Multitaper spectral method to estimate the elastic thickness of South China: Implications for intracontinental deformation

The effective elastic thickness （Te） represents the thickness of the elastic layer or the flexural rigidity of the lithosphere, the equivalent of which can be calculated from the spectral analysis of gravity and topographic data. Studies of Te have profound influence on intracontinental deformation, and coupling of the tectonic blocks. In this paper, we use the multitaper spectral estimation method to calculate the coherence between Bouguer gravity and topography data, and to obtain the Te map of South China. Through the process of correction, we discuss the relationships of Te versus heat flow, and Te versus seismicity. The results show that Te distribution of South China is affected by three factors：the original age, which controls the basic feature;the Mesozoic evolution, which affects the Te distribution;and the neotectonic movement, which shaped the final distribution. The crust age has a positive correlation with the first-order Te distribution;thus the Yangtze Craton has a relatively higher Te （about 50 km） whereas the Te in Cathaysia block is only 10e20 km. By analysis and comparison among the tectonic models of South China, the Te distribution can be well explained using the flat-subduction model. As is typical with neotectonics, the region with a higher heat flow is related with a lower Te. The seismicity does not have a clear relationship with Te, but the strong seismicity could cause a low Te. Seismogenic layer （Ts） has a similar trend as Te in the craton, whereas in other areas the relationship is complex.

The gravity and isostatic Moho in North China Craton and their implications to seismicity

The Bouguer gravity is the combination of field sources in different depths. Based on the multi-scale analysis of the Bouguer gravity,we can get the gravity anomaly caused by the Moho undulation. This study presents the various orders of approximation of gravity anomaly in North China Craton（NCC）,the possible source depths with radial logarithmic power spectrum,and the relationship between the deep structure and gravity anomaly. Furthermore,we discuss the isostatic compensation about the Moho depth from gravity and deep seismic sounding profiles（DSS）. The results show that：（1） the fourth approximation could have resulted from the Moho undulation,（2） in contrast to the isostatic Moho,the inverted gravity Moho and the DSS Moho show that most of NCC has been isostatically compensated,and（3） the isostatic compensation rate has some close relation to the seismicity.

Possible triggering relationship of six Mw > 6 earthquakes in 2018–2019 at Philippine archipelago

Philippine archipelago (PA) has strong background seismicity,but there is no systematic study of earthquake triggering in this region. There are six earthquakes (M_(w) > 6) occurred between 2018/12/29 and 2019/09/29 in PA,which provides an excellent opportunity to investigate the triggering relationship among these events. We calculate the static Coulomb stress changes of the first five events,and find that the local seismicity after the 2018/12/29 M_(w) 7.0 earthquake is mostly associated with positive Coulomb stress changes,including the 2019/05/31 M_(w) 6.1 event,suggesting a possible triggering relationship. However,we cannot rule out the dynamic triggering mechanism,due to increased microseismicity in both positive and negative stress change regions,and an incomplete local catalog,especially right after the first M_(w) 7.0 mainshock. The dynamic stresses from these M_(w) > 6 events are large enough (from 5 kPa to 3532 kPa) to trigger subsequent events,but a lack of seismicity and waveform evidence does not support delayed dynamic triggering among these events,even the shortest time interval is less than 24 hours. In the past 45 years,the released seismic energy shows certain peaks every 5–10 years. However,earthquakes with M_(w) > 6.0 were relatively infrequent between 2004 and 2018 at PA. Hence,it is possible that several regions are relatively late in their earthquake cycles,which would enhance their susceptibility of being triggered by earthquakes at nearby and regional distances.

Rapid communications of preliminary results for the recent magnitude 6.6 Menyuan,Qinghai,China earthquake helps scientists better study intraplate earthquakes

Within one month of the magnitude 6.6 Qinghai,China Earthquake on 01/07/2022,several articles were published online in peer-reviewed journals and websites focusing on different aspects of this significant event.

Factors hindering the degradation of pharmaceuticals from human urine in an iron-activated persulfate system

This study investigated the degradation of clofibric acid(CFA),bezafibrate(BZF),and sulfamethoxazole(SMX)in synthetic human urine using a novel mesoporous iron powderactivated persulfate system(mFe-PS system),and identified the factors limiting their degradation in synthetic human urine.A kinetic model was established to expose the radical production in various reaction conditions,and experiments were conducted to verify the modeling results.In the phosphate-containing mFe-PS system,the 120 min removal efficiency of CFA decreased from 95.1%to 76.6%as the phosphate concentration increased from 0.32 to 6.45 mmol/L,but recovered to 90.5%when phosphate concentration increased to 16.10 mmol/L.Meanwhile,the increased concentration of phosphate from 0.32 to 16.10mmol/L reduced the BZF degradation efficacy from 91.5%to 79.0%,whereas SMX removal improved from 37.3%to 62.9%.The m Fe-PS system containing(bi)carbonate,from 4.20 to166.70 mmol/L,reduced CFA and BZF removal efficiencies from 100%to 76.8%and 80.4%,respectively,and SMX from 83.5%to 56.7%within a 120-min reaction time.In addition,alkaline conditions(pH≥8.0)inhibited CFA and BZF degradations,while nonacidic pH(pH≥7.0)remarkably inhibited SMX degradation.Results of the kinetic model indicated the formation of phosphate(H_(2)PO_(4)^(·)/HPO_(4)^(·-))and/or carbonate radicals(CO_(3)^(·-))could limit pharmaceutical removal.The transformation products(TPs)of the pharmaceuticals revealed more incompletely oxidized TPs occurred in the phosphate-and(bi)carbonate-containing m Fe-PS systems,and indicated that H_(2)PO_(4)^(·)/HPO_(4)^(·-)mainly degraded pharmaceuticals via a benzene ring-opening reaction while CO_(3)^(·-)preferentially oxidized pharmaceuticals via a hydroxylation reaction.

A Synthesis of Geophysical Data in Southeastern North China Craton:Implications for the Formation of the Arcuate Xuhuai Thrust Belt

The Xuhuai fold thrust belt(XHTB)is a curved structure in the southeastern margin of the North China Craton(NCC)that has attracted great attentions due to its tectonic and petrological characteristics.However,few geophysical studies have focused on the deep structure of this belt.In this study,we carry out a systematic demonstration of the main geophysical features that characterize the XHTB and surrounding areas.The results reveal small negative gravity and magnetic anomalies,thin crust and lithosphere,lower shear velocity and shallower earthquake epicenters relative to other areas of the NCC,collectively indicating a lithospheric-scale rheological anomaly at this belt.The magnetic alignments show a trend similar to that of geological units in southeastern NCC and adjacent areas,although they differ from the SKS-splitting fast polarization directions,except in the Qinling-Dabie orogen where a vertical coherent deformation of the crust and mantle may be involved there.Based on the geophysical data,we propose a detachment-controlled model,which was caused by the different detachment depth/strength,for the formation of XHTB to explain its arcuate shape as well as the magnetic alignments,thus providing new insight into the deep processes of southeastern NCC.