Main active faults and seismic activity along the Yangtze River Economic Belt:Based on remote sensing geological survey

The Yangtze River Economic Belt(YREB)spans three terrain steps in China and features diverse topography that is characterized by significant differences in geological structure and presentday crustal deformation.Active faults and seismic activity are important geological factors for the planning and development of the YREB.In this paper,the spatial distribution and activity of 165 active faults that exist along the YREB have been compiled from previous findings,using both remote-sensing data and geological survey results.The crustal stability of seven particularly noteworthy typical active fault zones and their potential effects on the crustal stability of the urban agglomerations are analyzed.The main active fault zones in the western YREB,together with the neighboring regional active faults,make up an arc fault block region comprising primarily of Sichuan-Yunnan and a“Sichuan-Yunnan arc rotational-shear active tectonic system”strong deformation region that features rotation,shear and extensional deformation.The active faults in the central-eastern YREB,with seven NE-NNE and seven NW-NWW active faults(the“7-longitudinal,7-horizontal”pattern),macroscopically make up a“chessboard tectonic system”medium-weak deformation region in the geomechanical tectonic system.They are also the main geological constraints for the crustal stability of the YREB.

Analyses of active faults, seismic activities and sea floor unstable factors of the Zhujiang River Mouth Basin and its adjacent areas

-On the basis of the data of geophysics and seismic activities, the analyses of the active faults, seismic activities and the sea floor unstable factors of the Zhujiang River Mouth Basin have been made so as to study the characteristics of the compressional subactive continental margin of Cathaysian system, arc littoral strongly active fracture zone, the division of seismic subzone and seismic zone of the continental margin of northern South China Sea, the potential focal area, and to analyze the regional stability. We consider that the Zhujiang River Mouth Basin belongs to a stable or a moderately stable region.

Study on Active Faults in Quaternary Unconsolidated Sediments by Microstructural Method

Active faults in Quaternary unconsolidated sediments are important indicators to determine paleoearthquake events. They can be studied by macroscopic geological survey, but some problems have been encountered, such as invisible active faults. The authors found an approach to solve these problems by microstructural observation. Firstly, oriented original-state samples of Quaternary unconsolidated sediments in active fault zones are collected. Secondly, the samples are consolidated in laboratory. Thirdly, microstructural slides are ground in three-dimension coordinate system. Lastly, microstructures are observed in the microscopic field. By this method, the movement properties of active faults can be determined in lack of the support of macroscopic data. The invisible faults in Quaternary unconsolidated sediments can be found and described. The mechanisms of die-out faults can be also studied. Moreover, the boundaries between different unconsolidated sediments in engineering sites can be studied to judge whether they are active faults or not.

THE ANALYSIS OF REMOTE SENSING IMAGES FOR ACTIVE FAULTS AND EARTHQUAKES IN CHINA

The Landsat image information has recently been widely applied to structural geology, especially to the analysis of lineaments, owing to their macroscopic, visual and comprehensive features. The images will be more effective when applied to the interpretation of active faults. Active faults are widely ditributed in China. Much attention has been paid to the study of active faults both in China and abroad. There is certain controversy concerning the implication of the term "active fault". Strictly speaking, the term should refer only to the faults that are still active in the present day. However, the term also usually refers to the faults which have been active continually or intermittently from the Quaternary (or the end of Tertiary) to the present day. We propose that the tones and the configurations of features on Landsat images are the principal keys to the interpretation of active faults. The faults, which display the most prominent

Seismic Risk Assessment and Maximum Magnitudes of Potential Earthquakes on Active Faults near Lanzhou City

The Zhuanglang river and Baiyin Baiyangshu river faults are late Quaternary faults near Lanzhou city, which pose a threat to the safety of the city. However, the cause of medium- strong earthquakes along the fault is rather complicated and even uncertain. It is important for us how to assess the magnitudes of maximum potential earthquakes and the seismic risk of the faults. The authors make reference to the method that Wen Xueze, et ai. （2007） developed to assess the magnitudes of maximum potential earthquakes in sub-areas of moderately and weakly active faults in the eastern Chinese Mainland, and brought forward an empirical relationship between the maximum magnitudes Mmax and the at/b values of the sub-areas＇ frequency- magnitude relationships in the Lanzhou area. By using this empirical relationship, the authors have estimated the upper-limits Mu of the Zhuanglang river and Baiyin Baiyangshu river active faults near Lanzhou city as Ms6.9 and 6.3, respectively. In addition, they have assessed the average interval recurrence time and the probabilities of destructive earthquakes on the faults.

Influence of 2008 Wenchuan earthquake on earthquake occurrence trend of active faults in Sichuan-Yunnan region

The Wenchuan earthquake coseismic deformation field is inferred from the coseismic dislocation data based on a 3-D geometric model of the active faults in Sichuan-Yunnan region. Then the potential dislocation displacement is inverted from the deformation field in the 3-D geometric model. While the faults＇ slip velocities are inverted from GPS and leveling data, which can be used as the long-term slip vector. After the potential dislocation displacements are projected to long-term slip direction, we have got the influence of Wenchuan earthquake on active faults in Sichuan-Yunnan region. The results show that the northwestern segment of Longmenshan fault, the southern segments of Xianshuihe fault, Anninghe fault, Zemuhe fault, northern and southern segments of Daliangshan fault, Mabian fault got earthquake risks advanced of 305, 19, 12, 9.1 and 18, 51 years respectively in the eastern part of Sichuan and Yunnan. The Lijiang-Xiaojinhe fault, Nujiang fault, Longling-Lancang fault, Nantinghe fault and Zhongdian fault also got earthquake risks advanced in the western part of Sichuan-Yunnan region. Whereas the northwestern segment of Xianshuihe fault and Xiaojiang fault got earthquake risks reduced after the Wenchuan earthquake.

A Preliminary Study on a Seismotectonic Model for the Active Faults in the Xining Urban Area

On the basis of the Xining active urban fault survey, we studied the relationship between the active urban fault and fold deformation. The result of this research shows that the Huangshuihe fault and the NW-striking fault on the northern bank of the Huangshulbe River are tensional faults on top of an anticline, the Nanchuanhe fault is a transverse tear fault resulting from differential folding on two sides of the fault, the east bank of the Beichuanhe River fault is a compressional fault developed on the core or climb of a syncline. By balance profile analysis of fold deformation and inversion of gravity anomaly data, we obtained the depth of the detachment plane and established the seismotectonic model of the ）fining urban area. Based on the seismotectonic model, we analyzed the earthquake potential of the active urban fault.

The Application of the Acoustic Method to the Exploration of Urban Active Faults and a Comparison with the Artificial Earthquake, and Radar Methods

The depth of upper fault point is the key data for ascertaining the active age of a buried fault on a plain. The difference of depth obtained from same fault may be dozens to several hundred meters when using different geophysical methods. It can result in the absolutely opposite conclusions when judging fault activity. Because of a lack of an artificial earthquake source with wide band and high central frequency, many kinds of methods have to be used together. The higher the frequency of the artificial earthquake wave, electromagnetic wave and sonic wave, the higher the resolution. However the attenuation is also very fast and the exploration depth is very shallow. The reverse is also true. The frequency of artificial seismic waves is in the tens of Hz. Its exploration depth is big and the resolution is poor. The frequency of radar electromagnetic waves is about a million Hz, indicating that the resolving power is better, but the exploration depth is very shallow. However, the acoustic frequency is thousands of Hz, its resolving power is better than that of the artificial earthquake method and the exploration depth is larger than that of the radar method. So it is suitable for extra shallow exploration in the thick deposit strata of the Quaternary. The preliminary results detected using the high frequency acoustic method in extra shallow layers indicates that previous inferences about some fault activity in the eastern part of the North China plain may need to be greatly corrected.

GIS-BASED STUDY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EARTHQUAKES AND ACTIVE FAULTS IN SHANGHAI AND ITS ADJACENT OFFSHORE REGION, EAST CHINA

The relation between earthquakes and active faults in Shanghai and its adjacent offshore region is quantitatively evaluated using GIS-based buffer and overlay analysis techniques. Statistics on the distance from the epicenter of an earthquake to its nearest active fault suggest that most earthquakes in the study area occurred within 10 to 20 km of major active faults. The strikes of active faults have significant influences on the occurrence of earthquakes. The NE-NNE-striked faults are less active than NW-NNW- or EW-striked faults. Along the NW-NNW- or EW-striked faults, the frequency of earthquakes is much higher than that along NE-NNE-striked faults. The time of fault activity has some degree of influence on the earthquakes. The newer the faults, the higher the frequency of earthquakes within the zone of the faults.

Study on Active Faults and Seismogenic Structure for the 1989 Batang M6.2～6.7 Earthquake Swarm in the Litang-Batang Region of West Sichuan,China

Fault structures in the Litang-Batang region of West Sichuan are mainly sub-longitudinal and a set of NNE- and NW-trending conjugate shear fracture zones is developed. In this paper, emphasis is put on explaining the movement patterns along the fault structures in the region since the late Pleistocene-Holocene on the basis of detailed interpretation of TM satellite images and aero-photos in geomorphologic aspect of active structures. The sub-latitudinal shortening rate along the sub-longitudinal Jinshajiang fault zone is determined to be 2～3mm/a since the late Quaternary, the horizontal dextral slip movement rate along the NNE-trending Batang fault is 1.3～2.7mm/a on average, and the horizontal sinistral slip movement rate along the NW-trending Litang fault is 2.6～4.4 mm/a on average. The general status of the recent crustal movement in the region and the regularities of block motion caused by it are analyzed in combination with data of geophysical fields, focal mechanism solutions and GPS measurements. The occurrence of the 1989 Batang M6.2～6.7 earthquake swarm is suggested to be the result of tensional rupture along the sub-latitudinal normal fault derived from the conjugate shearing along the NNE-trending Batang and the NW-trending Litang faults. It reveals a typical seismic case produced by normal faulting in a compressional tectonic environment.

Comprehensive Multi-Level Exploration of Buried Active Faults:an Example of the Yinchuan Buried Active Fault

The paper introduces the steps and methods of multi-approach, multi-level exploration of buried faults in thick Quaternary sediment regions by taking the test exploration of the Yinchuan active fault as example. Based on the comprehensive analyses of previous data, we choose the Xinqushao Village of Xingqing District of Yinchuan City as the test site for the comprehensive exploration. Firstly, we adopted shallow seismic investigation with group intervals of 10m, 5m and lm to gradually trace layer by layer the master fault of the Yinchuan buried fault from a deep depth to a shallow depth where drilling could be used. Then, with composite geological profile drilling, we determined the precise location and dip angle of the fault. The drilling show the buried depth of the upper offset point is 8.3m. Finally, large-scale trenching revealed that the actual buried depth of the upper offset point of the fault is 1.5m from the ground surface and there are paleoearthquake events of 5 stages. Combined with the preliminary result of corresponding sample age, we conclude the Yinchuan buried fault is a mid to late Holocene active fault.

Active faults and seismogenic models for the Urumqi city,Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China

We have studied the characteristics of the active faults and seismicity in the vicinity of Urumqi city, the capital of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China, and have proposed a seismogenic model for the assessment of earthquake hazard in this area. Our work is based on an integrated analysis of data from investigations of active faults at the surface, deep seismic reflection soundings, seismic profiles from petroleum exploration, observations of temporal seismic stations, and the precise location of small earthquakes. We have made a comparative study of typical seismogenic structures in the frontal area of the North Tianshan Mountains, where Urumqi city is situated, and have revealed the primary features of the thrust-fold- nappe structure there. We suggest that Urumqi city is comprised two zones of seismotectonics which are inter- preted as thrust-nappe structures. The first is the thrust nappe of the North Tianshan Mountains in the west, con- sisting of the lower （root） thrust fault, middle detachment, and upper fold-uplift at the front. Faults active in the Pleistocene are present in the lower and upper parts of this structure, and the detachment in the middle spreads toward the north. In the future, M7 earthquakes may occur at the root thrust fault, while the seismic risk of frontal fold-uplift at the front will not exceed M6.5. The second structure is the western flank of the arc-like Bogda nappe in the east, which is also comprised a root thrust fault, middle detachment, and upper fold-uplift at the front, of which the nappe stretches toward the north; several active faults are also developed in it. The fault active in the Holocene is called the South Fukang fault. It is not in the urban area of Urumqi city. The other three faults are located in the urban area and were active in the late Pleistocene. In these cases, this section of the nappe structure near the city has an earthquake risk of M6.5-7, An earthquake Ms6.6, 60 km east to Urumqi city occurred along the structure in 1965.

Seismic active faults in the northwestern Beijing by seismic tomography

Using the arrival times of 197 earthquakes well recorded by the Beijing Seismic Network and the China-Germany cooperative Yanqing Digital Seismic Array in the period from October of 2001 to December of 2005, we accurately relocate these earthquakes by the joint-inversion program for hypocentral position and 3-D velocity structure The distribution of hypocenters shows that there are two major seismic active belts in the northwestern Beijing. The first belt stretches from Qinghe, Wenquan to the NW direction and the second extends from Nankou, Changping to the ENE direction.

A reappraisal of active faults in central-east Iran(Kerman province)

Fault lineaments are the main input data in earthquake engineering and seismology studies.This study presents a digitally-based active fault map of the Kerman region in central-east Iran which experienced several devastating earthquakes on poorly exposed and/or not identified active faults.Using Landsat 8 data,we have carried out the image-based procedures of fault mapping,which include applying the contrast stretching technique,the principal component analysis,the color composite technique,the spectral rationing,and creating the false-color composite images.Besides,we have cross-checked the resulting map with the geological maps provided by the Geological Survey of Iran to decrease the associated uncertainties.The resulting map includes 123 fault segments,still,a part of which has been expressed in the previously compiled active-fault maps of Iran.Indeed,the new one is mapping the poorly exposed active faults,so-called secondary faults,which are able to produce strong events.These faults are primarily associated with poorly defined areas that accommodate low levels of seismicity;however,sporadic strong events are likely to occur.It has also been investigated that these kinds of faults are seismogenic and are able to produce destructive events.In total,the outcome of this study can also be jointed with seismic studies for investigating parts of the earthquake activity in central-east Iran,in particular for the fault-based approaches in impending earthquake-resistant buildings.

Soil Gas Radon Measurement for Identifying Active Faults in Thua Thien Hue (Vietnam)

The solid-state nuclear track detectors have long been applied to assess the activity of tectonic faults. We measured the Radon (Rn) concentration in soil gas on 09 profiles with a total of 245 measurement points in Thua Thien Hue area (Vietnam). Measurement results show that the Rn concentration in soil gas ranges from ~10 Bq/m3 to 144,570 Bq/m3. There is a clear difference in the Rn concentration on the granite rock of Dai Loc complex compared to the remaining rocks. The calculated background value and anomaly threshold of Rn concentration on the granite rock of Dai Loc complex and on the remaining rocks are 33,488 Bq/m3, 82,839 Bq/m3 and 5313 Bq/m3, 24,850 Bq/m3 respectively. Spatial distribution of Rn concentration in soil gas reflects the existence of faults since Rn concentration increases at the points above or near fault lines. The level of expression of fault activity is assessed by radon activity index (KRn), which is calculated by the ratio of anomaly value to background value of Rn concentration. According to KRn, in Thua Thien Hue area, only the Dakrong-Hue fault shows a strong expression of activity with high and very high KRn (the maximum KRn = 27.21). The Truong Son, Huu Trach River, Ta Trach River and Bo River fault zones do not show clear activity with low and medium KRn. There is no Rn anomaly value recorded on the Rao Trang fault, demonstrating that it is likely to be inactive at present. The study results indicate that the Rn concentration in soil gas is a strong evidence of the existence of faults or tectonic fracture zones as the Rn concentration always increases at the points above or near the fault line.

Study on Anti-Disturbance and High-Resolution Shallow Seismic Exploration of Active Faults in Urban Regions

The significance of detection of urban active faults and the general situation concerning detection of urban active faults in the world are briefly introduced. In a brief description of the basic principles of anti-disturbance and high-resolution shallow seismic exploration, the stress is put on the excitation of seismic sources, the performance of digital seismographs, receiving mode and conditions, geometry as well as data acquisition, processing and interpretation in the anti-disturbance and high-resolution shallow seismic exploration of urban active faults. The study indicates that a controlled seismic source with a linear or nonlinear frequency-conversion scanning function and the relevant seismographs must be used in data acquisition, as well as working methods for small group interval, small offset, multi-channel receiving, short-array and high-frequency detectors for receiving are used. Attention should be paid to the application of techniques for static correction of refraction, noise suppressing, high-precision analysis of velocity, wavelet compressing, zero-phasing of wavelet and pre-stacking migration to data processing and interpretation. Finally, some cases of anti-disturbance and high-resolution shallow seismic exploration of urban active faults are present in the paper.

Research on the Relationship between Active Faults and Earthquakes in the Junction Area of the China North-South Seismic Belt and Central Orogenic Belt Based on GIS

Research on the relationship between faults and seismicity in the junction area of China's north-south seismic belt and central orogenic belt based on the Geography Information System (GIS) has been done.For each of the 16 faults in this area,we build a 25km buffer zone and use overlay analysis to investigate the seismicity and its characteristics on each fault.The results unveil the main seismic faults as follows:the western segment of the northern-edge of the west Qinling fault,the southwestern segment of the Lixian-Luojiabao fault,the southeastern segment of the Lintan-Dangchang fault,the southwestern segment of the Wenxian fault,the Huya fault,and the Xueshan fault.The most active faults are the Huya and Xueshan faults,then the Tazang fault,the Lixian-Luojiabao fault and the northern piedmont of the Guanggaishan-Dieshan fault.The research zone can be divided into four areas according to focal depth,which gets deeper from north to south.The profile of focal depth indicates the geometry and mechanical property of faults,and further reveals the movement model of eastward extrusion of the Tibetan plateau and southeastward escape of masses,thus providing basis for the protection against earthquakes and hazard mitigation in this area.

The Acquisition Technique of High-resolution Seismic Data for the Prospecting of Active Faults

The high-resolution shallow seismic technique can be used for more accurately prospecting the position and property of faults and for the preliminary study of fault activity.The author obtains many high quality stack time sections through the prospecting methods of different seismic sources,different group intervals and different observation systems on the Xiadian fault.These sections clearly display the stratum structure and the structure characteristics from several meters to several hundred meters of the Xiadian fault.The resolutions of the different seismic sources,different group intervals and different observing systems are obtained.The prospecting methods and work parameters applicable for goal stratum of different depths and different accuracy requirements are proposed through the analysis of the stack time sections.This lays a good foundation for raising the prospecting resolution of the fault position and the latest active time of the fault.

Techniques for Surveying Urban Active Faults by Seismic Methods

Using the seismic method to detect active faults directly below cities is an irreplaceable prospecting technique. The seismic method can precisely determine the fault position. Seismic method itself can hardly determine the geological age of fault. However, by considering in connection with the borehole data and the standard geological cross-section of the surveyed area, the geological age of reflected wave group can be qualitatively (or semi-quantitatively) determined from the seismic depth profile. To determine the upper terminal point of active faults directly below city, it is necessary to use the high-resolution seismic reflection technique. To effectively determine the geometric feature of deep faults, especially to determine the relation between deep and shallow fracture structures, the seismic reflection method is better than the seismic refraction method.

Velocity Structure Beneath Active Faults and Seismic Tectonic Characteristics in the Beijing Area

Velocity structure beneath active faults in the Beijing area has been discussed,based on the digital crustal model of velocity from deep seismic sounding profiles and tomography imaging of P waves. We found that there exists nearly vertical deep faults beneath the Shunyi Depression and the Machiko Depression,which are very likely to be seismogenic faults in the future. In the superficial crust,the north segment of the Shunyi-QianmenLiangxiang fault,the north segment of the Huangzhuang-Gaoliying fault and the Qinghe fault show a trend to converge but without intersecting with vertical deep faults. This kind of seismo-tectonic state has great potential to generate large earthquakes.