Seismogenic structure of the 2016 Ms6.4 Menyuan earthquake and its effect on the Tianzhu seismic gap

On January 21, 2016, a strong earthquake with a magnitude of Ms6.4 occurred at Menyuan, Qinghai Province of China. In almost the same region, there was another strong earthquake happened in 1986, with similar magnitude and focal mechanism. Based on comprehensive analysis of regional active faults, focal mechanism solutions, precise locations of aftershocks, as well as GPS crustal deformation, we inferred that the Lenglongiing active fault dips NE rather than SW as suggested by previous studies. Considering the facts that the 2016 and i986 Ms6.4 Menyuan earthquakes are closely located with similar focal mechanisms, both of the quakes are on the north side of the Lenglongling Fault and adjacent to the fault, and the fault is dipping NE direction, we suggest that the fault should be the seismogenic structure of the two events. The Lenglongling Fault, as the western segment of the well-known Tianzhu seismic gap in the Qilian-Haiyuan active fault system, is in a relatively active state with frequent earthquakes in recent years, implying a high level of strain accumulation and a high potential of major event. It is also possible that the Lengiongiing Fault and its adjacent fault, the Jinqianghe Fault in the Tianzhu seismic gap, are rupturing simultaneously in the future.

Gravity changes and crustal deformations before the Menyuan,Qinghai Ms6.4 earthquake of 2016

In this study, the relative gravity data(2012 e2015), GPS data-derived horizontal deformation(2011 e2014) and the background vertical deformation from the leveling measurements(1970 e2011) in the northeastern margin of Tibetan Plateau were processed to systematically analysis the mechanism of temporalespatial patterns and the relationship with Menyuan Ms6.4 earthquake. It can be summarized in the following: 1) The regional gravity changes, the GPS and the vertical deformational showed an intense spatial relationship: the gravity increased along with the direction of horizontal movement, and decreased with the crustal uplift and vice versa, which reflected the inherited characteristics of geotectonic activities. 2) The crustal deformations were closely related to the active faults. The contour lines of gravity changes and vertical deformation were generally along with the Qilian-Haiyuan fault(strike is NWW), and the crustal horizontal deformation showed left-lateral strike slip motion near the Qilian-Haiyuan fault. 3) Menyuan Ms6.4 earthquake occurred in the high negative gravity variation area and a high gradient formed in regions, positive and negative variation of gravity amount to 110 m Gal.Specifically, a borderline of positive and negative gravity located in the south of epicenter along the north edge of Qilianshan fault and Lenglongling fault, as well as the vertical and/or horizontal deformation is intensely. The extrusion deformation, surface compression rate and gravity changes were obvious near the epicenter of 2016 Menyuan Earthquake.

Representative value of cross-fault in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet block and case analysis of the 2016 Menyuan Ms6.4 earthquake

The equation for determining cross-fault representative value is calculated based on hanging wall and foot wall reference level surfaces. The cross-fault data reliability are analyzed base on the stability of reference datum and observation points, thereby facili- tating plotting of the representative value curves after removing interference. The spatial and temporal characteristics of fault deformation abnormalities before the 2016 Menyuan Ms6.4 earthquake, as well as the fault-movement characteristics reflected by representa- tive value, are summarized. The results show that many site trends had changed 1-3 years before the Menyuan Ms6.4 earthquake in the Qilian Fault, reflecting certain background abnormalities. The short-term abnormalities centrally had appeared in the 6 months to 1 year period before the earthquake near and in the neighborhood of the source region, demonstrating a significantly increased number of short-term abnormalities. Many sites near and in the neighborhood of the source region had strengthened inverse activities or had changed from positive to inverse activities in the most recent 2-3 years, which reflect stress-field enhancements or adjustment features.

Characteristics of regional crustal deformation before 2016 Menyuan Ms6.4 earthquake

On January 21, 2016, a strong earthquake with a magnitude of Ms6.4 happened at Menyuan, Qinghai Province of China. In almost the same place, there was another strong earthquake happened in 1986, with similar magnitude and focal mechanism. In this paper, we analyze the characteristics of regional crustal deformation before the 2016 Menyuan Ms6.4 earth- quake by using the data from 10 continuous Global Positioning System （GPS） stations and 74 campaign-mode GPS stations within 200 km of this event： （a） Based on the velocity field from over ten years GPS observations, a regional strain rate field is calculated. The results indicate that the crustal strain rate and seismic moment accumulation rate of the Qilian- Haiyuan active fault, which is the seismogenic tectonics of the event, are significantly higher than the surrounding regions. In a 20 km~ 20 km area around the seismogenic region, the maximum and minimum principal strain rates are 21.5 nanostrain/a （NW-SE extension） and -46.6 nanostrain/a （NE-SW compression）, respectively, and the seismic moment accumulation rates is 17.4 Nm/a. The direction of principal compression is consistent with the focal mechanism of this event. （b） Based on the position time series of the continuous GPS stations for a time-span of about 6 years before the event, we calculate the strain time series. The results show that the dilatation of the seismogenic region is continuously reduced with a ＂non-linear＂ trend since 2010, which means the seismogenic region has been in a state of compression. However, about 2-3 months before the event, both the dilatation and maximum shear strain show significant inverse trends. These abnormal changes of crustal deformation may reflect the non-linear adjustment of the stress-strain accumulation of the seismogenic region, when the accumulation is approaching the critical value of rupture.

Vertical deformation before and after the 2022 Menyuan Ms6.9 earthquake and analysis of earthquake precursors

This study analyzed the vertical deformation before and after the 2022 Menyuan Ms6.9 earthquake in Qinghai Province,China,using leveling profiles across faults measured from Minle County in Gansu Province to Menyuan County in Qinghai Province.Our results suggest the following:(1)The amplitude of regional vertical differential motion near the Sunna-Qilian and Lenglongling faults within the Qilian Shan increased before the 2022 Menyuan earthquake.It was accompanied by the emergence of high gradient deformation zones.Deformation at the Tongziba cross-fault leveling site near the Sunan-Qilian fault was considerable.In contrast,deformation at the Daliang cross-fault leveling site near the stepover region(adjacent to the epicenter)between the Lenglongling and Tuolaishan faults was minor.After 2018,vertical deformation at the Tongziba site notably accelerated,while that at the Daliang site was insignificant.(2)After the 2022 Menyuan earthquake,140—150 mm of subsidence deformation occurred near the Daliang site,while the Tongziba site did not experience significant deformation.(3)Vertical deformation before and after the 2022 Menyuan earthquake conforms with the elastic-rebound theory,and the evolution of pre-earthquake deformation was consistent with the strike-slip fault deformation pattern at different seismogenic stages,i.e.,the relative motion near the locked fault in the late seismogenic stage gradually weakened.The characteristics of strain accumulation and release derived from the vertical deformation before and after the Menyuan MS6.9 earthquake help understand the deformation process of earthquake preparation and earthquake precursors.

Gravity variations before the Menyuan Ms6.4 earthquake

In order to study the relationship between gravity variation and Menyuan Ms6.4 earth- quake, gravity variation characteristics in mid-eastern of Qilian Mountain were analyzed based on the 2012-2015 relative gravity datasets. The results indicated that the gravity changes in mid-eastern of Qilian Mountain increased gradually, while gravity changes around Menyuan remarkably. Besides, great positive-negative gravity changing gradients appeared along the Lengiongling Fault which was located at the north of Menyuan, and the 2016 Menyuan Ms6.4 earthquake occurred near the junction of positive and negative gravity changes.

Field source characteristic of gravity variation in Hexi region before Menyuan Ms6.4 earthquake based on the Euler deconvolution

This study adopted the Euler deconvolution method to conduct an inversion and interpretation of the depth and spatial distribution pattern of field source that lead to gravity variation. For this purpose, mobile gravity data from four periods in the Hexi region between 2011 and 2015 were obtained from an observation network. With a newly established theoretical model, we acquired the optimum inversion parameters and conducted calculation and analysis with the actual data. The results indicate that one is the appropriate value of the structure index for the inversion of the mobile gravity data. The inversion results of the actual data showed a comparable spatial distribution of the field source and a consistent structural trend with observations from the Qilian-Haiyuan Fault zone between 2011 and 2015. The distribution was in a blocking state at the epicenter of the Menyuan earthquake in 2016. Our quantitative study of the field source provides new insights into the inversion and interpretation of signals of mobile gravity variation.

Regional fault deformation characteristics before and after the Menyuan Ms6.4 earthquake

This study analyzes data regarding cross-fault deformations within the seismogenic zone of the 2016 Qinghai Menyuan Ms6.4 earthquake and its surrounding area. The results showed that the tendency anomaly sites near the epicenter had relatively long anomaly durations prior to the earthquake, while sudden-jumping anomaly sites started to increase in the middle eastern Qilian Mountains approximately a year before the earthquake and continued to increase and migrate towards the vicinity of the epicenter two to six months before the earthquake. Intensive observations a few days after the earthquake indicated that abnormal returns and turns before the earthquake were significant, but all had small amplitudes, and the coseismic effect was generally minor. In addition, the post-seismic tendency analysis of individual cross faults in the Qilian Mountain fault zone revealed an accelerating thrust tendency at all cross-fault sites in the middle Qilian Mountains after the 2008 Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake. This indicates that the Wenchuan mega-earthquake exerted a great impact on the dynamic environment of the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet plate and significantly enhanced the extrusion effect of the Indian plate on the middle Qilian Mountains, generating favorable conditions for the occurrence of Menyuan thrust earthquakes.

Dynamic evolution of crustal horizontal deformation before the Ms6.4 Menyuan earthquake

An Ms6.4 earthquake occurred in the Menyuan county of Qinghai Province on Jan 21, 2016. In order to recognize the development of horizontal deformation and distinguish precursory deformation anomalies, we obtained coordinates time series, velocity and strain model around the seismic zones from processing of continuous observations from 2010 and 6 times of surveying Global Positioning System （GPS） data since 2009. The results show that, before the earthquake, the eastern segmentation of the Qilian tectonic zone where the Lenglongling Fault located is in strong crustal shortening and compressional strain state with dilatational rates of -15 to -25 ppb. The Lenglongling Fault has a strike-slip rate of 3.1 mm/a and a far-field differential orthogonal rate of 7 mm/a, while differential rate is only 1.2 mm/a near the fault, which reflects its locking feature with strain energy accumulation and high seismic risks. Dynamic evolution of deformation model shows that preevent dilatational rates around the seismic zones increases from 15 ppb/a to -20 ppb/a with its center moving to the source areas. Time series of N components of G337 station, which is 13.7 km away from the Lenglongling Fault, exhibit a 5 mm/a acceleration anomaly. Time series of base-station QHME （in Menyuan） displays a reverse acceleration from the end of Sep. to Dec., 2016 when it comes to a largest deviation, and the accumulative displacement is more than 4 mm and the value reverse till the earthquake. In our results, coseismic displacement of N, E, U components in QHME site are 3.0 mm, 3.0 mm, -5.4 mm, respectively. If we profile these values onto the Lenglongling Fault, we can achieve a 1.1 mm of strike slip and 4.1 mm updip slip relative to the hanging wall.

A Study on the Seismic Velocity Changes before and after the 2016 M_S6.4 Menyuan Earthquake Using the Active Source Data in the Qilian Mountain

The Qilian Mountain active source network data was processed using the methods of stacking, cross-correlation and interpolation, and the airgun travel time variation characteristics of P and S waves around the January 21,2016 MS6. 4 Menyua,Qinghai earthquake. The results show that about 6 months before the earthquake,the relative travel time of three stations near the epicenter showed a declined change( travel time decrease),and such a change of low value anomaly was recovered about 3 months before the earthquake. The travel time decrease then appeared again, and the earthquake occurred during the recovery process. The maximum decrease of the S-wave travel time was 18 ms,and the change in travel time returned to normal after the earthquake. The variation trend of the 3 stations is consistent,including the S-wave travel time change of station ZDY38,which is nearest to the epicenter and changed obviously,and the variation range of the travel time is smaller at the stations afar. This variation pattern is related to the position of the seismic source. The shorter travel time means the velocity increase,which may be related to the regional stress accumulation.

2016年1月21日门源M_(S)6.4地震前重力非潮汐变化特征分析

选取2015—2018年兰州和高台连续重力观测站整点值数据,分析2016年1月21日门源M_(S)6.4地震前2个台站连续重力数据非潮汐变化特征,发现2个台站在此次地震发生前1年,分别观测到重力数据出现持续约6个月的重力非潮汐上升变化,月均变化速度分别为9.36μGal、6.17μGal,累计变化振幅分别达到56.15μGal、37.05μGal。通过对观测站点周边观测环境的详细核实和理论计算,排除台站周边环境干扰因素,认为震前6个月的重力非潮汐持续性下降变化应与此次M_(S)6.4地震孕震过程有关。本研究结果可为揭示此次门源地震的孕震机理提供一定参考,为后续地震预测中重力观测指标的建立提供一定参考。

2016年门源M_(S) 6.4地震序列视应力特征研究

利用2016年门源M_(S) 6.4地震序列中59个M_(L)≥2.5余震的数字波形资料,计算得到其视应力,进而讨论视应力与震级的关系以及视应力时空变化特征,从视应力的角度给出强余震判定依据。结果表明:门源M_(S)6.4地震的余震视应力值与震级具有良好的拟合关系,呈现明显的正相关性;视应力在强余震前会有升高的趋势,对后续强余震发生时间和地点的判定具有一定的指示意义。

利用InSAR技术研究2016年青海门源M_W5.9地震同震形变场及断层滑动分布

2016年1月21日,青海省门源县冷龙岭断裂带附近发生了M_W5.9地震。基于Sentinel-1A影像,采用差分干涉雷达测量技术研究了此次地震产生的同震形变场,结果表明,门源地震的形变影响范围约20~30km,形变态势在升降轨道形变场均显示为隆升,基本沿冷龙岭断裂呈近似同心圆展布,推测可能是冷龙岭断裂与民乐—大马营断裂之间的一条逆断层,沿雷达视线方向最大形变量级约为6cm。均匀滑动反演显示门源发震断层长7.3km,宽6.2km,走向298.6°,倾角34.5°,倾向宽度9.5km,沿走向滑动量为170mm,沿倾向滑动量为460mm,矩震级为M_W5.97;分布式滑动反演显示门源地震以逆冲为主,兼具少量右旋走滑分量,滑动量主要集中在沿断层倾向方向,距离地表5~15km处,最大滑动量约0.3m,位于断层倾向深度10km处,矩震级为M_W5.93。

2016年门源M_S6.4强震的发震构造及其对“天祝地震空区”的影响

在综合分析区域活动断裂活动特征、震源机制解、余震精定位等资料的基础上,结合GPS观测数据,推断冷龙岭断裂倾向NE,而非部分早期研究推测的倾向SW。考虑到2016年和1986两次门源MS6.4强震相似的震源机制与冷龙岭断裂的位置关系以及冷龙岭断裂倾向NE等事实,可推测判定这两次强震的发震构造应为冷龙岭断裂;冷龙岭断裂处于祁连-海原活动断裂系内著名的破裂空段"天祝地震空区"的西段,该地震空区内部的金强河断裂可能为一个次级的地震空区,未来存在6级左右强震危险;冷龙岭断裂目前处于比较活跃的状态,说明该段的应力、应变积累水平较高,未来存在大震可能,且不排除冷龙岭断裂与金强河断裂同时破裂的可能性。

2016年1月21日青海门源M_S6.4地震构造应力场

收集2016年1月21日青海门源M_S6.4地震周围震源机制解资料,应用MSATSI软件反演了震中周围应力场。结果显示:区域构造应力场最大主应力轴方位由NE向顺时针偏转至NEE向,倾伏角较小,最小主应力轴方位非均匀性特征明显,整体处于近垂直状态;最大主应力轴方位顺时针偏转,主要受青藏块体NE向运动产生的挤压作用影响,青藏块体北侧受到稳定的阿拉善块体阻挡,被迫向ES方向挤出,形成以逆冲和左旋走滑为主的构造体系;地震震源机制P和T轴与其所处应力区应力方向基本一致,表明此次地震是在区域构造应力场控制下发生的。

2016年1月21日青海门源M_S6.4地震甘肃灾区震害特点分析

通过对2016年1月21日青海门源M_S6.4地震的发震构造、房屋震害的现场科学考察,系统的介绍了本次地震的发震构造、烈度分布、建筑物震害特征、地震地质灾害分布及特点、不同烈度区房屋震害特点,并对破坏机理进行分析讨论总结此次地震灾害的特征及影响,对今后抗震设防和防震减灾工作有启示作用。

2022年门源M_(S)6.9和2016年门源M_(S)6.4地震序列比较分析

2022年1月8日青海省海北州门源县发生M_(S)6.9地震,震中距离2016年1月21日门源M_(S)6.4地震震中约33km,两次门源地震均发生在冷龙岭断裂附近,但在震源机制、主发震断层破裂过程及地震序列余震活动等方面显著不同。针对两次门源地震序列的比较分析,对研究冷龙岭断裂及其附近区域强震序列和余震衰减特征等具有重要研究意义。通过对比分析2022年门源M_(S)6.9地震和2016年门源M_(S)6.4地震余震的时空演化特征,发现二者在震源过程和断层破裂尺度上存在明显差异,前者发震断层破裂充分,震后能量释放充分,余震丰富且震级偏高;而后者发震断层未破裂至地表,余震震级水平偏低。综合分析两次门源地震序列表现出来的差异性,认为其可能与地震发震断层的破裂过程密切相关,且同时受到区域构造环境的影响。

2008—2016年青海地区M_S≥5.0显著地震短临跟踪

对2008—2016年青海地区M_S≥5.0显著地震短临跟踪过程进行回顾总结,对地震活动规律及特点进行分析。通过客观呈现当时进行地震观测、决策的过程和思想,总结有效的地震活动规律,以期望对未来区域强震的短临预测预报及震情跟踪提供借鉴。

2016年门源M_S 6.4地震前后视应力变化

利用青海区域地震台网数字地震波资料,计算2010—2016年研究区域184个M_L≥2.5地震及2016年门源地震序列150个M_L≥2.0地震的震源动力学参数,分析视应力时空变化。结果显示:视应力与震级呈正相关,随震级增大而升高;门源6.4级地震前中小震视应力存在起伏变化,可能反映了区域应力场的增强;门源M_L 5.0强余震前小震视应力呈升高趋势。

利用大地电磁技术揭示2016年1月21日青海门源M_S6.4地震隐伏地震构造和孕震环境

2016年1月21日01时13分在青海省海北州门源县发生了MS6.4地震,震中位置位于青藏高原东北缘地区祁连造山带内的祁连-海原断裂带冷龙岭断裂部分附近,震源深度约11.4km,震源机制解显示该次地震为一次纯逆冲型地震.我们于2015年7-8月期间完成了跨过祁连造山带紧邻穿过2016年1月21日青海门源MS6.4地震震中区的大地电磁探测剖面(DKLB-M)和古浪地震大地电磁加密测量剖面(HYFP).本文对所采集到的数据进行了先进的数据处理和反演工作,获得了二维电性结构图.结合青藏高原东北缘地区最新获得的相对于欧亚板块2009-2015年GPS速度场分布特征,1月21日门源MS6.4地震主震与余震分布特征以及其他地质与地球物理资料等,探讨了门源MS6.4地震的发震断裂,断裂带空间展布、延伸位置,分析了门源MS6.4地震孕震环境与地震动力学背景等以及祁连山地区深部构造特征等相关问题.所获结论如下:2016年门源MS6.4地震震源区下存在较宽的SW向低阻体,推测冷龙岭断裂下方可能形成了明显的力学强度软弱区,这种力学强度软弱区的存在反映了介质的力学性质并促进了地震蠕动、滑移和发生;冷龙岭北侧断裂可能对门源MS6.4地震主震和余震的发生起控制作用,而该断裂为冷龙岭断裂在青藏高原北东向拓展过程中产生的伴生断裂,表现出逆冲特征;现今水准场、重力场、GPS速度场分布特征以及大地电磁探测结果均表明祁连-海原断裂带冷龙岭断裂部分为青藏高原东北缘地区最为明显的一条边界断裂,受控于青藏高原北东向拓展和阿拉善地块的阻挡作用,冷龙岭断裂附近目前正处于青藏高原北东向拓展作用最强烈、构造转化最剧烈的地区,这种动力学环境可能是门源MS6.4地震发生的最主要原因,与1927年古浪MS8.0地震和1954年民勤MS7.0地震相似,2016年门源MS6.4地震的发生同样是青藏高原北东向拓展过程中的一次地震事件.