,2011）, and the rest of which are newly constrained by incorporating SH/P AR. Based on the spatial distribution and FMSs of the WES, we draw following conclusions： （1） the principle compressional directions of most FMSs of the WES are subhorizontal, generally in agreement with the conclusion given by Cai et al. （2011） but with a few modifications that the compressional directions are WNW-ESE around Wenchuan and ENE-WSW around Qingchuan, respectively. The subhorizontal compressional direction along the Longmenshan fault from SW to NE seems to have a leftlateral rotation, which agrees well with regional stress field inverted by former researchers （e.g., Xu et al., Acta Seismol Sin 30（5）, 1987; Acta Geophys Sin 32（6）, 1989; Cui et al., Seismol Geol 27（2）：234-242, 2005）; （2） the FMSs of the events not only reflected the regional stress state of the Longmenshan region, but also were obviously controlled by the faults to some extent, which was pointed out by Cai et al. （2011） and Yi et al. （Chin J Geophys 55（4）：1213-1227, 2012）; （3） while the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and some of its strong aftershocks released most of the elastic energy accumulated on the Longmen- shan fault, some other aftershocks seem to occur just for releasing the elastic energy promptly created by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and some of its strong aftershocks. （4） Our results further suggest that the Longmenshan fault from Wenchuan to Beichuan was nearly fully destroyed by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and accordingly propose that there is less probability for great earthquakes in the middle part of the Longmenshan fault in the near future, although there might be a barrier to the southwest of Wenchuan and it is needed to pay some attention on it in the near future.

Preliminary research to determine stressdistricts form focal mechanism solutions in Southwest China and its adjacent area

The method of sliding direction fitting is used to determine stress districts, taking the shear stress directions andratios of shear stress to stress on fault planes given by focal mechanism solutions as the criteria to select focalmechanism solutions of one region and sorting out the ear'thquakcs controlled by different tectonic stfess fields,and then determining the stress districts from epicenter distribution of eanhquakes. We call this method as step bystep convergence method. By inversion analyzing of 297 focal mechanism solutions, we consider that SouthwestChina and its adjacent area can be divided into 5 stress districts, and we worked out directions of the three principal stresses and values of shape factor gi in 5 stress districts.

Focal mechanism caused by fracture or burst of a coal pillar

As a regional, real-time and dynamic method, microseismic monitoring technology is quite an appropriate technology for forecasting geological hazards, such as rock bursts, mine tremors, coal and gas outbursts and can even be used to prevent or at least reduce these disasters. The study of the focal mechanisms of different seismic sources is the prerequisite and basis for forecasting rock burst by microseismic monitoring technology. Based on the analysis on the mechanism and fracture course of coal pillars where rock bursts occur mostly, the equivalent point source model of the seismicity caused by a coal pillar was created. Given the model, the seismic displacement equation of a coal pillar was analyzed and the seismic mechanism was pointed out by seismic wave theory. The course of the fracture of the coal pillar was simulated closely in the laboratory and the equivalent microseismic signals of the fractures of the coal pillar were acquired using a TDS-6 experimental system. The results show that, by the pressure and friction of a medium near the seismic source, both a compression wave and a shear wave will be emitted and shear fracture will be induced at the moment of breakage. The results can be used to provide an academic basis to forecast and prevent rock bursts or tremors in a coal pillar.

Modern tectonic stress field in the Chinese mainland inverted from focal mechanism solutions

The inversion of modern tectonic stress field in China is made by regions on the basis of focal mechanism data inthe period of 1920-1996. Results of the inversion show that the maximum principal compressive stress σ1 axisstrikes nearly north-south direction in the Tibet Plateau and western Chin4 east-west direction in North China Incentral China, its strikes show a radiate pattern, i.e., north-north east in north part, east-west in central part andnorth-north west in south part. The σ1 axes are often perpendicular to the minimum principal stress σ3 axes, exceptwestern China where the σ1 axes are oblique to the σ3 axes with an acute angle. R is defined by (σ2-σ1)/(σ3-σ1),has the higher values (0.60-0.90) in north part of central China and quickly changes into the lower values(0. 10-0.30) in the Tibet Plateau. Both of the observed and inverted fault planes have strikes varying with locations.Combining stress directions and R value, the stress configuration is divided into 7 groups. Most of the groups showstrike-slip faulting with intermediate R values, which occupies North China and the eastern part of China as well asinner Tibet Plateau. A few of them show reverse faulting with higher R values within western pod of China and thenorth edge of the Tibet Plateau. Normal faulting occurred on the south edge of the Tibet Plateau with smaller Rval nes.

Local stress field inverted for a shale gas play based on focal mechanisms determined from the joint source scanning algorithm

The joint source scanning algorithm(SSA)scans locations and focal mechanisms of microseismic events simultaneously.Compared to the traditional source scanning algorithm,it yields much more events with extra information of focal mechanisms.The availability of more events and focal mechanisms make it possible to invert for a 2D gridded stress field.As a byproduct of hydrofracturing monitoring,the method offers a new way to extract stress field as a substitute to other more expensive technologies.This method is applied to a hydraulic fracturing dataset collected from one shale gas production field in the southeast of the Sichuan basin.A damped stress inversion is conducted to obtain a 2D stress field.five hydraulic-fracturing induced fractures can be determined from the result.The events associated with these fractures generally have relatively low stacked energy and are limited to the depth of horizontal well.One existing fault(possibly associated with the axis of the central Sichuan uplift)is also determined and the events associated with the existing fault generally have higher stacked energy and are more densely populated.The existing fault may also serve as a structural boundary where the rocks to the NW side are easier to be fractured while events on the other side are sparse with low stacked energy.The existing fault also divides the stress field into two regimes:the maximum compressional stress field to the NW and SE of the fault line are dominantly in NW-SE and N-S directions,respectively.

Study on the crustal stress fi eld of the Tengchong volcanic area using composite focal mechanism method

We calculated the crustal stress field using the composite focal mechanism method based on the P-wave initial motion polarity data of the Tengchong volcanic area from January 2011 to April 2019 obtained from the Bulletin of Seismological Observations of Chinese stations.The magnitude range of earthquakes used in this study is 0–4,and their magnitudes are mainly approximately 1.0.To investigate the infl uence of the source location on the stress fi eld and obtain reliable stress fi elds of the study area,we applied the double-diff erence algorithm to relocate the seismic events,obtaining more accurate and reliable relative positions of seismic events with a clearer seismic belt.On the basis of relocation results,the study on the stress fi eld along the fault zone was conducted,and the infl uence of seismic event position on the stress fi eld was analyzed.Results show that,fi rst,the current stress regime in the shallow crust of the Tengchong volcanic area is strike-slip faulting,the orientation of the principal compressive stress axis is NE–SW,the orientation of the principal extension stress axis is SE–NW,the principal compressive and extension stress axes are nearly horizontal,and the dip angle of intermediate principal stress axis is relatively large.This reflects that the volcanic and seismic activities in the Tengchong volcanic area are mainly controlled by the collision and squeezing eff ect of the Indian–Eurasian plate.It also refl ects that the current tensile action caused by deep magma activity has little infl uence on the shallow crustal stress field.Second,the stress field along fault zones reveals that there exist local stress fi elds,such as the thrust stress regime at the strike-slip fault terminal area,which is consistent with the compressional area at the intersection of conjugate strike-slip faults indicated by previous study.Third,the stress fi eld results are consistent,regardless of using the original location in the bulletin or the relocated location,indicating that the infl uence of the event location error can be neglected when there are suffi cient data and refl ecting the stability of the composite focal mechanism method.The findings can serve as a reference for investigating geological structure movement,seismic activities,and volcanic activities in the Tengchong volcanic area.

Spatio-temporal variation and focal mechanism of the Wenchuan M_S8.0 earthquake sequence

Based on abundant aftershock sequence data of the Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake on May 12, 2008, we studied the spatio-temporal variation process and segmentation rupture characteristic. Dense aftershocks distribute along Longmenshan central fault zone of NE direction and form a narrow strip with the length of 325 krn and the depth between several and 40 km. The depth profile （section of NW direction） vertical to the strike of aftershock zone （NE direction） shows anisomerous wedgy distribution characteristic of afiershock concentrated regions; it is related to the force form of the Longmenshan nappe tectonic belt. The stronger aftershocks could be divided into northern segment and southern segment apparently and the focal depths of strong aftershocks in the 50 km area between northern segment and southern segment are shallower. It seems like ＇to be going to rupture＇ segment. We also study focal mechanisms and segmentation of strong aftershocks. The principal compressive stress azimuth of aftershock area is WNW direction and the faulting types of aftershocks at southern and northern segment have the same proportion. Because afiershocks distribute on different secondary faults, their focal mechanisms present complex local tectonic stress field. The faulting of seven strong earthquakes on the Longmenshan central fault is mainly characterized by thrust with the component of right-lateral strike-slip. Meantime six strong aftershocks on the Longmenshan back-range fault and Qingchuan fault present strike-slip faulting. At last we discuss the complex segmentation rupture mechanism of the Wenchuan earthquake.

Moment tensor inversion for the focal mechanism of the Dongfang (Hainan) earthquake swarm

Moment tensor inversion for the focal mechanism of the 12 earthquakes of the Dongfang (Hainan) earthquakeswarm occurred from June to August 1992 with near-source broadband data recorded by a temporal small-aperturenetwork consisting of DCS-302 digital three-component accelerographs. The results inverted indicate that thepredominant components of sources of all these 12 earthqualles were shear dislocations. The principal pressureaxis and the principal tension axis are in NW-SE direction and in NE-SW direction, respectively, and their dips arealmost horizontal. It could infer that these earthquakes occurred within the same ambient stress field.

Temporal evolution of the focal mechanism consistency of the 2021 Yangbi M_(S) 6.4 earthquake sequence in Yunnan

Using the Cut And Paste(CAP)method,we invert the focal mechanism of 38 moderate earthquakes(M_(S)≥3.0)recorded by Yunnan seismic network and analyze the corresponding focal mechanism consistency based on the minimum spatial rotation angle.Our results indicate that the M_(S)6.4 mainshock is induced by a lateral strike slip fault(with a rake angle of~-165°)and a little normal-faulting component event along a nearly vertical plane(dipping angle~79° and strike~138°).Combining our results with high resolution catalog,we argue that the seismogenic fault of this earthquake sequence is a secondary fault western to the major Weixi-Qiaohou-Weishan fault.The focal mechanism evolution can be divided into three periods.During the first period,the foreshock sequence,the focal mechanism consistency is the highest(KA<36°);during the second period which is shortly after the mainshock,the focal mechanism shows strong variation with KA ranging from 8° to 110°;during the third period,the seismicity becomes weak and the focal mechanism of the earthquakes becomes more consistent than the second period(18°<KA<73°).We suggest that the KA,to some extent,represents the coherence between local tectonic stress regime and the stress state of each individual earthquake.Furthermore,high focal mechanism consistency and high linearity of seismic distribution may serve as indicators for the identification of foreshock sequence.

Difference between focal mechanisms of Dayao earthquake doublet sequence

Using the maximum amplitude ratios of vertical component of P and S waves recorded by a regional network, 921 focal mechanisms of Dayao earthquake doublet sequence are determined by means of synthetic seismograms of a point source of dislocation in a plane layered medium. Among them, 389 focal mechanisms are in the aftershock sequence of M6.2 earthquake occurred on 21 July, 2003 and the other 532 focal mechanisms are in the aftershock sequence of M6.1 earthquake occurred on 16 October, 2003 in Dayao, Yurman. The focal mechanism consistent parameter a of the two aftershock sequences are calculated and analyzed. According to the focal mechanism consistent parameter a, the focal mechanisms of the first aftershock sequence are more consistent than those of the second. According to the comparison of CMT solutions of the two M6 earthquakes, the physical mechanism of the doublet in the intra-plate earthquake is very complex, and many processes are involved and interacted with each other. This doublet provides insights into earthquake clustering, triggering and stress cycling.

Moment tensor inversion for focal mechanism of the Beibuwan earthquakes

Two earthquakes of Ms=6.0 and Ms=6. 1 consecutively occurred on December 31, 1994 and January 10, 1995 in Beibuwan region, China. By using the generalized reflection-transmission coefficient matrix and the discrete slowness integration method in the calculation of Green's functions, we obtained the focal mechanisms of these earthquakes using long-period waveforms of regional body waves recorded by the China Digital Seismograph Network (CDSN) by means of moment tensor inversion method in frequency domain. The results inverted indicate that the focal mechanisms of these two earthquakes were similar to each other. Their principal compressional stresses are in NW-SE direction and principal tensional stresses are in NE-SW direction. It turns out that the occurrence of the two earthquakes was controlled by the same tectonic environment related to the collision of the Philippine Plate and the Eurasian Plates. On the other hand, the results imply that the stress field in the seismogenic region has a significant change after the Ms=6.0 earthquake. It may be proposed that the occurrence of the Ms=6. 1 earthquake could be related to the stress field adjustment caused by the Ms=6.0 earthquake.

Present Tectonic Stress Field in the Capital Region of China Inverted from Focal Mechanisms of Small and Strong Earthquakes

A dense seismic network was installed in the capital region of China in recent years,which makes it possible to resolve the focal mechanisms of small earthquakes. We gathered large earthquake focal mechanisms from the last fifty years and moderate or small earthquake focal mechanisms from between 2002 and 2004,and calculated the present tectonic stress field of the capital region by the grid search method, which weighs different sized earthquakes and can improve the accuracy of the stress field inversion. The analysis of inversion results of different sub-regions shows that the azinuth of the maximum principal compressive stress axis is NE43°- 86° in the Beijing-Zhangjiakou-Datong area,NE38°-86° in the Tangshan area,and NE79°- 81° in the Xingtai area. Inversion results of this paper are similar to previous results,which proves the correctness of the approach. As revealed by the results,the stress field of the capital region is characterized by overall consistency and sub-regional differences. This study provides reference for earthquake mechanism explanation and geodynamics research.