Surface Rupture of the 1515 Yongsheng Earthquake in Northwest Yunnan, and Its Seismogeological Implications

The 1515 M7/4 Yongsheng earthquake is the strongest earthquake historically in northwest Yunnan. However, its time, magnitude and the seismogenic fault have long been a topic of dispute. In order to accurately define those problems, a 1：50000 active tectonic mapping was carried out along the northern segment of the Chenghai-Binchuan fault zone. The result shows that there is an at least 25 km- long surface rupture and a series of seismic landslides distributed along the Jinguan fault and the Chenghai fault. Radiocarbon dating of the 14C samples indicates that the surface rupture should be a part of the deformation zone caused by the Yongsheng earthquake in the year 1515. The distribution characteristics of this surface rupture indicate that the macroscopic epicenter of the 1515 Yongsheng earthquake may be located near Hongshiya, and the seismogenic fault of this earthquake is the Jinguan- Chenghai fault, the northern part of the Chenghai-Binchuan fault zone. Striations on the surface rupture show that the latest motion of the fault is normal faulting. The maximum co-seismic vertical displacement can be 3.8 m, according to the empirical formula for the fault displacement and moment magnitude relationship, the moment magnitude of the Yongsheng earthquake was Mw 7.3-7.4. Furthermore, combining published age data with the 14C data in this paper reveals that at least four large earthquakes of similar size to the 1515 Yongsheng earthquake, have taken place across the northern segment of the Chenghai-Binchuan fault zone since 17190~50 yr. BP. The in-situ recurrence interval of Mw 7.3-7.4 characteristic earthquakes in Yongsheng along this fault zone is possibly on the order of 6 ka.

High-resolution structure-from-motion models covering 160 km-long surface ruptures of the 2021 M_(W)7.4 Madoi earthquake in northern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

The May 222021 M_(W)7.4 Madoi,Qinghai,China earthquake presented a rare opportunity to apply the modern unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)photography method in extreme altitude and weather conditions to image surface ruptures and near-field effects of earthquake-related surface deformations in the remote Tibet.High-resolution aerial photographs were acquired in the days immediately following the mainshock.The complex surface rupture patterns associated with this event were covered comprehensively at 3-6 cm resolution.This effort represents the first time that an earthquake rupture in the interior of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau has been fully and systematically captured by such high-resolution imagery,with an unprecedented level of detail,over its entire length.The dataset has proven valuable in documenting subtle and transient rupture features,such as the significant mole-tracks and opening fissures,which were ubiquitous coseismically but degraded during the subsequent summer storm season.Such high-quality imagery also helps to document with high fidelity the fractures of the surface rupture zone(supplements of this paper),the pattern related to how the faults ruptured to the ground surface,and the distribution of off-fault damage.In combination with other ground-based mapping efforts,the data will be analyzed in the following months to better understand the mechanics of earthquake rupture related to the fault zone rheology,rupture dynamics,and frictional properties along with the fault interface.

Surface Rupture and Coseismic Displacement of the M_S7.1 Yushu Earthquake

On April 14, 2010, a devastating earthquake measured 7.1 on the Richter scale struck Yushu county, Qinghai Province, China. Field geological investigation and remote sensing interpretation show that this earthquake generated an inverse ＂L-shaped＂ surface rupture zone, approximately 50km long. The surface rupture zone can be divided into three segments. Between the northern and middle segments of the surface rupture, there is a 16km-long segment, where no rupture was observed. The middle and the southern segments are arranged in a left-step manner, and there are right-step en echelon ruptures developed in the stepovers. The seismogenic structure is the Yushu fault, which is dominated by strike-slip with a small amount of thrust component. The earthquake results from the differential movements between the southern Qiangtang Block and northern Bayan Har Block. The earthquake recurrence interval is 185a^108a. Along an approximately 20km-long part of the Garze-Yushu fault, between the southern surface rupture of Yushu Ms7. 1 earthquake and the 1896 earthquake, there is no surface rupture, its seismic risk needs further research.

A Discussion of Some Problems Concerning the Tosonhu Lake M_S7.5 Earthquake in 1937

The East Kuulun active fault zone, which lies in the valley of the Kuulun Mountains above an elevation of 4,000 meters, is an important active fault zone in the Northeast Qinghai-Xizang （Tibet） Plateau. The 1937, the Tosonhu lake Ms7. 5 earthquake occurred in the eastern segment of the East Kuulun active fault zone. Four field investigations were launched on this seism in 1963, 1971, 1980, and between 1986 and 1990. However, due to different extents of the investigations, four different conclusions have been gained. Concerning the length aspect of the surface rupture zone of this earthquake, the unanimous consensus is that its eastern end lies in the west side of the main Ridge of the A ＇nyemaqen Mountains, but opinions about the western end and the location of the macro-epicenter are different. Based on investigation and comprehensive study, a series of scientific problems like geometric and kinetic characteristics, the length of the rupture zone, the maximum sinistral horizontal displacement and the macroepicenter were re-evaluated. We believe that the total length of this earthquake＇s surface deformation zone is at least 240km; the western end of the zone is at the west of Wnsuwuwoguole; the maximum sinistral horizontal displacement is 8m to the west of Baerhalasha gully on the east side of Sanchakou; the maximum vertical displacement is 3.5m in the south of Sanchakou and the macro-epicenter is in Sanchakou.