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 ...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.展开更多
Based on their Euler poles, we calculated the relative velocities between every two plates in the typical global plate motion models, respectively, and estimated the area change along these boundaries. In our calculat...Based on their Euler poles, we calculated the relative velocities between every two plates in the typical global plate motion models, respectively, and estimated the area change along these boundaries. In our calculations, plates on both sides accommodated area changes depending on the boundary types： extensional, convergent or transform, so we can estimate area change of each plate and then globally. Our preliminary results show that the area of the southern hemisphere increased while that of the northern hemisphere decreased over the past I million years, and global area has increased by 26,000km^2 to 36,000km^2, which corresponds to the 160m - 250m increment on the Earth＇s radius if all these area increments are attributed to Earth＇s expansion. Taking the NUVEL-1 model as an example, of the 14 plates in this model, 11 are decreasing, but the global area has increased because of the larger increment amount from Africa, North America and Antarctica. Finally, we also discussed factors affecting the global area change such as subduction zone retreating and back-arc spreading.展开更多
文摘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.
基金sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation (40574047),China
文摘Based on their Euler poles, we calculated the relative velocities between every two plates in the typical global plate motion models, respectively, and estimated the area change along these boundaries. In our calculations, plates on both sides accommodated area changes depending on the boundary types： extensional, convergent or transform, so we can estimate area change of each plate and then globally. Our preliminary results show that the area of the southern hemisphere increased while that of the northern hemisphere decreased over the past I million years, and global area has increased by 26,000km^2 to 36,000km^2, which corresponds to the 160m - 250m increment on the Earth＇s radius if all these area increments are attributed to Earth＇s expansion. Taking the NUVEL-1 model as an example, of the 14 plates in this model, 11 are decreasing, but the global area has increased because of the larger increment amount from Africa, North America and Antarctica. Finally, we also discussed factors affecting the global area change such as subduction zone retreating and back-arc spreading.
