Earthquake fault framework and seismotectonics of the Songpan-Garze region since 1900

Based on 4 781 observed faults （〉2 km length） from a 1：200 000 scale digital geologic map and 5 220 recorded seismic events since the year 1900, 993 earthquake faults are identified within the triangular Songpan-Garze study region. The study area is delineated by the nearly EW-trending East Kunlun fault zone to the north, the NW-trending Xianshuihe fault to the south and the NE-trending Longmenshan thrust belt to the east. Seismicity changes along these earthquake faults, spanning four 10-year intervals since 1970, show that following a strong earthquake swarm, which occurred in the Huya area in the mid-1970s, seismic activity increased from north to south, and migrated eastward along each major strike-slip fault zone. GPS observation data before 2008 indicate a displacement rate across the Xianshuihe fault zone to the south of -6.5- 8.6 mm/a, whereas across the East Kunlun fault zone to the north it was -1.8- 2.2 mm/a. The May 12, 2008 Ms8.0 Wenchuan earthquake, which occurred in the southeast corner of the study region, was the result of stable, high-speed left-lateral displacement along the Xianshuihe fault zone, and a sharp eastward bend of the fault trend in response to the presence of crystalline rocks in the Kangding area. Therefore, the 110-year established seismotectonic framework of the Songpan-Garze region can be defined by a network of various earthquake faults and the structural relations of the local earthquake activities.

Wenchuan earthquake fault and seismic disaster

Major cases of the Ms8.0 Wenchuan earthquake are obtained through field investigations of the epicenter and high-intensity areas, and the relationships among earthquake faults, ground motion and earthquake disasters near fault zones are analyzed. Both strong deformation and ground rupture lead to significant damages of the buildings, indicating that it is necessary to keep safe distance away from active faults and to take other necessary measures. There are two reasons for that the buildings near the surface rupture zones have withstood in the strong earthquake, other than their seismic resistance capacities, with the first being the site condition, and the second the reduced effective stress and low rupture velocity. The forms of structural damages are complex in the fault areas, with shear failure and tensile and compressive damages. Those structures in urban areas that have used qualified materials and followed the building codes performed well in the earthquake. Survey results also indicate that structures of flexible materials may show better seismic performance.

Re-Estimation of a Plausible Model of the Earthquake Fault as the Source of the 1771 Great Meiwa Tsunami Based on the Assessment of the Run-Up Height by Okinawa Prefecture, Japan

Plausible parameters of the earthquake fault which caused the 1771 Great Meiwa Tsunami were re-estimated by comparing the result of the tsunami run-up height by the numerical simulation by Okinawa Prefectural Government and those by 1) run-up height derived from previous field works, and 2) a historical record describing the run-up height in Miyako District. The re-estimation shows that the length of the fault off Miyako and Yaeyama districts is 300 km or more. However, the slip of the fault is 20 m off Yaeyama and 8 - 14 m off Miyako.

Characterization and spatial analysis of coseismic landslides triggered by the Luding Ms 6.8 earthquake in the Xianshuihe fault zone, Southwest China

On September 5, 2022, a magnitude Ms 6.8 earthquake occurred along the Moxi fault in the southern part of the Xianshuihe fault zone located in the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau,resulting in severe damage and substantial economic loss. In this study, we established a coseismic landslide database triggered by Luding Ms 6.8 earthquake, which includes 4794 landslides with a total area of 46.79 km^(2). The coseismic landslides primarily consisted of medium and small-sized landslides, characterized by shallow surface sliding. Some exhibited characteristics of high-position initiation resulted in the obstruction or partial obstruction of rivers, leading to the formation of dammed lakes. Our research found that the coseismic landslides were predominantly observed on slopes ranging from 30° to 50°, occurring at between 1000 m and 2500 m, with slope aspects varying from 90° to 180°. Landslides were also highly developed in granitic bodies that had experienced structural fracturing and strong-tomoderate weathering. Coseismic landslides concentrated within a 6 km range on both sides of the Xianshuihe and Daduhe fault zones. The area and number of coseismic landslides exhibited a negative correlation with the distance to fault lines, road networks, and river systems, as they were influenced by fault activity, road excavation, and river erosion. The coseismic landslides were mainly distributed in the southeastern region of the epicenter, exhibiting relatively concentrated patterns within the IX-degree zones such as Moxi Town, Wandong River basin, Detuo Town to Wanggangping Township. Our research findings provide important data on the coseismic landslides triggered by the Luding Ms 6.8 earthquake and reveal the spatial distribution patterns of these landslides. These findings can serve as important references for risk mitigation, reconstruction planning, and regional earthquake disaster research in the earthquake-affected area.

Co-seismic fault geometry and slip distribution of the 26 December 2004, giant Sumatra–Andaman earthquake constrained by GPS, coral reef, and remote sensing data

We analyze co-seismic displacement field of the 26 December 2004, giant Sumatra–Andaman earthquake derived from Global Position System observations,geological vertical measurement of coral head, and pivot line observed through remote sensing. Using the co-seismic displacement field and AK135 spherical layered Earth model, we invert co-seismic slip distribution along the seismic fault. We also search the best fault geometry model to fit the observed data. Assuming that the dip angle linearly increases in downward direction, the postfit residual variation of the inversed geometry model with dip angles linearly changing along fault strike are plotted. The geometry model with local minimum misfits is the one with dip angle linearly increasing along strike from 4.3oin top southernmost patch to 4.5oin top northernmost path and dip angle linearly increased. By using the fault shape and geodetic co-seismic data, we estimate the slip distribution on the curved fault. Our result shows that the earthquake ruptured ＊200-km width down to a depth of about 60 km.0.5–12.5 m of thrust slip is resolved with the largest slip centered around the central section of the rupture zone78N–108N in latitude. The estimated seismic moment is8.2 9 1022 N m, which is larger than estimation from the centroid moment magnitude（4.0 9 1022 N m）, and smaller than estimation from normal-mode oscillation data modeling（1.0 9 1023 N m）.

A two－dimensional earthquake fault modeling with fractal structure strength distribution

In this paper a two dimensional (2 D) model of earthquake fault rupturing was presented. It was estabilished on the basis of 1 D spring block model. Using this model, we studied the dynamical plane strain fracture problem, modeled the whole dynamical process of nucleating, expanding and propagating of fracture on a 2 D fault with homogeneous or inhomogeneous rupture strength distribution. Our studies show that under homogeneous prestress condition, the fault will gain enough momentum to tear strong obstacles in their propagating path. The rupturing fronts can also propagate forth around the isolated barriers. It is shown that the stopping conditions for rupturing processes play an important role in modeling whole earthquake process. We also studied the dynamical rupturing problems of the fault on which the rupture strength distribution is inhomogeneous, and modeled the earthquake sequence generated on a 2 D fault with the strength distribution of fractal structure. It possesses some similar features as a seismic sequence in the nature. These features mainly depend on the distribution of rupture strength on the fault plane and the level of initial stress drop. The modeling studies which were established on the basis of experiments and observations provided the physical basis for explaining some statistical rules of seismicity.

Reduction of structural response to near fault earthquakes by seismic isolation columns and variable friction dampers

This paper focuses on the investigation of a hybrid seismic isolation system with passive variable friction dampers for protection of structures against near fault earthquakes. The seismic isolation can be implemented by replacing the conventional columns fixed to the foundations by seismic isolating ones. These columns allow horizontal displacement between the superstructure and the foundations and decouple the building from the damaging earthquake motion. As a result, the forces in the structural elements decrease and damage that may be caused to the building by the earthquake significantly decreases. However, this positive effect is achieved on account of displacements occurring in the isolating columns. These displacements become very large when the structure is subjected to a strong earthquake. In this case, impact may occur between the parts of the isolating column yielding their damage or collapse. In order to limit the displacements in the isolating columns, it is proposed to add variable friction dampers. A method for selecting the dampers＇ properties is proposed. It is carried out using an artificial ground motion record and optimal active control algorithm. Numerical simulation of a sevenstory structure shows that the proposed method allows efficient reduction in structural response and limits the displacements at the seismic isolating columns.

Normal Faulting Type Earthquake Activities in the Tibetan Plateau and Its Tectonic Implication

This paper analyzes various earthquake fault types, mechanism solutions, stress field as well as other geophysical data to study the crust movement in the Tibetan plateau and its tectonic implications. The results show that a lot of normal faulting type earthquakes concentrate in the central Tibetan plateau. Many of them are nearly perfect normal fault events. The strikes of the fault planes of the normal faulting earthquakes are almost in the N-S direction based on the analyses of the equal area projection diagrams of fault plane solutions. It implies that the dislocation slip vectors of the normal faulting type events have quite great components in the E-W direction. The extension is probably an eastward extensional motion, mainly a tectonic active regime in the altitudes of the plateau. The tensional stress in the E-W or WNW-ESE direction predominates the earthquake occurrence in the normal event region of the central plateau. A number of thrust fault and strike-slip fault type earthquakes with strong compressive stress nearly in the NNE-SSW direction occurred on the edges of the plateau. The eastward extensional motion in the Tibetan plateau is attributable to the eastward movement of materials in the upper mantle based on_seismo-tomographic results. The eastward extensional motion in the Tibetan plateau may be related to the eastward extrusion of hotter mantle materials beneath the east boundary of the plateau. The northward motion of the Tibetan plateau shortened in the N-S direction probably encounters strong obstructions at the western and northern margins. Extensional motions from the relaxation of the topography and/or gravitational collapse in the altitudes of the plateau occur hardly in the N-S direction. The obstruction for the plateau to move eastward is rather weak.

Internal structures and high-velocity frictional properties of Longmenshan fault zone at Shenxigou activated during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake

This paper reports internal structures of a wide fault zone at Shenxigou,Dujiangyan,Sichuan province,China,and high-velocity frictional properties of the fault gouge collected near the coseismic slip zone during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.Vertical offset and horizontal displacement at the trench site were 2.8 m（NW side up）and 4.8 m（right-lateral）,respectively.The fault zone formed in Triassic sandstone,siltstone,and shale about 500 m away from the Yingxiu-Beichuan fault,a major fault in the Longmenshan fault system.A trench survey across the coseismic fault,and observations of outcrops and drill cores down to a depth of 57 m revealed that the fault zone consists of fault gouge and fault breccia of about0.5 and 250-300 m in widths,respectively,and that the fault strikes N62°E and dips 68° to NW.Quaternary conglomerates were recovered beneath the fault in the drilling,so that the fault moved at least 55 m along the coseismic slip zone,experiencing about 18 events of similar sizes.The fault core is composed of grayish gouge（GG） and blackish gouge（BG） with very complex slip-zone structures.BG contains low-crystalline graphite of about 30 %.High-velocity friction experiments were conducted at normal stresses of 0.6-2.1 MPa and slip rates of 0.1-2.1 m/s.Both GG and BG exhibit dramatic slip weakening at constant high slip rates that can be described as an exponential decay from peak friction coefficient lpto steadystate friction coefficient lssover a slip-weakening distance Dc.Deformation of GG and BG is characterized by overlapped slip-zone structures and development of sharp slickenside surfaces,respectively.Comparison of our data with those reported for other outcrops indicates that the high-velocity frictional properties of the Longmenshan fault zones are quite uniform and the high-velocity weakening must have promoted dynamic rupture propagation during the Wenchuan earthquake.

Three-dimensional characteristics of focal fault of 1995 M_S=6.5 Wuding earthquake occurring in Yunnan Province

By means of the hypocenter distribution and focal mechanism of Wuding Ms=6.5 earthquake sequence occurred in1995. the space orientation and activity characteristics of focal fault of Wuding earthquake have been studied fromthe three-dimensional space-time process. The results indicate that the focal fault of Wuding earthquake is a subsurface, NWW-trending, upright and right-lateral strike slip fault which is consistent with the intensity distributionin foe meizoseisfnal region. Although the large-scale NS-trending Tanglang-Yimen active fault passes through theearthquake region. it is irrelevant to the Ms=6.5 Wuding main earthquake. Since the relationship between thestrong earthquake and the shallow geological active fault can not be determined, the crustal deep structure shouldbe studied. The method proposed in the paper can be used to distinguish the focal fault in the deep crust.

Fold catastrophe model of strike-slip fault earthquake

Using a differential form of the potential energy function and taking the effect of work applied by external force in far field into account, the mechanism of strike-slip fault earthquake is analyzed. The research indicates that each characteristic displayed with a fold catastrophe model in the catastrophe theory corresPonds to a specific primary characteristic of the strike-slip fault earthquake. The fold catastrophe can describe the positions of starting and end points of a fault failure and the distance of fault dislocation. These include the description of stability of the surrounding rock-fault system before and after the earthquake. Two different illustrations about elastic energy releasing amount of the surrounding rock with the fault failure are shown with the primary characteristics mutually demonstrated. The intensity of strike-slip fault earthquake is related to the surrounding rock press and the stiffness ratio of surrounding rock and fault. The larger the surrounding rock press, the smaller the stiffness ratio. The larger the included angle between the tangential stress axis and the causative fault surface, the stronger the earthquake.

Fractal analysis applied to faults and earthquakes——A case study of China

The characteristics and correlation of faults and earthquakes are discussed based on fractal and statistical analysis of the earthquakes in the last 500 years and the active faults in China. It is found that fractal relationship exists between the frequency and the length of the active faults, and the fractal dimension is 1.70 in the continental region of China,and 1.40 in the northwest China. The fractal relationship also exists between the frequency and the scales of earthquakes during the last five centuries and the fractal dimension is 1.30 for the whole continental region of China and 1.08 for the northwest China. The differences of the fractal dimensions between the active faults and the earthquakes indicate that some of the active faults have not caused earthquakes during the last 500 years. The differences of fractal dimensions of the active faults and earthquakes between the northwest China and the whole continental region of China suggest that the frequency of strong earthquakes is greater in northwest China than that of the average level of China, because the number of longer active faults is larger in northwest China than that of the average in whole China. Thus, the fractal analysis is an effective method for studies of faults and earthquakes.

THE ANALYSIS OF REMOTE SENSING IMAGES FOR ACTIVE FAULTS AND EARTHQUAKES IN CHINA

The Landsat image information has recently been widely applied to structural geology, especially to the analysis of lineaments, owing to their macroscopic, visual and comprehensive features. The images will be more effective when applied to the interpretation of active faults. Active faults are widely ditributed in China. Much attention has been paid to the study of active faults both in China and abroad. There is certain controversy concerning the implication of the term "active fault". Strictly speaking, the term should refer only to the faults that are still active in the present day. However, the term also usually refers to the faults which have been active continually or intermittently from the Quaternary (or the end of Tertiary) to the present day. We propose that the tones and the configurations of features on Landsat images are the principal keys to the interpretation of active faults. The faults, which display the most prominent

An evidence for earthquake ocurence time related with geologic structure──Relations between local mean lunar times of earthquake ocurence and their fault trends

The relation between the local mean lunar time τ of earthquake occurrence and their fault trends is studied in this paper. The local mean lunar times τ of 53 earthquakes in 24 groups are calculated. Because the tidal generation force arisen by the moon is a cyclic function of about 12 hours 25 minutes in the main, the two tidal generation forces anywhere in the earth arising by the moon are equal in general when the moon lies to the two sites of 180° interval of local mean lunar time. Based on this phenomenon the values Δ τ of τ 1- τ 2 or τ 1-τ 2±180° of two earthquakes occurring repetitiously in the same place are also calculated. The calculated results show that if the fault trends of the two earthquakes in the same place is near, the Δ τ is usually smaller and if the fault trends of the two ones is not near, the Δ τ is usually larger and the distribution of the local mean lunar time τ of earthquakes in different places is dispersive even if fault trends of these earthquakes are near, and the τ does not concentrate on the lower and upper transit of the moon. The above phenomena clear up that the triggering earthquake of earth solid tide arisen by the moon is relative with the fault trends of earthquakes and we ought to think over the difference of environmental conditions of earthquake preparation of each seismogenic zone and can not make statistics to earthquakes in different places when we study the relation between the solid earth tide arisen by the moon and earthquakes.

Characteristics of fault rocks and paleo-earthquake source along the Koktokay-Ertai fault zone,Xinjiang,China

The Koktokay Ertai fault zone was developed on the basis of a former ductile shear zone (mylonite zone). The mylonites were formed in the brittle ductile transition zone at 10～15 km depth within the crust. The rocks had experienced multi period deformation processes, including ductile deformation, ductile instability and brittle seismic faulting which had gave rise to the formation of Koktokay Ertai fault zone and the development of pseudotachylytes. The pseudotachylytes are distributed within an area about 60 km in length and 300 m in width, which may represent the scale of the paleo earthquake source. The physical conditions of the paleo earthquake source was similar to those for the formation of the mylonites along this zone.

Kinematic features of the seismogenic fault of the Tangshan earthquake and the recurrence period of large earthquakes

By the inversion method of uneven slippage of faults in the depths(Liu et al ., 1995) and using the crustal deformation data of six phases, the movement states of seismic fault of the Tangshan earthquake in five time periods before, during and after that earthquake are computed. The result of computation has revealed the movement process of seismic fault, during which the fault moved at an increasing rate before the quake, slipped suddenly during the quake, and became relaxed, adjusted and stabilized gradually after the quake. Moreover, the recurrence period of earthquakes in Tangshan is computed using the relation that the slippage of seismic fault bears with strain energy.

Characteristics of the seismic source stress field in the joint region of Xianshuihe, Longmenshan and An(ninghe faults

Twenty-two earthquakes (ML=2.2-3.7) in the joint region of Xianshuihe, Longmenshan and An'ninghe faults are studied in this paper. The source mechanism solutions of these events are obtained using P-wave first motion method, and the characteristics of the source stress field and rupture in the joint region are summarized preliminarily with some results of other researchers. Being strongly extruded by the approximately horizontal regional stress with the direction from north-west to south-east and the effect of the complex tectonics in the region, the source stress field has complex and variable characteristics. The earthquakes mainly show normal or strike-slip faults in Yajiang, North-triangle and west of Chengdu-block areas, indicating that the vertical forces have been playing an important role in the source stress fields, while the earthquakes mainly show reverse or strike-slip faults in Baoxing-Tianquan area, with the horizontal components of the principal pressure stress axes identical to the south-west direction to which the shallow mass is moving. We think that the manifold combinations of earthquake faults are the micro-mechanism based upon which the large regional shallow crust mass has been moving continually.

Recent advances in imaging crustal fault zones: a review

Crustal faults usually have a fault core and surrounding regions of brittle damage, forming a low-velocity zone （LVZ） in the immediate vicinity of the main slip interface. The LVZ may amplify ground motion, influence rupture propagation, and hold important information of earthquake physics. A number of geophysical and geodetic methods have been developed to derive high-resolution structure of the LVZ. Here, I review a few recent approaches, including ambient noise cross-correlation on dense across-fault arrays and GPS recordings of fault-zone trapped waves. Despite the past efforts, many questions concerning the LVZ structure remain unclear, such as the depth extent of the LVZ. High-quality data from larger and denser arrays and new seismic imaging technique using larger portion of recorded waveforms, which are currently under active development, may be able to better resolve the LVZ structure. In addition, effects of the alongstrike segmentation and gradational velocity changes across the boundaries between the LVZ and the host rock on rupture propagation should be investigated by conducting comprehensive numerical experiments. Furthermore, high-quality active sources such as recently developed large-volume airgun arrays provide a powerful tool to continuously monitor temporal changes of fault-zone properties, and thus can advance our understanding of fault zone evolution.

Preseismic deformation associated with the 2014 Ms7.3 Yutian earthquake derived from GPS data

Based on analysis of the GPS data during 1999-2007,2009-2011,and 2011-2013 mainly from the Crustal Motion Observation Network of China,we obtained the GPS horizontal velocity field,the GPS strain rate field,and the profiles across the southwestern segment of the Altyn Tagh Fault zone and its adjacent regions and identified the different characteristics of horizontal crustal deformation fields and profiles during different periods. The results show that,before the February 12,2014,Ms7. 3 Yutian earthquake,the laevorotation deformation along the southwestern segment of the Altyn Tagh Fault zone increased about 3. 3 mm /a during 2011-2013,relative to that in 2009-2011,and the GPS strain rate field distributed in the southeastern segment of the Altyn Tagh Fault during 2011-2013 increased obviously. These abnormal changes may be regarded as precursors to the Ms7. 3 Yutian earthquake.

The Kangding earthquake swarm of November, 2014

There was an earthquake swarm of two major events of MS6.3 and MS5.8 on the Xianshuihe fault in November, 2014. The two major earthquakes are both strike-slip events with aftershock zone along NW direction.We have analyzed the characteristics of this earthquake sequence. The b value and the h value show the significant variations in different periods before and after the MS5.8earthquake. Based on the data of historical earthquakes, we also illustrated the moderate-strong seismic activity on the Xianshuihe fault. The Kangding earthquake swarm manifests the seismic activity on Xianshuihe fault may be in the late seismic active period. The occurrence of the Kangding earthquake may be an adjustment of the strong earthquakes on the Xianshuihe fault. The Coulomb failure stress changes caused by the historical earthquakes were also given in this article. The results indicate that the earthquake swarm was encouraged by the historical earthquakes since1893, especially by the MS7.5 Kangding earthquake in1955. The Coulomb failure stress changes also shows the subsequent MS5.8 earthquake was triggered by the MS6.3earthquake.