Automatic onset phase picking for portable seismic array observation

Automatic phase picking is a critical procedure for seismic data processing, especially for a huge amount of seismic data recorded by a large-scale portable seismic array. In this study is presented a new method used for automatic accurate onset phase picking based on the proporty of dense seismic array observations. In our method, the Akaike＇s information criterion （AIC） for the single channel observation and the least-squares cross-correlation for the multi-channel observation are combined together. The tests by the seismic array observation data after triggering with the short-term average/long-term average （STA/LTA） technique show that the phase picking error is less than 0.3 s for local events by using the single channel AIC algorithm. In terms of multi-channel least-squares cross-correlation technique, the clear teleseismic P onset can be detected reliably. Even for the teleseismic records with high noise level, our algorithm is also able to effectually avoid manual misdetections.

Effects of site conditions on earthquake ground motion and their applications in seismic design in loess region

The Loess Plateau is an earthquake prone region of China, where the effects of loess deposit on ground motion were discovered during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake(Ms8.0) and the 2013 Minxian-Zhangxian earthquake(Ms6.6). The field investigations, observations, and analyses indicated that large number of casualties and tremendous economic losses were caused not only by collapse and damage of houses with poor seismic performance, landslides, but also amplification effects of site conditions, topography and thickness of loess deposit, on ground motion. In this paper, we chose Dazhai Village and Majiagou Village as the typical loess site affected by the two earthquakes for intensity evaluation, borehole exploration, temporary strong motion array, micro tremor survey, and numerical analysis. The aim is to explore the relations between amplification factors and site conditions in terms of topography and thickness of loess deposit. We also developed site amplification factors of ground motion for engineering design consideration at loess sites. The results showed that the amplification effects are more predominant with increase in thickness of loess deposit and slope height. The amplification mayincrease seismic intensity by 1 degree, PGA and predominant period by 2 times, respectively.

Response of Surface Soft Soil and Fine-Grained Sand Layers to Seismic Waves

Shanghai is located in eastern China and is built on overburden soil layers. It can be seen from the Mexico M S=8.1 earthquake on September 19, 1985 and the Hanshin M S=7.4 earthquake on January 17,1995 that heavy casualties and property losses have a direct relationship with overburden soil layers. Ground motions caused by earthquakes are significantly amplified when passing through the soil layers. Under the influence of these amplified motions, building structures, whose nature frequency is within the frequency band of soil amplification response, will experience more severe damage than those built on bedrock. Therefore, engineering seismologists have paid considerable attention the amplification responses in the Shanghai overburden soil layers. The amplification responses of soil and sand layers in this paper are given by the M L=4.1 earthquake in Nantong, Jiangsu Province on December 25, 2001 at 31.8° N, 120.9° E. It can be seen that the responses of soil and sand layers are very different. That is important.

A study on the focal parameters of Shidian M=5.9 earthquake sequences in 2001

On the basis of about 300 earthquake wave forms observed in the Shidian MS=5.9 sequences on April 12, 2001 recorded in Kunming Digital Seismic Network, the spectra of shear wave have been used to estimate the focal parameters of these earthquake sequences. The results show that within the magnitude range of 1.5~5.3, the seis-mic moments are 1010~1016 N?m, the corner frequencies are 0.2~0.8 Hz, radii of the focal rupture are 200~2 500 m and the stress drops are 0.1×105~20×105Pa. Through the statistical analyses of variation of corner frequency fc and stress drop ?σ with time, it is discovered that the average corner frequency of the foreshock sequences is obviously lower than that of the aftershock sequences. Contrarily, the average stress drops ?σ of the foreshock sequences are clearly higher than that of the aftershocks. It is considered that these variation characteristics of av-erage corner frequency and stress drops before and after the main shock have index significance to the precursory information before a strong earthquake. The higher stress drops for the foreshock sequences show that the higher shear stresses have been stored in the area of main shock. After the main shock, most of the stresses have been released, so the aftershock sequences show a rupture process of lower stresses.

Vibration characteristics of frozen soil under moving track loads

Vibration due to moving traffic loads is an important factor which induces frozen soil damage; this paper analyzed these vibration characteristics of frozen soil foundation under track loads. Firstly, seismic observation array （SOA） technology was applied to monitor the three dimensional dynamic characteristics of frozen soil under movable track load in a per- mafrost region and seasonal frozen soil area. Secondly, a numerical simulation for the response of frozen soil under movable track load was performed based on finite element analysis （FEA）, The results show that dynamic characteristics of frozen soil in perpendicular and parallel direction of the track are obviously different. In the direction perpendicular to the track, the vertical acceleration amplitude had an abrupt increase in the 9-10 m from the track line. In the direction parallel to the track, the acceleration in vertical and horizontal direction had a quick attenuation compared to the other direction. Lastly, various parameters were analyzed for the purpose of controlling the dynamic response of frozen soil and the vibration attenuation in frozen soil layer.

Analysis of the Wave Velocity Ratio Anomalies in the Tianshan Region of Xinjiang

Based on the seismic observation report data provided by the Xinjiang Digital Seismic Network from 2009 to 2014,we calculate the wave velocity ratio and its background value for medium and small earthquakes by using the multi-station method in Tianshan,Xinjiang.This paper analyzes the variation of the wave velocity ratio disturbance value to highlight the abnormal,and also back-traces 7 moderate earthquakes at the research area.The results show that:(1)the background value of the wave velocity ratio is almost 1.70,the wave velocity ratio obviously decreases in the middle-eastern part of Tianshan and the region near the Puchang fault;(2)the wave velocity ratio disturbance value is mostly low in the epicenter before four earthquakes of M≥5.0 from 2011 to 2013 in the study area;(3)before 7 moderate strong earthquakes,the earthquake events with low value of the wave velocity ratio account for over 60% of corresponding total events near the epicenters,and the low value of the wave velocity ratio is relatively obvious before moderate earthquakes.

Crustal thickness and Poisson's ratio beneath the Yunnan region

A total of 1939 receiver functions were obtained from 732 teleseismic events （M〉5.0） recorded at 21 broadband portable seis- mic stations on the Tengchong, Baoshan and Simao blocks and Yangtze platform. These stations were installed by the Institute of Crustal Dynamics, China Earthquake Administration during 2010 and 2011. Using the H-x stacking and searching method, crustal thickness and velocity ratio beneath the stations are obtained. Results show that crustal thickness and Poisson＇s ratio in- ferred from the velocity ratio clearly vary, and they illustrate block features in deep structures. Except for the Tengchong block crustal thickness increases from south to north along the same block and from west to east across different blocks. In the Yangtze platform, Poisson＇s ratio and crustal thickness show a consistent and significant increasing trend from south to north, possibly indicating that crustal thickening is caused mainly by lower crustal variations. In contrast, Poisson＇s ratio has no sig- nificant change within the Baoshan and Simao blocks. Such differences demonstrate that the Jinshajiang-Red River fault is a southern boundary of the South China block. The H-κ results inferred from three portable stations on the Tengchong block show high Poisson＇s ratios, but they vary clearly with back-azimuth, implying the existence of strong anisotropy in the crustal medium beneath the stations.