Regional stress field in Yunnan revealed by the focal mechanisms of moderate and small earthquakes

We determined focal mechanism solutions of 627 earthquakes of magnitude M ≥ 3.0 in Yunnan from January 2008 to May 2018 by using broadband waveforms recorded by 287 permanent and temporary regional stations. The results clearly revealed predominantly strike-slip faulting characteristics for earthquakes in Yunnan, with focal depths concentrated in the top 10 km of the crust. The earthquake mechanisms obtained were combined with the global centroid moment tensor solutions of 80 additional earthquakes from 1976 to 2016 to invert for the regional variations of stress field orientation by using a damped regional-scale stress inversion scheme.Results of the stress field inversion confirmed that the Yunnan region is under a strike–slip stress regime, with both maximum and minimum stress axes being nearly horizontal. The maximum compressional axes are primarily oriented in a northwest-southeast direction, and they experience a clockwise rotation from north to south, whereas the maximum extensional axes are oriented largely northeast-southwest. The maximum compressional axes are in line with the global positioning system–inferred horizontal velocity field and the southeastward escape of the Sichuan–Yunnan Rhombic Block, whereas the maximum extensional axes are consistent with anisotropy derived from SKS splitting. Against the strike–slip background, normal faulting stress regimes can be seen in the Tengchong volcanic area as well as in other areas with complex crisscrossing fault zones.

Modern tectonic stress field in the Chinese mainland inverted from focal mechanism solutions

The inversion of modern tectonic stress field in China is made by regions on the basis of focal mechanism data inthe period of 1920-1996. Results of the inversion show that the maximum principal compressive stress σ1 axisstrikes nearly north-south direction in the Tibet Plateau and western Chin4 east-west direction in North China Incentral China, its strikes show a radiate pattern, i.e., north-north east in north part, east-west in central part andnorth-north west in south part. The σ1 axes are often perpendicular to the minimum principal stress σ3 axes, exceptwestern China where the σ1 axes are oblique to the σ3 axes with an acute angle. R is defined by (σ2-σ1)/(σ3-σ1),has the higher values (0.60-0.90) in north part of central China and quickly changes into the lower values(0. 10-0.30) in the Tibet Plateau. Both of the observed and inverted fault planes have strikes varying with locations.Combining stress directions and R value, the stress configuration is divided into 7 groups. Most of the groups showstrike-slip faulting with intermediate R values, which occupies North China and the eastern part of China as well asinner Tibet Plateau. A few of them show reverse faulting with higher R values within western pod of China and thenorth edge of the Tibet Plateau. Normal faulting occurred on the south edge of the Tibet Plateau with smaller Rval nes.

Focal mechanism and modern stress field along the Burmese Arc and its vicinity

It is generally accepted that the Burmese Arc represents a transition zone between the Himalayan collision belt and the Indonesian Arc. The detail analysis of focal mechanism in the Burmese Arc and its vicinity now implicates two dominant factors responsible for the prevailing stress field in the region. The first is the Indian Plate motion, which produces a SSW-NNE compressive stressl the second is the overthrusting of the Eurasian Plate above the indian Plate, which results in a NEE-SWW compressive stress and a tensile stress approximately perpendicular to the main tectonic lines. The flow of material from the deep crust of Tibet to Burmese region facilitates the overthrusting. The two share a common dynamic source, namely, the NNE motion of the Indian Plate.

Determinations of directions of the mean stress field in Sichuan-Yunnan region from a number of focal mechanism solutions

Based on the spatial orientation and slip direction of the fault plane solutions, we present the expression of corresponding mechanical axis tensor in geographic coordinate system, and then put forward a method for calculating average mechanical axis tensor and its eigenvalues, which involves solving the corresponding eigenequation. The method for deducing mean stress field from T, B, and P axes parameters of a number of focal mechanism solutions has been verified by inverting data of mean stress fields in Fuyun region and in Tangshan region with fitting method of slip direction, and both results are consistent. To study regional average stress field, we need to choose a population of focal mechanism solutions of earthquakes in the massifs where there are significant tectonic structures. According to the focal mechanism solutions of 256 moderate-strong earthquakes occurred in 13 seismic zones of Sichuan-Yunnan region, the quantitative analysis results of stress tensor in each seismic zone have been given. The algorithm of such method is simple and convenient, which makes the method for analyzing tectonic stress field with large amount of focal mechanism solution data become quantified.

Contemporary tectonic stress field in China

The contemporary tectonic stress field in China is obtained on the basis of Chinese stress field database and Harvard CMT catalogue. Result of the inverted tectonic stresses shows that the maximum principal stress axis strikes nearly north-south direction in the west part of Tibet plateau, ENE direction in North China. In Central China, its strikes show a ra- diated pattern, i.e., NNE in north part and NNW in south part. The detailed stress field parameters of nearly whole China are given and can be used in geodynamic stress field simulation and earthquake prediction.

Crustal stress field in Yunnan: implication for crust-mantle coupling

We applied the g CAP algorithm to determine 239 focal mechanism solutions 3：0≤MW≤ 6：0） with records of dense Chin Array stations deployed in Yunnan,and then inverted 686 focal mechanisms（including 447 previous results） for the regional crustal stress field with a damped linear inversion. The results indicate dominantly strike-slip environment in Yunnan as both the maximum（r1） and minimum（r3） principal stress axes are sub-horizontal. We further calculated the horizontal stress orientations（i.e., maximum and minimum horizontal compressive stress axes： S H and S h, respectively） accordingly and found an abrupt change near ＊26°N. To the north, S H aligns NW-SE to nearly E-W while S h aligns nearly N-S. In contrast, to the south, both S H and S h rotate laterally and show dominantly fan-shaped patterns. The minimum horizontal stress（i.e., maximum strain axis） S h rotates from NW-SE to the west of Tengchong volcano gradually to nearly E-W in west Yunnan, and further toNE-SW in the South China block in the east. The crustal strain field is consistent with the upper mantle strain field indicated by shear-wave splitting observations in Yunnan but not in other regions. Therefore, the crust and upper mantle in Yunnan are coupled and suffering vertically coherent pure-shear deformation in the lithosphere.

The seismicity and tectonic stress field characteristics of the Longmenshan fault zone before the Wenchuan M_S8.0 earthquake

The seismicity of Longrnenshan fault zone and its vicinities before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake is studied. Based on the digital seismic waveform data observed from regional seismic networks and mobile stations, the focal mechanism solutions are determined. Our analysis results show that the seismicities of Longmenshan fault zone before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake were in stable state. No obvious phenomena of seismic activity intensifying appeared. According to focal mechanism solutions of some small earthquakes before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, the direction of principal compressive stress P-axis is WNW-ESE. The two hypocenter fault planes are NE-striking and NW-striking. The plane of NE direction is among N50°-70°E, the dip angles of fault planes are 60°-70° and it is very steep. The faultings of most earthquakes are dominantly characterized by dip-slip reverse and small part of faultings present strike-slip. The azimuths of principal compressive stress, the strikes of source fault planes and the dislocation types calculated from some small earthquakes before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake are in accordance with that of the main shock. The average stress field of micro-rupture along the Longmenshan fault zone before the great earthquake is also consistent with that calculated from main shock. Zipingpu dam is located in the east side 20 km from the initial rupture area of the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. The activity increment of small earthquakes in the Zipingpu dam is in the period of water discharging. The source parameter results of the small earthquakes which occurred near the initial rupture area of the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake indicate that the focal depths are 5 to 14 km and the source parameters are identical with that of earthquake.

Spatio-temporal variation of the stress field in the Wenchuan aftershock region

Focal mechanism solutions and centroid depths of 312 M≥4 aftershocks from the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake sequence have been derived by CAP （Cut and Paste） method from broadband waveform data with relatively high signal-to-noise ratio （SNR）. Following this, we have analyzed the distribution of focal depths and the stress tensors, as well as the types of focal mechanisms. The major results are： （1） different cross-sections show that the depth ranges of the aftershocks at the southern and northern ends of the aftershock area along the Longmenshan fault zone are wider than those on the central segment, where rare M≥4 aftershocks occurred at depths shallower than 10 kin. The main faults trend to the NW on the southern and central segments, and for the northern segment, no dominant trend direction has been determined; （2） stress tensor distribution demonstrates that the majority of the aftershock areas on the cross-section along the major axis are mainly under compressive stress perpendicular to the profile; however, for the areas near Lixian, Beichuan, Qingchuan and the shallow parts of its northern segment, large principal stress components are parallel to the major axis profile direction. On the cross-sections perpendicular to the major axis, the three areas above can be divided into two parts： one with dominantly compressional stress near the major faults of the Longmenshan fault zone on the SE side, and the other with NE-direction push along the fault zone on the NW side; （3） the stress tensor distribution in map view is very similar to those on the vertical cross-sections. In map view, the orientation of the principal compressional stress axis $1 on the central segment of the aftershock area presents an SE-trending arc shape; （4） the stress tensor slices at different depths show that the orientation of S1 axis mainly changes on the central segment and at the northern end, indicating that the two segments have different seismogenic structures at different depths; （5） with the exception of the northern end of the aftershock region, the orientation of the $1 axis changes little during the early and late stages, illustrating the seismogenic structures are relatively stable; （6） preliminary analyses for the seismogenic structures at the northern end indicated that deeper strike-slip quakes occurred on the ENE-striking branch at first, and then the NNE-striking branch faults at the northern end were activated and generated a series of relatively shallow strike-slip earthquakes due to subsequent stress-triggering; （7） the aftershock triggering mechanism that occurred near Lixian is different between the shallow and deep depths, and between the early and late stages, indicating that the main faults and the branch faults responsible for aftershocks are at different depths. Consequently, the relaxation effect of the main shock particularIy impacts the branch faults.

Variation of stress field in the source region around a strong shock：an example

An earthquake with magnitude 6.6 occurred on November 16,1983 in the Kaoiki,Hawii.The hierarchical clustering analyses were made by stages for the focal mechanism solutions of 74 earthquakes with M≥3.0 in this area from 1977 to 1985,it was found that each type of focal mechanism is roughly with invariable percentage,and that the strike-slip events including the mainshock,which did not appear in other stages,occurred in the stage around M=6.6 mainshock.The dominant types in the other stages were depressed in the period around the mainshock. This is a believable precursor phenomena.orientation of the principal axes of stress field was inversed by fitting slip vector based on the focal mechanisms in the different periods.The results show that the stress field around the main shock with M=6.6 was more stable,its maximum and minimum principal axes is nearly horizontal in EW and NS direction respectively,the middle one is nearly vertical.The middle principal axis of stress field in the other periods appeared to be horizontal and the corresponding seismic rupture horizontally slip with a small dip.The significant difference between the stress field of source region in the period around the strong shock and that in the other periods shows that the seismogeny and occurrence of the strong shock were controlled by the variation of stress field.The characteristic environment factors of Kaoiki region and its effects were discussed.

Modern tectonic stress field in Southwest Yunnan, China

By means of inversion of fault slip data, the parameters of 20 tectonic stress tensors in Southwest Yunnan region are determined. Compared with the average stress field of the region obtained from focal mechanism solutions, the following characteristics of modern tectonic stress field in this region are obtained. From the west of Zhenyuan-Yingpanshan fault to the south of Longling fault zone, the maximum compressional stress is in NNE direction and the stress regime is mainly of strike-slip type. In Longling fault zone and the area north to it, the direction of maximum compressional stress is near-NS or NNW, the stress regime is of strike-slip type.

Comparison and analysis of the stress field in the source region of Tangshan and Lancang earthquake sequences

The state of the stress fields in the source region is analysed systematically, on the basis of the focal mechanismsof 167 events with Ms≥4. 0 of Tangshan sequence and 163 moderate-small events of Lancang sequence respectively. The result indicates that the directions of the stress field in the source region are generally stable and thevariation is not obvious after the occurrence of strong shock. The dominant orientations of focal mechanisms ofthe aftershocks are consistent with that of the mainshock, there is still a small difference between some mechanisms of aftershocks and the mechanism of mainshock, and the difference decreases as time goes on. The numbers of solutions with dominant direction of Tangshan and Lancang sequences are similar to each other, it indicates that the controls of the strong earthquake sequences from the tectonic stress field are similar to each othertoo. Through the hierarchical clustering analysis of focal mechanism,it is found that the number of clusters ofTangshan sequence is larger than that of Lancang sequence,and their orientations are relatively disordered. Itmay be the cause that the tectonics in the Tangshan region are more complicated than those in the Lancang region.

Recent tectonic stress field research in Shanxi graben system

By comprehension of earthquake focal mechanism solutions and the data of in-situ stress measurements, the tectonic stress field in Shanxi region has been summarized, which indicate that the stress state in this region is different from that of its eastern surrounding regions. The next, by fitting the measured data, the boundary forces that influenced the distribution of the stress field in this region has been studied using inversion method. The inversion results showed the following messages: the effect of the boundary force between the blocks is the main determinative factor for the recent tectonic stress field in Shanxi and the regional material and its property is a secondary factor; the horizontal main stress of tectonic stress field in Shanxi region is consistent with the stretch of fault basins.

锦屏一级水电站库区中小地震震源机制解与局部应力场特征

利用四川及邻区数字地震台网2013—2018年的波形资料,基于CAP和HASH方法反演得到锦屏一级水电站(以下简称锦屏水库)库区及周边M_(L)≥2.5地震的震源机制解,根据DRSSI方法计算得到库区局部应力场信息,结合该区域的地质资料,从震源机制参数和局部应力场变化等方面讨论了水库加卸载对该区域地震活动的影响.取得的主要认识如下:(1)库区地震活动类型以走滑型为主,不同加卸载阶段震源机制类型存在一定差异,库区蓄水前期震源机制类型呈现多样性,蓄水后期与区域背景场趋于一致;(2)库区应力场最大主应力方向以NNW-SSE向为主,分时段结果显示,蓄水后期局部应力场最大主应力方向由NNW向逐渐发生偏转至NW向;(3)库区周边的地质构造和岩性条件有利于库水的渗透,蓄水后重力载荷和流体渗透的共同作用导致岩体断层面库仑应力的变化,从而呈现出库区蓄水前后中小地震活跃程度的显著差异特征.

川滇菱形块体东边界震源机制与应力场特征

文中利用四川、云南、重庆、青海、甘肃地震台网以及西昌密集台阵和巧家密集台阵的数字地震波形资料,采用CAP全波形反演方法及HASH初动极性和振幅比方法,获得了川滇菱形块体东边界区域3 951组M L≥1.0地震的震源机制。进而基于以上震源机制,采用阻尼区域应力场反演算法(MSTASI)和Vavrycuk的迭代联合反演方法获得了研究区的构造应力场分布特征、主要活动断裂的应力性质和摩擦系数。结果显示,研究区震源机制P轴、T轴以及最大主应力轴σ1和最小主应力轴σ3总体上倾角较小,揭示了近水平的挤压或剪切应力环境。σ1以NW-SE和NWW-SEE向为主,从北到南有顺时针旋转的趋势,应力性质以走滑型为主,局部兼有逆冲型和拉张型,整体分布特征与区内走滑型边界断裂活动性质一致。R值具有明显的空间差异,鲜水河断裂-龙门山断裂-安宁河断裂交会地区R值相对较高,有明显的挤压特征;鲜水河断裂带、安宁河断裂带北段和小江断裂带的R值均在0.25~0.5之间,表现为NE-SW向挤压和NW-SE向拉张,拉张应力可能远小于挤压应力;大凉山断裂带北段和则木河断裂带的R值均在0.5~1之间,表现为NW-SE向压缩和NE-SW向拉张,且挤压应力大于拉张应力。研究区域主要断裂的摩擦系数也有差异:安宁河断裂带和大凉山断裂带北段的摩擦系数相对较低,在0.75以下,鲜水河断裂带、则木河断裂带及大凉山断裂带南段的摩擦系数偏高,在0.80以上。川滇菱形块体东边界活动断裂带上的构造应力相对较高,尤其是鲜水河断裂带和小江断裂带的应力更高,需要关注其地震危险性。

盖州青石岭震群断层面参数的确定及构造应力场特征研究

根据之前学者的双差定位结果,使用Fit_Fault软件包计算盖州青石岭震群发震断层面走向为114.30°,倾角74.67°。收集2001年至2011年辽宁地区的震源机制解资料,采用全局网格搜索算法,反演该地区的构造应力场,其主压应力轴为NEE向,主张应力轴为NNW向,整体呈现拉张的应力状态。并据此确定出青石岭震群发震断层的滑动角是35.49°,为左旋走滑性质。模拟在辽宁地区构造应力体系下各种产状的断层面上可产生的相对剪应力和相对正应力分布情况,发现该震群发震断层面上的相对剪应力和相对正应力分别为0.513和0.576。分析认为盖州青石岭震群是一处地质薄弱带,背景构造应力场在其最近一期的活动中未起主导作用。

夏县断层气氢高值异常探讨

运用2010—2023年夏县断层气氢浓度观测数据,分析其异常变化与地震活动的关联性,结合异常时段的震源机制解、GPS基线构建的山西南部构造应力场、地壳垂直形变特征,解释断层气氢浓度变化与区域构造活动的关系,分析认为夏县断层气氢测值自2022年6月出现的高值异常可能与地下应力场调整相关。

2024年新疆乌什M_(S)7.1地震发震断层产状及其动力学探讨

大地震发生后,断层面产状快速确定对震后趋势判定具有重要参考价值。本文收集2024年新疆乌什M_(S)7.1地震序列的震源机制数据,对多家机构计算的该地震震源机制解进行中心解求解后,对震源机制的节面进行聚类分析,去掉噪声点的震源机制得到两簇结果,发现标准差较小的第二簇中心节面可能为发震断层面。然后,为进一步通过断层面与应力场关系验证可能的发震断层面,收集了该地区历史震源机制资料,反演得到乌什地震震源区的构造应力场,发现该地区受到NW—SE向的挤压应力和近垂直向的拉张应力;将应力场分别投影到两簇节面上,发现标准差较小的第二簇中心节面处于剪应力较大区域,并且正应力也有利于该中心节面破裂。综合其他资料分析,本研究推测2024年新疆乌什M_(S)7.1地震发震断层为NW向、低倾角断层,走向为244.62°,倾角为46.19°。

南北朝·大地变迁的动力--漫步地震五千年(8)

地下应力场是地壳形变、岩体破坏、地震发生的直接力源,岩体的稳定性问题十分重要。通过国际合作已经完成了全球GPS速度场和地应力图的更新,有了动力源的板块就不再是一堆僵化构造体,它们运动的活力和内部的应力状况被第一次揭示出来。本文介绍了地应力原地测量的方法,应力张量结构的划分原则,全球和中国应力图的基本特征。对于地震的震源机制解,作者绘制了多种三维透视图,便于读者以看图识字的方式掌握震源机制解的地质含义。最后,以两个实例对比了实测应力图和震源机制解的异同,分析了当地动力学的背景。

缅甸中部印缅山脉-中央盆地的孕震构造环境

缅甸作为全球受地震灾害影响甚为严重的国家之一,因缺乏区域地震观测资料,对其孕震构造环境的详细分析研究十分不足.本文利用中缅联合地球物理探测(CMGSMO)项目在缅甸布设的密集宽频带地震台阵观测数据,对印缅山脉至中央盆地的地震活动特征进行了分析.基于改进的剪切-粘贴法(generalized Cut And Paste,gCAP)新获得了28个ML3.0~5.0地震事件的震源机制解等震源参数信息,并结合全球矩心矩张量(Global Centroid Moment Tensor,GCMT)目录及其他已发表的震源机制解资料,应用区域阻尼应力场反演算法得到了研究区的应力分布状态,综合探讨了研究区域深浅部构造关系及孕震机制.研究表明印度板块持续的斜向俯冲控制着印缅山脉和中央盆地的地震活动,但其影响向东逐渐减弱,浅部最大主应力方向的变化可能反映的是局部应力集中或者是相对短时间内的应力调整,不同区域的地震活动差异主要受区域构造及其浅部断层的影响,中央盆地下方的两个邻区之间的最大主应力轴的偏转可能与深部活动相关.