Characteristics and main controlling factors of helium resources in the main petroliferous basins of the North China Craton

At present, the main controlling factors of helium accumulation is one of the key scientific problems restricting the exploration and development of helium reservoir. In this paper, based on the calculation results of He generation rate and the geochemical characteristics of the produced gas, both the similarities and differences between natural gas and He resources in the Bohai Bay, Ordos and the surrounding Songliao Basin are compared and analyzed, discussing the main controlling factors of helium resources in the three main petroliferous basins of the North China Craton. It is found that the three basins of Bohai Bay, Ordos and Songliao have similar characteristics of source rocks, reservoirs and cap rocks, that's why their methane resource characteristics are essentially the same. The calculated ~4He generation per cubic metamorphic crystalline basement in the three basins is roughly equivalent, which is consistent with the measured He resources, and it is believed that the ~4He of radiogenic from the crust is the main factor controlling the overall He accumulation in the three basins;there is almost no contribution of the mantle-derived CH_4, which suggests that the transport and uplift of mantle-derived ~3He carried by the present-day magmatic activities along the deep-large faults is not the main reason for the mantle-derived ~3He mixing in the basins. Combined with the results of regional volcanic and geophysical studies,it is concluded that under the background of the destruction of North China Craton, magma intrusion carried a large amount of mantle-derived material and formed basic volcanic rocks in the Bohai Bay Basin and Songliao Basin, which replenished mantle-derived ~3He for the interior of the basins, and that strong seismic activities in and around the basins also promoted the upward migration of mantle source ~3He. This study suggests that the tectonic zone with dense volcanic rocks in the Cenozoic era and a high incidence of historical strong earthquakes history may be a potential area for helium resource exploration.

Quantitative data about active tectonics and possible locations of strong earthquakes in the future in the northwestern Beijing

Deterministic, probabilistic and composite-grading methods are used to get the possible locations of strong earth-quakes in the future in Norwest Beijing and its vicinity based on the quantitative data and their accuracy about active tectonics in the research area and by ordering, some questions in the results are also discussed. It shows that the most dangerous fault segments for strong earthquakes in the future include: segments B and A of the southern boundary fault of the Yangyuan basin, the southern boundary fault of the Xuanhua basin, the east segment of the southern Huaian fault and the east segment of the northern YanggaoTianzhen fault. The most dangerous area is YangyuanShenjing basin, the second one is TianzhenHuaianXuanhua basin and the third dangerous areas are WanquanZhangjiakou and northeast of Yuxian to southwest of Fanshan.

Parameter estimation of the stochastic AMR model and its application to the study of several strong earthquakes

Based on the stochastic AMR model, this paper constructs man-made earthquake catalogues to investigate the property of parameter estimation of the model. Then the stochastic AMR model is applied to the study of several strong earthquakes in China and New Zealand. Akaikes AIC criterion is used to discriminate whether an accelerating mode of earthquake activity precedes those events or not. Finally, regional accelerating seismic activity and possible prediction approach for future strong earthquakes are discussed.

Relationship between the earthquake sequences of Tangshan and Xingtai and the three dimensional velocity structure──Discussion on predicting strong earthquakes of swarm-type

In this paper, based on the results of tomographic image of Tangshan and Xingtai areas, the relations between thecharacteristics of the two strong earthquake sequences and their three-dimensional velocity structures are studied.The research results indicate that:① Mosaic distribution of low-velocity bodies and high-velocity bodies, especially the existence of high-velocity bodies with large size in crust are the common basis of development of thetwo earthquake sequences. ② Scale, depth, and heterogeneity of high-velocity and low-velocity bodies are theimportant factors to effect the characteristic of earthquake sequences. ③ The depth of the high-velocity body inTangshan area is less than that in Xingtai area, which is the principal reason why the dominant focal depth and thebiggest focal depth of Tangshan earthquake sequence are less than Xingtai's. ④ The depth of the high-velocitybodies in Ninghe area is more than that in Tangshan-Luanxian area, which lead to the biggest magnitude and epicentral intensity are lower. These results could be helpful for predicting the main shock of strong swarm-typeearthquakes and later strong aftershocks.

Spatio-temporal characteristics of strong aftershocks of the M_S8.0 Wenchuan earthquake

Based on Gutenberg-Richter＇s relation,Bath＇s law,Omori＇s law and Well＇s relation of rupture scale,this paper forecasts the temporal decay,total number,possible area and greatest magnitude of strong aftershocks（greater than or equal to M6.0） of the MS8.0 Wenchuan earthquake by using the magnitude and statistical parameters of earthquakes in California area of USA.The number of strong aftershocks,the parameters of Gutenberg-Richter＇s relation and the modified form of Omori＇s law are validated based on the relocation data of aftershock sequence of the MS8.0 Wenchuan earthquake.Moreover,the spatio-temporal characteristics and wave energy release of the strong aftershocks（M≥6.0） are analyzed.The result shows that strong aftershocks may occur at the end of local drop and sharp drop on the wave energy release curve.

Analysis on the master event method and precise location of 1997 Jiashi strong earthquake swarm in western China

Master event location method was described in detail in this paper. Some problems in the application of master event method have been analyzed and some improvements of the method have been made. As compared the location results of MS>=3.0 earthquakes of Jiashi swarm obtained by using this method with that by the traditional absolute method, the result obtained by using the master event method shows more reasonable and more consistent with that from the focal mechanism solutions. After relocation, we can see, the epicenters of M>=5.0 earthquakes show an echelon-type alignment along NNW-SSE direction, and all earthquakes concentrate nearly in a volume region about 30 km (N-S) × 15 km (E-W) × 15 km (U-D). Earthquake focal depths are mainly in the range of 15-28 km.

Preliminary results of strong ground motion simulation for the Lushan earthquake of 20 April 2013,China

The earthquake occurred in Lushan County on 20 April, 2013 caused heavy casualty and economic loss. In order to understand how the seismic energy propagates during this earthquake and how it causes the seismic haz- ard, we simulated the strong ground motions from a rep- resentative kinematic source model by Zhang et al. （Chin J Geophys 56（4）：1408-1411, 2013） for this earthquake. To include the topographic effects, we used the curved grids finite difference method by Zhang and Chen （Geophys J Int 167（1）：337-353, 2006）, Zhang et al. （Geophys J Int 190（1）：358-378, 2012） to implement the simulations. Our results indicated that the majority of seismic energy con- centrated in the epicentral area and the vicinal Sichuan Basin, causing the XI and VII degree intensity. Due to the strong topographic effects of the mountain, the seismic intensity in the border area across the northeastern of Boxing County to the Lushan County also reached IX degree. Moreover, the strong influence of topography caused the amplifications of ground shaking at the moun- tain ridge, which is easy to cause landslides. These results are quite similar to those observed in the Wenchuan earthquake of 2008 occurred also in a strong topographic mountain area.

Segmentations of active normal dip-slip faults around Ordos block according to their surface ruptures in historical strong earthquakes

From the results of researches of active faults in resent years, a correlation analysis between segments of the faults according to surface ruptures in nine historical strong earthquakes occurring in downfaulted system and active structures around Ordos block is conducted in paper. The result shows that there is a good correlation between them, except few individual data that have more uncertain parameters. It shows that intensity and segments of surface ruptures in these strong earthquakes are intrinsically related with the active structures. These strong earthquakes produced stable and unstable rupture boundaries of characteristic-earthquake type and successive occurrence of strong earthquakes on the different boundary faults in the same tectonic unit.

Analysis of landslide damage caused by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake using strong motion data: A case study in the Beichuan county town

The county town of Beichuan county, China, experienced catastrophic destruction due to landslides induce by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. In consideration of the special location of the county town, this paper selected the landslides induced in the town as representative of large-scale near-rupture landslides, and quantitatively analyzed why the landslide damage was so destructive in the town by using strong motion data obtained from the Wenchuan earthquake in the Longmenshan area. Three methods were employed to estimate the landslide damage using strong motion data. （1） Peak ground accelerations （PGAs） on the hanging wall were used to evaluate the PGAs on the landslide sites in the town. The evaluated average PGAs were all greater than I g, indicating that the ground motion intensity was very strong during the earthquake. （2） Acceleration time histories, from another station with similar geological conditions to the town, were used to evaluate the critical acceleration changing range, and the estimated values showed the geological conditions were very susceptible to earthquakes. （3） Acceleration time histories, from two stations on the hanging and foot walls of the rupture, and near the town, were used to calculate the Newmark displacements, and all the evaluated displacements indicated that landslides were very likely. The results show that the slopes, susceptible to earthquakes in the Beichuan county town, were easily triggered under such strong ground-motion intensity and developed into large-scale catastrophic events.

Grouping occurrences being the fundamental feature of the strong earthquakes in Chinese mainland

The temporal and spatial distributions of all the 259 M≥6 earthquakes of eastern Chinese mainland (λ≥108° E) and its adjacent area and all the 153 M≥7 earthquakes of western Chinese mainland (λ<108°E) and its adjacent area up to 1991 were analyzed systematically.These earthquakes are called as strong earthquakes and those of the east before and after 1600,and those of the west before and after 1900, are called respectively as former ones and latter ones.Most of these events were divided into 45 sets of which the each relatively concentrated in both time and space and took the form of group.In the grouping form,the probability of occurrence of a strong earthquake higher than the average appeared simultaneously in time and space.The grouping occurrences of the strong earthquakes of Chinese mainland has been determined as a fundamental feature of the seismicity.

Preliminary analysis for the roles of crustal low-velocity and high-conductivity body in process of strong earthquake preparation

In this paper, the roles of low velocity and high conductivity body inside the crust in the process of strong earth quake preparation are approached by using theoretical analysis method based on the comprehensive researches on the fine structure of strong seismic source in the North China. The following results are obtained. The low-velocity and high-conductivity body plays the promoting role for the action of deep-seated structure in the medium stage of earthquake preparation, except that its existence is advantageous to the stress concentrating in the overlying brittle layer during the process of earthquake preparation. And it plays the triggering role for the occurrence of strong earthquake in the later stage of earthquake preparation.

Tomographic determination of the upper crustal structure in the Jiashi strong earthquake swarm region

A three-dimensional temporary seismic transmission array was arranged in a 50x60 km2 region around Jiashi strong earthquake swarm to receive seismic waves generated by 8 fires from different azimuths. With the inversion method without model blocks and using P and S reflections from Moho at critical distances, the 3-D images of P, S velocity perturbation and ratio vP/vS perturbation of the upper crust under the seismic array were reconstructed. Meanwhile, the seismicity of the Jiashi earthquake swarm was taken into consideration in the analysis of the seismogenesis. The results indicate that the upper crustal structure under the Jiashi strong earthquake swarm region is characterized by significant inhomogeneity both laterally and vertically. From 12 km depth, it is clear that there is an NNW-oriented high P-wave velocity anomalous body corresponding to the epicenter of the swarm with low-velocity anomaly around it, which is the direct cause of the strong earthquakes. High vP/vS is distributed in the same location, which may indicate the decline of shear strength of the source region owing to relative softness of the medium, this can be accounted as an explanation for the seismicity feature of the Jiashi strong earthquake swarm.

Estimation of the 2010 Mentawai tsunami earthquake rupture process from joint inversion of teleseismic and strong ground motion data

Joint inversion of teleseismic body-wave data and strong ground motion waveforms was applied to determine the rupture process of the 2010 Mentawai earthquake. To obtain stable solutions, smoothing and non-negative constraints were introduced. A total of 33 teleseismic stations and 5 strong ground motion stations supplied data. The teleseismic and strong ground motion data were separately windowed for 150 s and 250 s and bandpass filtered with frequencies of 0.001e1.0 Hz and 0.005e0.5 Hz, respectively. The finitefault model was established with length and width of 190 km and 70 km, and the initial seismic source parameters were set by referring to centroid moment tensor(CMT) solutions. Joint inversion results indicate that the focal mechanism of this earthquake is thrust fault type, and the strike, dip, and rake angles are generally in accordance with CMT results. The seismic moment was determined as 5.814 1020Nm(Mw7.8) and source duration was about 102 s, which is greater than those of other earthquakes of similar magnitude. The rupture nucleated near the hypocenter and then propagated along the strike direction to the northwest, with a maximum slip of 3.9 m. Large uncertainties regarding the amount of slip retrieved using different inversion methods still exist; however, the conclusion that the majority of slip occurred far from the islands at very shallow depths was found to be robust. The 2010 Mentawai earthquake was categorized as a tsunami earthquake because of the long rupture duration and the generation of a tsunami much larger than was expected for an earthquake of its magnitude.

The characteristics of variation in inhomo geneity of temporalspatial distribution of short to imminent precursors before strong earthquakes

C_v is used in this paper to describe the variation in inhomogeneity of spatial and temporal distribution of precur sors. The inhomogeneous variation in the spatial and temporal distribution of the anomalies in water radon and electromagnetic waves before M_s≈6 earthquakes in northern North China is analyzed in detail. Results show that before a moderate to strong earthquake, the distribution of anomalies in water radon and electromagnetic waves changes inhomogeneously, i.e., C_v increases significantly. The inhomogeneity in spatial distribution of short-to- imminent precursors increases before a strong earthquake, which may relates to the enhancement of crustal strain field. The research will not only help us to know more about the process of seismogeny and to improve practical earthquake prediction, but also blaze a new way to do earthquake prediction with present precursor data.

Periodic spectral characteristics of seismicity before strong earthquakes and their application

Periodic spectral characteristics of earthquake activity in the seismic strengthening areas of 24 ewthquakes withM≥ 6.0 are studied by the maximum entropy spectral method whose superiority is tested. Then the follow resultshave been obtained : ① The periodic spectra of seismic activity in seismic strengthening areas are different indifferent stage in earthquake-generating processes. Long periodic spectra and short ones coexist in normal stage,while only short ones (on average, 43% of long ones) exist and long ones disappear prior to ear’thquakes. ② Theappearing time of short period before earthquakes has some relations with magnitude. The result shows thatdecades or even one hundred years is the common value for a great earthquake of M=8.0, 30 years for one withmagnitude about 7 and 20-30 years for a strong quake of M=6.0. For the same magnitude earthquakes in differentregions the appearing time is also different. For example, it is longer in North China than that in the western pan ofChina. Then the characteristics are preliminarily explained applying the strong body earthquake-generating model.Applying the maximum entropy spectral method, the idea of tendency prediction for strong and great earthquakesis suggested and used into practice. for example. the tendency predictions of the Wuding earthquake with M=6.5and the Lijiang earthquake of M=7.0 in Yunnan Province got some positive effects. So a new method of tendencyprediction of M≥6.0 earthquakes is offered.

Parameter estimation of the stochastic AMR model and its application to the study of several strong earthquakes

Based on the stochastic AMR model, this paper constructs man-made earthquake catalogues to investigate the property of parameter estimation of the model. Then the stochastic AMR model is applied to the study of several strong earthquakes in China and New Zealand. Akaikes AIC criterion is used to discriminate whether an accelerating mode of earthquake activity precedes those events or not. Finally, regional accelerating seismic activity and possible prediction approach for future strong earthquakes are discussed.

The Characteristics of Time Series of Strong Earthquakes in the World and the Chinese Mainland

Based on the strong earthquake catalogue,this paper discusses the characteristics of the time series of strong earthquake activities in the world,western Chinese mainland and its peripheral "big triangle seismic region",as well as the Chinese mainland.According to the analysis of the periodic features of global seismicity of M ≥8.0 strong events,it is found that there is significant difference in global seismicity before and after the 1960s.Statistical analysis with the Fisher method has revealed that the "big triangular seismic region"has experienced a process of M8.0 earthquake activity with a duration of over a hundred years since 1800.Further analysis shows that the global seismicity and the "big triangular seismic region"possibly has a period of a hundred-year scale,and has quasisynchronicity to a certain extent.The shallow earthquake activity of M S ≥7.0 in the Chinese mainland is obviously controlled by the seismicity in the big triangular seismic region and by global seismicity in a larger spatial-scale.In terms of the time series of these earthquakes,the seismicity shows a decadal and century-scale activity patterns.

Study of the Seismicity of Strong Earthquakes in the Yunnan Area

Yunnan is located in the east margin of the collision zone between the India Plate and the Eurasian Plate on the Chinese Continent, where crustal movement is violent and moderate-strong earthquakes are frequent. In addition, the area features marked active block movement. Therefore, Yunnan is a perfect place for research on strong earthquake activity. Through the study on the temporal and spatial distribution of the M≥6.7 earthquakes and the related earthquake dynamics in Yunnan in the last century, we conclude that the four seismically active periods, which are characterized by alternative activity in the east and the west part of Yunnan, possibly result from a combination of active and quiescent periods in each of the east and west part. And for every 100 years, there may be a period in which strong earthquakes occur in the east and west parts simultaneously. In addition, the seismicity of strong earthquakes in Yunnan corresponds well to that in the peripheral region. The seismicity of the great earthquakes in the Andaman-Myanmar Tectonic Arc belt indicates, to some extent, the beginning of a seismically active period in Yunnan. The seismicity of strong earthquakes in east Yunnan is closely related to that in Sichuan. Strong earthquakes in Sichuan often occur later than those in Yunnan. Furthermore, in the east part of Yunnan, the three procedures including continuous occurrence of moderate-strong earthquake, quiescent period, and the occurrence of the first strong earthquake may be the style of the beginning of the earthquake active period. The above cognition is helpful to the study of earthquake prediction, seismogenic mechanism, and the dynamics of the plate margin in Yunnan.

Research on the Characteristics and Repeatability of Strong Earthquake Activity in Sichuan-Yunnan

According to the method for predicting strong earthquakes using seismicity patterns,this paper summarizes the seismicity anomalies, generally called anomalous seismicity patterns,as the basis for prediction based on some historical data in the Sichuan-Yunnan seismic zone. Using our results,it can be confirmed that these anomaly patterns,which reflect the features of the late stage of strong earthquake preparation process and stress release in the main shock rupture zone,did exist before many earthquake cases. This paper also introduced the characteristics of seismic repeatability and its validation result,and discussed the mechanism of repeatability,which will have an application value for strong earthquake tendency prediction.

The shock event of October 6,1597 is a strong deep earthquake

A special earth shock event was recorded at 22 counties of the 7 provinces of eastern China on October 6,1597,and 2 volcanic eruptions and seismic activities were recorded in Sanshui county,Xianjingbeidao,Korea atthat day and the 3rd day. Because of the large range of this shock,low intensity,slow attenuation and no extreme-earthquake area,its epicenter and focus could not be determined on the scientific-technological conditions at thattime,In the Seismological Catalogue of China(GU,1983)published in 1983,its epicenter was determined to be inthe Bo Sea(38.5°N,120.0°E),its magnitude was 7;and it was changed into 7.5 in the later Seismological Cata-