Recent gravity changes in China Mainland

Based on results of the mobile gravity measurements of the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China and Digital Earthquake Observation Network of China, this paper shows the pattern of temporal gravity changes in China mainland on a time scale of 2 - 3 years since 1998, and gives an analysis of the patterns. The result shows that the temporal gravity changes basically reflect the current mass movement and occurrence of strong earthquakes.

Anomalous variations in ionospheric TEC prior to the 2011 Japan Ms9.0 earthquake

The ionospheric total-electron-content （IGS） network and the VTEC data from the GPS （TEC） data provided by the International GNSS Service reference stations of Crustal Movement Observational Network of China（CMONC） were processed and statistically analyzed to search for earthquake-related TEC anomalies prior to the 2011 magnitude 9.0 earthquake in Japan. Preliminary results showed that anomalous variations oc- curred 6 - 11 days and 0 - 4 days prior to the earthquake. After considering solar activity, geomagnetic condi- tions, and proximity in space and time to the earthquake, we tentatively concluded that the anomalous increase on March 5 may be related to the earthquake.

A statistical investigation of pre-earthquake ionospheric TEC anomalies

Previous researches show that the total electron content （TEC） in the ionospheric exhibits anomalous disturbances a few days or hours prior to earthquakes. The paper used TEC data from Internet GPS Service （ IGS）, and examined 50 earthquakes of magnitude Ms ≥ 7.0 during 2007 - 2009 worldwide. The result shows significant anomalous increases and decreases about 7 days prior to 94% of the earthquakes.

Estimating Moho basement and faults using gravity inversion in Yushu-earthquake area,China

A gravity survey was conducted one month after the 2010 Yushu earthquake in the epicenter area. The cross-fauh survey line was 500 km long, from Langqian county to Qingshuihe county, in a transition zone between Bayan Har block and Qiangtang block, in an area of high elevation, large undulating terrain, and complex geological features. An interpretation of the data was carried out together with other kinds of data, such as seismic exploration and magnetic exploration. The result shows that gravity is sensitive to fault bounda- ry ; the geologic structure of the region is complex at middle and upper depths, and the density profile reveals an eastward-pushing fault movement.

Temporal gravity changes before the 2008 Yutian Ms7.3 earthquake

Based on the data of the repeated gravity observation network in Chinese mainland since 1998, we analyzed the temporal changes of regional gravity field before the 2008 Yutian Ms7.3 earthquake. The result shows some mid-to-long term （two to ten years） changes during the earthquake＇ s preparation. Notable fea- tures are a gravity increase lasting several years and a relatively large-scaled gradient zone of gravity change, the former indicating a continuous energy accumulation and the latter a possible location of seismic rupture. These gravity changes showed a trend of increase-accelerated increase-decelerated increase, similar to that of the Tangshan Ms7.8 earthquake in 1976. The maximum accumulated gravity change related to the earthquake reached 200 × 10 -8 ms -2.

Seasonal gravity changes estimated from GRACE data

Since 2002, the GRACE program has provided a large amount of high-precision data, which can be used to detect temporal gravity variations related to global mass re-distribution inside the fluid envelop of the surface of the Earth. In order to make use of the GRACE data to investigate earthquake-related gravity changes in China, we first studied the degree variances of the monthly GRACE gravity field models, and then applied decorrelation and Gaussian smoothing method to obtain seasonal gravity changes in China. By deducting the multi-year mean seasonal variations from the seasonal maos,we found some earthouake-related gravity anomalies.

Simulation of co-seismic gravity change and deformation of Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake

Surface co-seismic gravity changes and displacements caused by the Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake are calculated on the basis of the half-space dislocation theory and two fault models inversed, respectively, by Institute of Geophysics, CEA and USGS. The results show that 1 ） the dislocation consists of dip slip and rightlateral strike slip ;2 ）the co-seismic gravity change shows a four-quadrant pattern ,which is greatly controlled by the distribution of the vertical displacements, especially in the near-filed ; 3 ） the gravity change is generally less than 10 × 10^-8 ms^-2 in the far-field,but as high as several 100 × 10^-8 ms^-2 in the near-filed. These results basically agree with observational results.

Temporal and spatial characteristics of VTEC anomalies before Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake

GPS and the COD VTEC data were studied in search of ionospheric VTEC changes in space and time that might be associated with the Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake on 12 May,2008. The result shows several significant anomalous decreases at 12：00 UT- 16：00 UT on April 29 and an anomalously increase at 14：00 UT - 18：00 UT on May 9. The anomalies had two humps, that were located on both sides of the geomagnetic equator and had a tendency of drifting towards the equator. Since the observed anomalies cannot be attributed to any other causes and since they occurred close to the time of the earthquake, we consider them to be possibly premonitory to the earthquake.

Ionospheric VTEC anomalies before Ms7.1 Yushu earthquake

Vertical total electron content is examined to check whether the Ms7.1 Yushu earthquake on April 14, 2010, may have caused any anomalous ionospheric changes. The result shows two TEC increases over the epicenter vicinity on April 1 and 5; these anomalies drifted from east to west, the latter across the whole China. The increase on April 5 was probably related to geomagnetic activity, whereas the one on April 1 may pos- sibly be related to the Yushu earthquake.

Joint inversion of gravity and seismic data along a profile across the seismogenic fault of 2010 Yushu Ms7. 1 earthquake

Yushu Ms7.1 earthquake occurred on the Ganzi-Yushu fault zone, across which we carried out a joint relative-gravity and seismic-reflection survey, and then performed a gravity inversion constrained by the seismic-reflection result. Based on the data of complete Bouguer gravity anomaly and seismic reflection, we obtained a layered interface structure in deep crust down to Moho. Our study showed that the inversion could reveal the interfaces of strata along the survey profile and the directions of regional faults in two-dimension. From the characteristics of the observed topography of the Moho basement, we tentatively confirmed that the uplift of eastern edge of Qinghai-Tibet plateau was caused by the subduetion of the Indian plate.

Gravity inversion of deep-crust and mantle interfaces in the Three Gorges area

To better understand the heterogeneity of deep-crust and mantle interfaces in the region of the Three Gorges, China, we used the Parker-Oldenburg iterative inversion method to invert existing Bouguer gravity data from the Three Gorges area （ 1 ： 500000） , a new gravity map of the Three Gorges Dam （ 1 ： 200000） , and the results of deep seismic soundings. The inversion results show a Moho depth of 42 km be- tween Badong and Zigui and the depth of the B2 lower-crustal interface beneath the Jianghan Plain and sur- rounding areas at 21 -25 km. The morphology of crustal interfaces and the surface geology present an over- pass structure. The mid-crust beneath the Three Gorges Dam is approximately 9 km thick, which is the thin- nest in the Three Gorges area and may be related to the shallow low-density body near the Huangling anti- cline. The upper crust is seismogenic, and there is a close relationship between seismicity and the deep- crust and mantle interfaces. For example, the MS. 1 Zigui earthquake occurred where the gradients of the Moho and the B2 interface are the steepest, showing that deep structure has a very important effect on re- gional seismicity.

Outlier detection algorithm for satellite gravity gradiometry data using wavelet shrinkage de-noising

On the： basis of wavelet theory, we propose an outlier-detection algorithm for satellite gravity ometry by applying a wavelet-shrinkage-de-noising method to some simulation data with white noise and ers. The result Shows that this novel algorithm has a 97% success rate in outlier identification and that be efficiently used for pre-processing real satellite gravity gradiometry data.

Application of Kalman filter in detecting pre-earthquake ionospheric TEC anomaly

As an attempt,the Kalman filter was used to study the anomalous variations of ionospheric Total Electron Content（TEC） before and after Wenchuan Ms8. 0 earthquake, these TEC data were calculated from the GPS data observed by the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China. The result indicates that this method is reasonable and reliable in detecting TEC anomalies associated with large earthquakes.

Temporal variation of gravity-field in North China before and after the 2011 Japan Mw9. 0 earthquake

By using absolute and relative-gravity data recorded by the gravity network in North China, we obtained some large-scale and high-spatial-resolution images of gravity variation in this area for the first time. By analyzing these images, we found that the gravity in Liaodong peninsula area showed an obvious increase of 80 × 10^-8ms^-2 during about one- and-half year before the 2011 Japan Mwg. 0 earthquake, and a rapid decrease after the earthquake. This gravity variation is similar to that observed previously for the 1976 Tangshan 1147.8 earthquake.

External calibration of GOCE data using regional terrestrial gravity data

This paper reports on a study of the methodology of external calibration of GOCE data, using regional terrestrial-gravity data. Three regions around the world are selected in the numerical experiments. The result indicates that this calibration method is feasible. The effect is best with an accuracy of scale factor at 10 -2 level, in Australia, where the area is smooth and the gravity data points are dense. The accuracy is one order of magnitude lower in both Canada, where the area is smooth but the data points are sparse, and Norway, where the area is rather tough and the data points are sparse.

A high-precision borehole gravimeter

The paper describes the working principle and structure of a newly designed high-precision （ inicrogal） gravimeter, which is basically a vertically suspending spring-weight system, using a highly sensitive capacitance sensor of movement in a controlled temperature environment in a borehole and a multi-frequency output for both earth-tide and earthquake monitoring. The preliminary test indicated that, while in a stabilization process, it had met all the technical requirements for a relative gravimeter used for earth tide and earthquake monitoring.

Gravity change and its mechanism after the first water impoundment in Three Gorges Project

In this paper we have analyzed precise gravity survey and gravity effects resulted from water loading, crustal deformation, ground water level change and precipitation before and after the water impoundment in the Three Gorges Reservoir. We found that： ① In dam area of the reservoir, gravity effect resulted from water load increase is the most significant, maximum gravity change is 200×10^-8 m/s^2, but this effect is limited in amplitude and range. Gravity change can be observed about 5 km offshore. The gravity change caused by ground water level change is regional; and the impact of precipitation on it should not be neglected. ② At head area of the reservoir, the maximum gravity change is near Xiangxi. Monitoring the variation of gravity field and further study should continue in the future.

Analysis of datum-instability effect on calculated results of data from Longmen Mountain regional gravity network

A statistical correlation method is used to study the effect of instability of the calculation datum （ used in traditional method of indirect adjustment） on calculated gravity results, using data recorded by Longmen Mountain regional gravity network during 1996 -2007. The result shows that when this effect is corrected, anomalous gravity changes before the 2008 Wenchuan Ms8. 0 earthquake become obvious and characteristically distinctive. Thus the datum-stability problem must be considered when processing and analyzing data recorded by a regional gravity network.

Comparison of Absolute Gravity Measurements Obtained with FG5/232 and FG5/214 Instruments

This paper introduces the comparison of absolute gravity measurements in China during 2006-2008,and analyzing the survey and comparing the results,it shows that there is no obvious system error between the gravimeter of FG5/214 and FG5/232,the surveying accuracy is very high and repetition is good,and their inner surveying accuracy is about 2-3 microGal.