Application of fuzzy clustering method to determining sub-fault planes of earthquake from aftershocks sequence

Earthquake rupture process generally involves several faults activities instead of a single fault A new method using both fuzzy clustering and principal component analysis makes it possible to reconstruct three dimensional structure of involved faults in earthquake if the aftershocks around the active fault planes distribute uniformly. When seismic events are given, the optimal faults structures can be determined by our new method. Each of sub-fault planes is fully characterized by its central location, length, width, strike and dip. The resolution determines the number of fault segments needed to describe the earthquake catalog. The higher the resolution, the finer the structure of the reconstructed fault segments. The new method successfully reconstructs the fault segments using synthetic earthquake catalogs. By taking the 28 June 1992 Landers earthquake oceured in southern California as an example, the reconstructed fault segments are consistent with the faults already known on geological maps or blind faults that appeared quite frequently in longer-term catalogs.

Applications of seismic moment tensor inversion in fast response to earthquakes

Using the technique of seismic moment tensor inversion, the source mechanisms of 10 earthquakes with Ms5.2that occurred in China from November 1996 to January 1998 were determined rapidly. The determined resultswere sent as 'Bulletins of Source Mechanism Parameters of Earthquakes' to the Seismic Regime Guards' Office,China Seismological Bureau, and the relevant provincial seismological bureaus. These bulletins have played rolein the fast response to large earthquakes.

Is Ziarat a Potential Site for Conventional or Unconventional Energy Resources?

A structural interpretation of the Ziarat block in the Balochistan region （a part of the Suleiman Fold and Thrust Belt） has been carried out using seismic and seismological data. Seismic data consists of nine 2.5D pre-stack migrated seismic lines, whereas the seismological data covers the Fault Plane Solution and source parameters. Structural interpretation describes two broad fault sets of fore and back thrusts in the study area that have resulted in the development of pop-up structures, accountable for the structural traps and seismicity pattern in terms of seismic hazard. Seismic interpretation includes time and depth contour maps of the Dungan Formation and Ranikot group, while seismological interpretation includes Fault Plane Solution, that is correlated with a geological and structural map of the area for the interpretation of the nature of the subsurface faults. Principal stresses are also estimated for the Ranikot group and Dungan Formation. In order to calculate anisotropic elastic properties, the parameters of the rock strength of the formations are first determined from seismic data, along with the dominant stresses （vertical, minimum horizontal, and maximum horizontal）. The differential ratio of the maximum and minimum horizontal stresses is obtained to indicate optimal zones for hydraulic fracturing, and to assess the potential for geothermal energy reservoir prospect generation. The stress maps indicate high values towards the deeper part of the horizon, and low towards the shallower part, attributed to the lithological and structural variation in the area. Outcomes of structural interpretation indicate a good correlation of structure and tectonics from both seismological and seismic methods.

Stress value in 2003 Dayao Ms6.1 earthquake source region

The Ms6.2 Dayao, Yunnan, earthquake occurred on July 21, 2003, followed by a major Ms6.1 earthquake about 88 days later in the same region. Hypocenters of the two earthquakes are almost in the same place. Based on the P wave first motion polarities of the two aftershock sequences recorded by temporary stations, we have studied the stress field in the aftershock zone and obtained the two stress field directions in Dayao region using the new version of PKU_Grid^Test Software provided by Chunquan Yu. Assuming that the rotation of the stress field is caused by the second main shock, we estimated the crustal stress value in the focal region by using the stress value calculation method proposed by Yongge Wan. The estimated maximum, intermediate and minimum principal stresses are 166.3 MPa, 158.7 MPa and 151 MPa, respectively, before the second main shock. The normal and shear stresses projected on the fault plane of the second main shock before it occurred are 157.3 MPa, 7.4 MPa, and are 158.8 MPa, 0.2 MPa after it occurred, respectively. The perturbed input parameters experiments attest the stability of the solution. The result shows that the preseismic shear stress is larger than the post-seismic one, and their difference corresponds to the stress drop approximately. The estimated compressive stress level is very high, but the differential stress is low. The result is helpful for friction coefficient estimation, plate motion simulation and related studies.