Statistical features of aftershock distribution size for moderate and large earthquakes in Chinese mainland

Based on data of earthquake sequences with Ms≥5.0 in Chinese mainland from 1970 to 2004, for different sequence types and different rupture modes of the main shock, the relationship between aftershock distribution size R and the magnitude of the main shock Mo has been studied statistically. Considering the rupture mode of the main shock, we give the quantitative statistical relationships between R and Mo under 95% confidence level for different sequence typos. Qualitatively, lgR, the logarithm of the aftershock distribution size, is positively correlative to the M0, but the data distribution is dispersed. Viewing from different sequence typos, the correlation between R and M0 is very weak for isolated earthquake type （lET） sequence, R distributes in the range from 5 to 60 km; For mainshock-aftershock type （MAT）, lgR is positively correlative to M0; For multiple main shock type （MMT）, the corelation between lgR and M0 is not very obvious when M0≤6.2 and R distributes in the range from 5 to 70 km, while it shows a linear correlation when M0≥6.3. The statistical results also show that the occupational ratios of different sequence types for strike-slip and oblique slip are almost the same. But for dip-slip （mostly are thrust mechanisms）, the ratio of MAT is higher than that of IET and MMT. Comparing with previous results, it indicates that, when M0 is large enough, R is mainly determined by M0 and there is almost no relationship with the rupture mode of the main shock.

The Static Stress Triggering Effects Related to the Yutian M_S7.3 Earthquake

This paper calculates the static Coulomb stress changes generated by four earthquakes in the Yutian area during 2008 ~ 2014 separately,then discusses the triggering influence,their accumulated Coulomb stress changes and their influence on nearby faults.The results indicate that the M S5.5 earthquake in 2011 and the M_S7.3 earthquake in 2014 are both in the regions where the Coulomb stress change is positive,the stress changes are 0.004 MPa and 0.021 MPa, respectively, meaning they are triggered by prior earthquakes.The M S6.2 earthquake in 2012 occurred in the place where Coulomb stress change was negative,so it is postponed by the prior earthquakes.The image of Coulomb stress changes of the M S7.3 earthquake in 2014 is in accord with aftershocks( M L≥ 3.0)distribution,but some regions on the fault where the Coulomb stress change is positive have few aftershocks,and strong aftershocks may occur at these districts in future.In addition,this paper calculates the Coulomb stress change on nearby faults,and finds that the Coulomb stress changes of different elements in the GGC fault are very different,and must receive strong triggered-influence,though the result may be influenced by the input finite fault model,so there is still a large earthquake-risk.The GGN,PLC,PLW and LBW faults were also triggered by the four earthquakes occurring between 2008 ~ 2014.Their maximum Coulomb stress changes all exceed 0.002 MPa,so they also have a strong earthquake hazard.

The Effect of Static Stress Triggering of the M_S 7. 1 Yushu Earthquake

This paper calculates the static stress changes generated by the Yushu M_S 7. 1 earthquake in Qinghai Province. On the basis of regional stress,we take account of the static stress change triggered by the Yushu M_S 7. 1 earthquake to find the optimally oriented fault planes,then calculate the Coulomb stress change on the optimally oriented fault plane. The results indicate that most of the aftershocks are triggered by the mainshock. The image of Coulomb stress changes is also in accord with regional earthquakes ( M_L ≥3. 0 ) distribution,but the value is lower than 0. 01MPa. In addition,this paper calculates the Coulomb stress changes in the case that the aftershock fault plane is the same as the main shock. Through comparison,we find that the image of Coulomb stress changes obtained using the "optimally oriented fault"approach is more consistent with the distribution of Yushu aftershocks and regional earthquakes.

Research on Frequency of the Aftershock Sequence of the Wenchuan Earthquake Based on Coseismic Coulomb Stress Change

By the aftershock frequency estimation method based on the calculation of coseismic static Coulomb stress changes and rate-and state-dependent fault constitutive law,we calculate the frequency of "direct "aftershocks of the Wenchuan earthquake related to coseismic static Coulomb stress changes in its aftershock zone and the areas nearby.It shows that the frequency is significantly lower than the truth in the main rupture zone,especially in the southern rupture zone,due to the decrease of stress level on the rupture plane of the main shock resulting from coseismic Coulomb stress change.The study also shows that the effect of the Coulomb stress change on the duration of aftershock activity is associated with the lower limit magnitude.The duration is about 15-16 months for aftershocks above ML4.0,and close to 60 months for aftershocks above ML3.5.In this period,the ratio of the"direct"aftershocks caused by coseismic Coulomb stress change ranges between 44.7% to48.6%,which suggests that,even in the "effective"period of coseismic Coulomb stress changes,about half of the aftershocks on the main shock rupture plane are independent of coseismic Coulomb stress changes.It is pointed out that those aftershocks may be related to the afterslip or the viscoelastic relaxation,which are time dependent cases.

Relocation of the Yushu M_S7.1 earthquake and its aftershocks in 2010 from HypoDD

After the Yushu M S 7.1 earthquake on April 14,2010,a large number of aftershocks were recorded by the surrounding permanent network and temporary seismic stations.Due to the distribution of stations,knowledge about velocity structure,the reliability of seismic phases,and so on,the location result from conventional method is usually of low precision,from which it is difficult to recognize the spatial and temporal distribution and the trends of aftershock activity.In this paper,by using teleseismic waveforms recorded by permanent station,the seismic velocity structure beneath the vicinity is obtained from receiver function stacking and inversion methods.And the Yushu earthquake sequences are relocated from seismic phase data by HypoDD.The results show that the Yushu M S 7.1 earthquake occurred at 13 km depth;the aftershock sequences were distributed mainly in the NWW along the Garzê-Yushu fault,and most aftershocks were concentrated in a 100 km length and 5-20 km depth.Combined with the velocity structure,it can be inferred that the earthquake mainly destroys the high-velocity layer of the upper crust.In the west of the seismic fault near(33.3°N,96.2°E),the aftershock sequences were distributed like a straight column,suggesting there was a comminuted break from 25km depth to the ground.