Upper crustal deformation characteristics in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau and its adjacent areas revealed by GNSS and anisotropy data

The northeastern part of the Tibetan Plateau is a region where different tectonic blocks collide and intersect,and large earthquakes are frequent.Global Navigation Satellite System(GNSS)observations show that tectonic deformation in this region is strong and manifests as non-uniform deformation associated with tectonic features.S-wave splitting studies of near-field seismic data show that seismic anisotropy parameters can also reveal the upper crustal medium deformation beneath the reporting station.In this paper,we summarize the surface deformation from GNSS observations and crustal deformation from seismic anisotropy data in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau.By comparing the principal compressive strain direction with the fast S-wave polarization direction of near-field S-wave splitting,we analyzed deformation and its differences in surface and upper crustal media in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas.The principal compressive strain direction derived from GNSS is generally consistent with the polarization direction of fast S-waves,but there are also local tectonic regions with large differences between them,which reflect the different deformation mechanisms of regional upper crustal media.The combination of GNSS and seismic anisotropy data can reveal the depth variation characteristics of crustal deformation and deepen understanding of three-dimensional crustal deformation and the deep dynamical mechanisms underlying it.it.

Geodetic constraints on contemporary three-dimensional crustal deformation in the Laji Shan—Jishi Shan tectonic belt

The Laji Shan—Jishi Shan tectonic belt(LJTB),located in the southern part of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau(NETP),is a tectonic window to reveal regional tectonic deformation in the NETP.However,its kinematics in the Holocene remains controversial.We obtain the latest and dense horizontal velocity field based on data collected from our newly constructed and existing GNSS stations.Combined with fault kinematics from geologic observations,we analyze the crustal deformation characteristics along the LJTB.The results show that:(1)The Laji Shan fault(LJF)is inactive,and the northwest-oriented Jishi Shan fault(JSF)exhibits a significant dextral and thrust slip.(2)The transpression along the arc-shaped LJTB accommodates deformation transformation between the dextral Riyue Shan fault and the sinistral west Qinling fault.(3)With the continuous pushing of the Indian plate,internal strains in the Tibetan Plateau are continuously transferred in the northeast via the LJTB as they are gradually dissipated near the LJTB and translated into significant crustal uplift in these regions.

Horizontal crustal deformation in Chinese Mainland analyzed by CMONOC GPS data from 2009-2013

In this study, we analyze the regional GPS data of Crustal Movement Observation Network of China （CMONOC） observed from 2009-2013 using the BERNESE GPS software, and then the preliminary results of horizontal velocity field and strain rate field are presented, which could reflect the overall deformation features in the Chinese mainland from 2009-2013. Besides, the velocity error and the probable factors that could influence the estimate of long-term deformation are also discussed.

Monitoring Crustal Deformation by GPS and InSAR in the Three Gorge Area

The on-going Three Gorges Project (TGP) aims to build one of the largest hydropower stations in the world. Previous investigations have concluded that the reservoir is likely to induce medium-to-intense earthquakes. 23 GPS stations have been established to maintain a geodetic and seismological monitoring network around the reservoir to monitor seismicity and crustal deformation, and to facilitate mitigation activities in case an intense earthquake occurs. The velocity of GPS site was derived from 3 repeated GPS surveys. Meanwhile, another effort has been made to investigate the feasibility of application of satellite interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) techniques in detecting crustal deformation possibly caused by impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir. It has been made to derive digital elevation models (DEM) using European Remote Sensing (ERS) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery. Pairs of ERS SAR images in raw format are processed to generate digital elevation models. This effort will help us evaluate the accuracy of the InSAR techniques for further derivation of background deformation patterns and future detection of reservoir-induced crustal deformation in the area.

Study on scale dependence of strain value obtained from crustal deformation data

Using statistic analysis, the scale dependence of crustal stain value from crustal deformation data is studied. We found that there exists obvious correlation between strain value and computational figure scale. Along with increasing of figure element scale, the statistic mean value and mean square deviation of strain present power law attenuation. Based on this analysis, the necessity of strain value scale normalization is suggested for calculating strain field using crustal deformation data and the normalization method is proposed in this paper.

Research on present crustal deformation in the southern Tianshan (Jiashi) region by GPS geodesy

The pattern and range of present crustal movement as well as characteristic of deformation-strain play a key role in cognizing seismogenic mechanism in the Jiashi region, Xinjiang, northwestern China. Using GPS geodesy in 1994 and 1998, here we give geodetic evidence of rapid convergence of about 19 mm/a across the westem Tianshan, which is about 50% greater than the seismic moment solution (13 m/a) by assembling major enrthquake in the 20th century. The discrepancy of deformation rate between geodetic observation and seismic energy releasing indicates the possibilities that, there exists a lot of aseismic strain and strain during seismic interval in the westem Tianshan, or seismic fault slip in this century could not be enough to compensate the present deformation in the whole area. Whichever it maybe, from the view of accumulation of stress-strain, it suggests that there will be potential strong eathquakes in the western segment of Tianshan and the northeastern corner of Pamir in a long period.

The effect of large reservoirs impoundment to the spatial and temporal variations of regional crustal deformation in Hubei Province, China

The total capacity of Three Gorges Reservoir（TGR） and Danjiangkou Reservoir（DJR） is large and has significant seasonal fluctuations, which give rise to crustal instability. In this research, we focus on studying the temporal and spatial variation of crustal deformation in Hubei Province caused by reservoir impoundment of TGR and DJR.The Digital Elevation Model, historical hydrological information, GPS monitoring data and load-induced deformation model are combined to monitor the crustal deformation. The modeled results indicate that in the trapezoidal area between the TGR and DJR, the average vertical deformations at different latitudes have different variation tendencies. The vertical deformation modulus and fluctuation amplitude are larger at the latitude of 33 N/32.5 N from 2003 to 2006 and at the latitude of 31 N/32.5 N from 2008 to 2014, while the latter are much larger than the former. Moreover, from2008 to 2014, the frequency and the intensity of seismic activities are all enhanced significantly in this region. The modeled results at the GPS sites are consistent with the vertical displacement of GPS monitoring results in trends and the waveform. It can be inferred that the seasonal deformation is elastic. The horizontal deformation components have the same variation trends with that at each GPS monitoring station,which demonstrates that the whole region is moving toward the southeast. The spatial variation of crustal deformation demonstrates that the impoundment of TGR in2003 causes significant vertical displacements, with the maximum modulus of 32 mm downward located in Xiangjiang River＇s estuary. When the water storage increases, the maximum value will become larger, and the location will move toward the upstream.Besides, the earthquakes occurred more frequently in the region with maximum deformation modulus.

Monitoring Crustal Deformations with Radar Interferometry: A Review

The crustal movements, probably motivating earthquakes, are considered as one of the main geodynamic sources. The quantitative measurements of ground surface deformations are vital for studying mechanisms of the buried faults or even estimating earthquake potential. A new space-geodetic technology, synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR), can be applied to detect such large-area deformations, and has demonstrated some prominent advantages. This paper reviews the capacity and limitations of InSAR, and summarises the existing applications including some of our results in studying the earthquake-related crustal motions. Finally it gives the outlook for the future development of InSAR.

Analysis of GAMIT/GLOBK in high-precision GNSS data processing for crustal deformation

The advances in satellite navigation and positioning technology and the worldwide establishment of continuoustracking stations have greatly promoted the development and application of the high-precision Global Navigation Satellite System(GNSS).GAMIT/GLOBK,as a popular high-precision GNSS data-processing software,has been widely used in monitoring crustal deformation,tsunami,iceberg,etc.Based on the basic observations and various geophysical models processed by GAMIT/GLOBK,we analyze the influence of the correction of applied geophysical models,and describe the techniques of parameter estimation and accuracy assessment.In addition,taking the present crustal movement in the Chinese mainland and the MW7.8 earthquake in Nepal as examples,we discuss the applications of GAMIT/GLOBK in crustal deformation monitoring and its future prospect.

GEODYNAMICAL MODELING OF CRUSTAL DEFORMATION OF THE NORTH CHINA BLOCK

The North China block,the western portion of the Sino- Korean Craton,is rounded byYanshanian in the north and Qinling- Dabie orogenic belts in the south.The widespread de-velopment of extensional basins in thisblock indicates horizontal extension or continued thin-ning of a previousely thickened,unstable lithosphere throughout the Mesozoic.In this pa-per,we attempt to simulate numerically the geodynamical process of the basin formation byusing the mountain- basin evolution system.We assume thatthe formation of numeroussedi-mentary basins in the North China block is the resultofthe crustal extension,which destruc-ts rapidly the previously thickened crust.The gravitational collapse of the thickened crust ispossibly triggered by the re- orientation of the far- field stress regime,or the relaxation of theboundary resistantstress.

The migration of the crustal deformation peak area in the eastern Himalayan Syntaxis inferred from present-day crustal deformation and morpho-tectonic markers

The present-day Global Positioning System(GPS)velocity field shows that the Indian Plate is not a complete rigid block,as its northeastern corner has been torn off and clockwise rotating relative to the main part.With the updated GPS velocity data,the Euler vector of the northeastern corner of the Indian Plate relative to the stable main plate is deduced as(89.566±0.06°E,26.131±0.05°N,1.34±0.11°/Myr).The peak area of the present-day crustal deformation is located in the Chayu deformation belt with the compressional dilation strain rate over 160 nanostrain/yr.However,the Namche-Barwa Syntaxis with the massive crustal thickening and intense surface erosion is generally considered to be the previous locus of the strongest compressional stress in the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis over long geological timescales.Thus,there is a discrepancy between the previous and present-day crustal deformation peak areas.We argue the migration of the crustal deformation peak area with a total distance of about 120 km and ascribe it to the variation of stress conditions caused by northeast India’s clockwise rotation.

Characteristics of regional crustal deformation before 2016 Menyuan Ms6.4 earthquake

On January 21, 2016, a strong earthquake with a magnitude of Ms6.4 happened at Menyuan, Qinghai Province of China. In almost the same place, there was another strong earthquake happened in 1986, with similar magnitude and focal mechanism. In this paper, we analyze the characteristics of regional crustal deformation before the 2016 Menyuan Ms6.4 earth- quake by using the data from 10 continuous Global Positioning System （GPS） stations and 74 campaign-mode GPS stations within 200 km of this event： （a） Based on the velocity field from over ten years GPS observations, a regional strain rate field is calculated. The results indicate that the crustal strain rate and seismic moment accumulation rate of the Qilian- Haiyuan active fault, which is the seismogenic tectonics of the event, are significantly higher than the surrounding regions. In a 20 km~ 20 km area around the seismogenic region, the maximum and minimum principal strain rates are 21.5 nanostrain/a （NW-SE extension） and -46.6 nanostrain/a （NE-SW compression）, respectively, and the seismic moment accumulation rates is 17.4 Nm/a. The direction of principal compression is consistent with the focal mechanism of this event. （b） Based on the position time series of the continuous GPS stations for a time-span of about 6 years before the event, we calculate the strain time series. The results show that the dilatation of the seismogenic region is continuously reduced with a ＂non-linear＂ trend since 2010, which means the seismogenic region has been in a state of compression. However, about 2-3 months before the event, both the dilatation and maximum shear strain show significant inverse trends. These abnormal changes of crustal deformation may reflect the non-linear adjustment of the stress-strain accumulation of the seismogenic region, when the accumulation is approaching the critical value of rupture.

Macro-Analysis on Across-Fault Crustal Deformation Measurement Data Along the Northern Edge of the Qinghai-Xizang Block

Based on the arrangement of the across-fault measurement data along the northern edge of the Qinghai-Xizang block,we divide the deformation into different types and probe the nature of various fault movements based on these types.The recent situation of tectonic movement of main structural belts and seismicity in this area are expounded.From the above,it is concluded that across-fault measurement can reflect not only the conditions of fault movement nearby but also the change of regional stress fields; not only is this a method to obtain regional seismogenic information and to conduct short-term prediction but it is also involved with large scale space-time prediction of moderate and strong earthquakes on the basis of the macro characteristics of fractures.

Vertical crustal deformation velocity and its influencing factors over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau based on satellite gravity data

The uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(TP)strongly influences climate change,both regionally and globally.Surface observation data from this region have limited coverage and are difficult to obtain.Consequently,the vertical crustal deformation velocity(VCDV)distribution of the TP is poorly constrained.In this study,the VCDV from the TP was inverted by using data from the gravity recovery and climate experiment(GRACE).We were able to obtain the vertical crustal movement by deducting the hydrological factors,based on the assumption that the gravity signal detected by GRACE is mainly composed of hydrological factors and vertical crustal movement.From the vertical crustal movement,we inverted the distribution of the VCDV across the TP.The results showed that the VCDV of the southern,eastern,and northern TP is~1.1 mm/a,~0.5 mm/a,and−0.1 mm/a,respectively,whereas that of the region between the Qilian Haiyuan Fault and the Kunlun Fault is~0.0 mm/a.These results are consistent with the distribution of crustal deformation,thrust earthquakes and faults,and regional lithospheric activity.The hydrology,crustal thickness,and topographic factors did not change the overall distribution of the VCDV across the TP.The influence of hydrological factors is marked,with the maximum differences being approximately−0.4 mm/a in the northwest and 1.0 mm/a in the central area.The results of this study are significant for understanding the kinematics of the TP.

On the physical model of earthquake precursor fields and the mechanism of precursors＇timespace distribution（Ⅲ）──anomalies of seismicity and crustal deformation and their mechanisms when a strong earthquake is in prep

By studying the seismicity pattern before 37 earthquakes with M≥6. 0 in North China and the pattern of crustal deformation in the Capital Area from 1954 to 1992, some abnormal characteristics of these patterns before strong earthquakes have been extracted. A comparison has been made between the anomalies of these two kinds of Patterns. From the results we can know the following. ① Before a strong earthquake, the seismicity will strengthen and the crustal deformation rate will increase. ② Several years before a strong earthquake, there will be seismic gaps and deformation gaps around the epicenter of the quake. ③ The dynamic parameters of patterns all show a decrease in information dimension. This means that the crustal deformation has become more and more localized with time and it gives an important indication showing that a strong earthquake is in preparation. At the end of the paper, the physical mechanisms of the abnormal patterns of seismicity and crustal deformationhave been explained in a unified way in terms of the earthquake-generating model of a inhomogeneous strongbody in inhmogeneous media.

Field of vertical crustal deformation in North China and the feature of its dynamic evolution

Based on the data of precise leveling surveys for 30-odd years and using unified adjustment method unified starting point of calculation and unified network,contour maps of the vertical crustal deformation rate in North China during the periods of 1965-1975,1975-1979,1979-1983 and 1983 1988 have been drawn.Meanwhile,the evolution of vertical crustal deformations has also been studied from a dynamic viewpoint. The results of analysis show that there is an obvious correspondence between the regular variations of the vertical crustal deformation field and the seismic cycles.Furthermore,the paper has also inferred that this correspondence might be related to the micro-variations of the regional stress/strain field. Finally,some problems related to the vertical deformation field and earthquake prediction have been discussed.

Investigation on the relation between the gravity anomaly，crustal deformation and underground water

Trough the practice of earthquake prediction we have found that sometimes an earthquake doesn' t occur in the gravity anomaly region or the magnitude of earthquake that has occurred does not corrrespond to the value of gravity anomaly. The main reason of this is related to crust deformation or behavior of undergroud water.In this paper, based on the theory of elasticity and dynamics, the gravity effect associated with the elevation variation, density change and mass migration under the observation point as well as the relationshipe between gravity of feet and crustal activity are studied. The relationship between the variation of gravity and crust vertical deformation, underground water, precipitation are researched; besides the order of magnitude, time and pattern of the influence are studied in order to obtain the gravitational precursors directly related to earthquakes.Theory and practice have proved that crust deformation caused by pumping underground water or extracting petroleum and gravity changes are linearly related. This paper shows that the effect and influence produced by different aquifers to the gravity changes are also different. Phreatic water is the main factor which causes the gravity changes. The second factor is precipitation which influences the humidity of soil, as a result the gravity changes. The confined water, when there is no pumping, whatsoever the rise or fall of its level almost has no influence on the gravity changes.Observation data of Northern China and areas of South-western China verified the consistency of practice with theory.

Precision calculation of crustal deformation induced by radial steady laminellar flow of underground water from single well in multi-layered structural aquifers

According to both the general formula of ground surface displacement by drainage from a well for radial permeable flow of underground water and the drawdown expressions for the flow in multilayered structural aquifers, we have derived the analytical expressions of surface displacement induced by steady flow withdrawal from a full penetrating well on phreatic water and confined water in multilayered structural aquifers and discussed the numerial integration scheme of these analytical expressions. And by means of Hermite′s quadrature formula with 20 nodes, we have made calculational programs and examples to show that the methods mentioned in this paper are effective. We think that these methods lay a foundation to study quantitatively crustal deformation due to groundwater drainage when we are engaged in high precision dynamic geodetic measurement on the area of steady flow of multilayered aquifers.

Research on dynamics patterns and parameter characters of crustal deformation field before and after strong earthquake

Based on the dynamic monitoring data of crustal deformation, the parameter evolution for the dynamics pattern and fractal dimension of crustal deformation field and the integral activity level of many faults etc. before and after the Tangshan (1976) and Lijiang (1996) strong earthquakes and others are studied by using the method of pattern dynamics. It is exposed that two time space characters, the ordered dimension drop of the deformation field and the accelerated motion of multi fault before an earthquake, are probably caused by the deformation localization and fault softening after the seismogenic process enters the nonlinear stage. They could be an important seismic precursor if they occurred repeatedly before strong earthquakes.

New insights of the Cenozoic Rotational Deformation of Crustal Blocks on the Southeastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau and its Tectonic Implications

Objective The lateral extrusion of southeastern edge of the crustal materials around the Tibetan Plateau since the Oligocene is believed to be one of the main inducements of-1300 km latitudinal crustal convergence in the Tibetan Plateau, since the collision of India and Eurasia in the Paleogene. Two end-member models were used to describe the process of lateral extrusion of crustal material on the southeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. The ＂tectonic escape＂ model suggests the Indochina Block, Chuandian Fragment and Shan-Thai Block have experienced lateral extrusion along strike-slip fault systems, and the ＂crustal flow＂ model suggests that the upper crust has undergone southeastward escape in the form of ductile deformation, driven by viscous lower crustal flow channels. In addition, the GPS observations surrounding the Tibetan Plateau indicate that crustal materials currently experience clockwise rotation around the Eastern Himalaya syntaxis. This work conducted paleomagnetic studies in the Cretaceous and Paleogene red-beds along the southeastern margin of Tibetan Plateau,