Focal Mechanism Analysis for Determination of Potential Source Zones in South China and Its Adjacent Regions

Based on the results of focal mechanism solutions in southeastern areas of China （south of 34°N and east of 105° E）, this article analyzes the correlation of focal mechanism solutions with seismogenic structures of moderate strong earthquakes and the direction of potential source zones. The data show that the nodal planes of focal mechanism solutions and the principle stresses in southern China are of predominantly similar directions, most of the solutions for M ≥4.0 earthquakes correspond to the main structure directions as well as the directions of potential source zones. The statistical results of multiple small earthquakes concerning nodal planes and main stress axes are also reliable for determining the direction of potential source zones. According to the analysis of focal mechanism solutions, long-axis direction of isoseismals distribution of aftershocks, geologic structures, and seismic activity in two areas of the Ms6.1 earthquake in the south Yellow Sea in 1996 and the MsS.2 earthquake in Fujian in 1997, the potential source zone division is discussed.

Research on the Probability of Earthquake Occurrence in the Daduhe Drainage Area

This paper applies the Seismic Hazard Analysis method for the cities of China to research on the probability of earthquake occurrence in the Daduhe drainage area,where the cascade dam system is located.This research is based on the potential seismic source scheme of the Seismic Ground Motion Parameter Zonation Map of China(2001),and uses Poisson distribution as an earthquake occurrence model.Earthquake magnitude obeys truncated exponential distribution.The spatial distribution function of the potential seismic source zone is taken as the first-class spatial probability distribution,and the homogeneous probability distribution in the potential seismic source zone as the second-class spatial probability distribution.Considering the seismic intensity attenuation relationship of western China,we compute the occurrence probability of an earthquake around magnitude 6.0(5.5～6.5),7.0(6.5～7.5)and over 7.5 in the Daduhe drainage area,where 22 series cascade dams will be built.The results can be used for hydropower plant planning,hydropower dam site selection and seismic fortification.

Methods for Estimating Mean Annual Rate of Earthquakes in Moderate and Low Seismicity Regions

Two kinds of methods for determining seismic parameters are presented, that is, the potential seismic source zoning method and grid-spatially smoothing method. The Gaussian smoothing method and the modified Gaussian smoothing method are described in detail, and a comprehensive analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of these methods is made. Then, we take centrai China as the study region, and use the Gaussian smoothing method and potential seismic source zoning method to build seismic models to calculate the mean annual seismic rate. Seismic hazard is calculated using the probabilistic seismic hazard analysis method to construct the ground motion acceleration zoning maps. The differences between the maps and these models are discussed and the causes are investigated. The results show that the spatial smoothing method is suitable for estimating the seismic hazard over the moderate and low seismicity regions or the hazard caused by background seismicity; while the potential seismic source zoning method is suitable for estimating the seismic hazard in well-defined seismotectonics. Combining the spatial smoothing method and the potential seismic source zoning method with an integrated account of the seismicity and known seismotectonics is a feasible approach to estimate the seismic hazard in moderate and low seismicity regions.