Dextral-Slip Thrust Faulting and Seismic Events of the Ms 8.0 Wenchuan Earthquake,Longmenshan Mountains,Eastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Dextral-slip thrust movement of the Songpan-Garze terrain over the Sichuan block caused the Ms 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake of May 12, 2008 and offset the Central Longmenshan Fault （CLF） along a distance of -250 km. Displacement along the CLF changes from Yingxiu to Qingchuan. The total oblique slip of up to 7.6 m in Yingxiu near the epicenter of the earthquake, decreases northeastward to 5.3 m, 6.6 m, 4.4 m, 2.5 m and 1.1 m in Hongkou, Beichuan, Pingtong, Nanba and Qingchuan, respectively. This offset apparently occurred during a sequence of four reported seismic events, EQ1-EQ4, which were identified by seismic inversion of the source mechanism. These events occurred in rapid succession as the fault break propagated northeastward during the earthquake. Variations in the plunge of slickensides along the CLF appear to match these events. The Mw 7.5 EQ1 event occurred during the first 0-10 s along the Yingxiu-Hongkou section of the CLF and is characterized by 1.7 m vertical slip and vertical slickensides. The Mw 8.0 EQ2 event, which occurred during the next 10-42 s along the Yingxiu-Yanziyan section of the CLF, is marked by major dextralslip with minor thrust and slickensides plunging 25°-35° southwestward. The Mw 7.5 EQ3 event occurred during the following 42-60 s and resulted in dextral-slip and slickensides plunging 10° southwestward in Beichuan and plunging 73° southwestward in Hongkou. The Mw 7.7 EQ4 event, which occurred during the final 60-95 s along the Beichuan-Qingchuan section of the CLF, is characterized by nearly equal values of dextral and vertical slips with slickensides plunging 45°-50° southwestward. These seismic events match and evidently controlled the concentrations of landslide dams caused by the Wenchuan earthquake in Longmenshan Mountains.

Negative Dislocation Model and the Movement Pattern of a Fault:Determination of Potential Earthquake Sources in Western Yunnan

To determine the locked and slip parts on a fault,we simulated the movement pattern of the fault with a combined model consisting of a negative dislocation in the locked area superimposed on a relative movement between two sides of the fault.In this way,we determined the locked parts of faults by inversion with multiple epochs of geodetic data.In this paper,we have determined the movement patterns of four main faults in western Yunnan by inversion with two epochs of geodetic surveys and some crossing-fault observations.From the inversion result,we have identified the areas around Dali and Xiangyun to be the locked area,which is regarded as a sign of potential earthquake sources.

Preliminary Results of In-situ Stress Measurements along the Longmenshan Fault Zone after the Wenchuan M_s 8.0 Earthquake

Four months after the Wenchuan Ms 8 earthquake in western Sichuan, China, in situ stress measurements were carried out along the Longmenshan fault zone with the purpose of obtaining stress parameters for earthquake hazard assessment. In-situ stresses were measured in three new boreholes by using overcoring with the piezomagnetic stress gauges for shallow depths and hydraulic fracturing for lower depths. The maximum horizontal stress in shallow depths （-20 m） is about 4.3 MPa, oriented N19°E, in the epicenter area at Yingxiu Town, about 9.7 MPa, oriented N51°W, at Baoxing County in the southwestern Longmenshan range, and about 2.6 MPa, oriented N39°E, near Kangding in the southernmost zone of the Longmenshan range. Hydraulic fracturing at borehole depths from 100 to 400 m shows a tendency towards increasing stress with depth. A comparison with the results measured before the Wenchuan earthquake along the Longmenshan zone and in the Tibetan Plateau demonstrates that the stress level remains relatively high in the southwestern segment of the Longmenshan range, and is still moderate in the epicenter zone. These results provide a key appraisal for future assessment of earthquake hazards of the Longmenshan fault zone and the aftershock occurrences of the Wenchuan earthquake.

Discussion on the Abnormally Low Active Fault Slip Rate of the M_S 8. 0 Wenchuan Earthquake

Based on the collection of active fault slip rate data of large intra-continental shallow thrust earthquakes occurring in the triangular seismic region of the East Asia continent,a preliminary analysis has been performed with results showing that the Wenchuan,Sichuan, China earthquake ( MS = 8.0) of May 12,2008 occurred on the Longmenshan Mountain active fault with an abnormally low slip rate.

Analysis of main shock of thrust fault earthquake by catastrophe theory

The relationship between work and energy increment of a thrust fault system with quasi-static deformation can be decomposed into two parts： volume strain energy and deviation stress energy. The relationship between work and energy increment of the deviation stress of a simplified thrust fault system is analyzed based on the catastrophe theory. The research indicates that the characteristics displayed by the fold catastrophe model can appropriately describe the condition of earthquake generation, the evolvement process of main shock of thrust fault earthquake, and some important aftershock proper- ties. The bigger the surrounding press of surrounding rock is, the bigger the maximum principal stress is, the smaller the incidences of the potential thrust fault surface are, and the smaller the ratio between the tangential stiffness of surrounding rock and the slope is, which is at the inflexion point on the softened zone of the fault shearing strength curve. Thus, when earthquake occurrs, the larger the elastic energy releasing amount of sur- rounding rock is, the bigger the earthquake magnitude is, the larger the half distance of fault dislocation is, and the larger the displacement amplitude of end face of surrounding rock is. Fracturing and expanding the fault rock body and releasing the volume strain energy of surrounding rock during the earthquake can enhance the foregoing effects to- gether.

Co-seismic Coulomb stress changes on the northern Tanlu fault zone caused by the Tohoku-Oki M_(W)9.0 earthquake

Based on the spherical earth dislocation theory and a fault slip model of the Tohoku-Oki M_(W)9.0 earthquake,the co-seismic Coulomb failure stress changes(ΔCFS)on the northern Tanlu fault zone at depths of 0–40 km are calculated.By comparing two sets of results from the spherical earth dislocation theory and the semi-infinite space one,the effect of earth curvature on the calculation results is analyzed quantitatively.First,we systematically summarize previous researches related to the northern Tanlu fault zone,divide the fault zone as detailed as possible,give the geometric parameters of each segment,and establish a segmented structural model of the northern Tanlu fault zone.Second,we calculate the Coulomb stress changes on the northern Tanlu fault zone by using the spherical earth dislocation theory.The result shows the Coulomb stress changes are no more than 0.003 MPa,which proves the great earthquake did not significantly change the stress state of the fault zone.Finally,we quantitatively analyze the disparities between the results of semi-infinite space dislocation theory and the spherical earth one.The average disparity between them is about 7.7%on the northern Tanlu fault zone and is 16.8%on the Fangzheng graben,the maximum disparity on this graben reaches up to 25.5%.It indicates that the effect of earth curvature can not be ignored.So it’s necessary to use the spherical earth dislocation theory instead of the semi-infinite space one to study the Coulomb stress change in the far field.

Discussion of rupture mechanisms on the seismogenic fault of the 2008 M_s8.0 Wenchuan earthquake

The May 12, 2008, Ms8.0 Wenchuan earthquake was the outcome of a recent movement of an active intra-continental thrust fault zone. The seismogenic fault of this earthquake underwent oblique-slip faulting along the central fault and pure thrust faulting along the range-front fault of the Longmenshan fault zone. The former had a steep dip and large vertical displacement, and the latter had a gentle dip and little vertical displacement. The fault zone consisted of compressive double fault ramps rup turing with right-lateral strike-slip components resulting from strain partitioning of a deep oblique slip fault in the brittle zone of the upper crust. The kinematic pattern and rupture mechanisms are complex for the seismogenic fault, as indicated by the geometric pattern of its surface ruptures, the coseismic displacement distribution and focal mechanisms of the main shock and aftershocks. As a tear fault, the NW-trending, left-lateral, strike-slip Xiaoyudong fault zone has accommodated NE-trending displacements with different shortening amounts. However, because of intense compression on the southwestern segment of the seismogenic fault, the left-lateral, strike-slip Xiaoyudong fault also carries a clear compression component. Normal faulting with a strike-slip component controls the formation of a fault-trough along the central fault, which is characterized by thrusting with a strike-slip component and strike-slip with thrusting. The fault-troughs are the product of the interaction of slip and grav ity on the seismogenic fault under specific geological and geomorphic conditions. Gravitational force exaggerated the vertical component of fault displacement, which by no means represents the actual maximum vertical displacement of the seismogenic fault.

Tectonic Stress State Changes Before and After the Wenchuan M_s 8.0 Earthquake in the Eastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Crustal tectonic activities are essentially the consequences of the accumulation and release of in situ stress. Therefore, studying the stress state near active faults is important for understanding crustal dynamics and earthquake occurrences. In this paper, using in situ stress measurement results obtained by hydraulic fracturing in the vicinity of the Longmenshan fault zone before and after the Wenchuan Ms 8.0 earthquake and finite element modeling, the variation of stress state before and after the Wenchuan M. 8.0 earthquake is investigated. The results show that the shear stress, which is proportional to the difference between principal stresses, increases with depth and distance from the active fault in the calm period or after the earthquakes, and tends to approach to the regional stress level outside the zone influenced by the fault. This distribution appears to gradually reverse with time and the change of fault properties such as frictional strength. With an increase in friction coefficient, low stress areas are reduced and areas with increased stress accumulation are more obvious near the fault. In sections of the fault with high frictional strengths, in situ stress clearly increases in the fault. Stress accumulates more rapidly in the fault zone relative to the surrounding areas, eventually leading to a stress field that peaks at the fault zone. Such a reversal in the stress field between the fault zone and surrounding areas in the magnitude of the stress field is a potential indicator for the occurrence of strong earthquakes.

Exploration of Suspected Surface Ruptures of the M_S8.0 Wenchuan Earthquake at Frontal Areas of Longmenshan Using Shallow Seismic Reflection

The great M_S8.0 Wenchuan earthquake on May 12,2008 was generated by abrupt faulting in the Yingxiu-Beichuan fault along the Longmenshan fault zone. The earthquake not only produced surface ruptures along the Yingxiu-Beichuan and Guanxian-Jiangyou faults,but also surface ruptures,arching of highway pavement,sand-boils and waterspouts in various degrees in areas such as Shifang and Mianzhu on the Chengdu Plain. To understand the shallow geological structures under the surface rupture zone,a 6350m long high-resolution shallow seismic reflection profile in near-EW direction was performed. This profile is located at Shigu town,Shifang city,where a suspected earthquake surface rupture zone was discovered. In this study,a group interval of 3m,shotpoint interval of 18m,and a 300-channel 25-fold observation system were used. In consideration of both near-surface reflections and dipping interface imaging,we adopted the split-spread geometry and asymmetrical zero-offset receiving technique. To better suppress random-noise and raise the signal-to-noise ratio of seismic data,30 times vertical stacking of vibrator signals was made for each common-shot gather after correlation of individual records. By using the above work method and spread geometry,we obtained high-resolution images of structures in the depth range of 15m～800m after data processing. The result shows the existence of buried thrust faults thrusting to the plain area and back-thrust faults under the surface rupture zone. It also shows that the activity of the buried thrust faults may be the main cause for folding and deformation in near-surface strata and coseismic surface rupturing.

Tectonic Features of the M_S8.0 Wenchuan Earthquake and Its Aftershocks

The M8.0 Wenchuan earthquake occurred on the Longmenshan fault zone. Based on field investigation of the surface rupture and focal mechanism study of the aftershocks, we discuss the geological relationship of the main, secondary and triggered ruptures. The main rupture is about 200km long and can be divided into the south part and the north part. The south part consists of two parallel fault zones characterized by reverse faulting, with several parallel secondary ruptures on the hanging wall of the main fault, and the north part is a single main fault zone characterized by lateral strike-slip and reverse faulting. Compared to a 300km long aftershock distribution, the surface rupture only occupies 200km, and the remaining lOOkm on the northeast of the main rupture was triggered by aftershocks. Study on the ruptures of this earthquake will be useful for studying the earthquake risk evolution on the Longmenshan fault system.

Anomalous phenomena in DC–ULF geomagnetic daily variation registered three days before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan M_S 8.0 earthquake

The hourly data of the vertical Z and the horizontal H components of 37 ground-based DC-ULF geomagnetic stations are examined during 20 April-12 May 2008. On 9 May 2008, three days before the Wenchuan MS 8.0 shock, anomalies-a double low-point and a decreased amplitude-are registered on the curves of the Z component at 25 stations in a large-scale area surrounding the Wenchuan epicentral area. The H component shows none of the double low-point phenomenon but does exhibit a reduced magnitude at the same time. The geomagnetic index Kp is also examined and indicates that the anomalies appear at a solar quiet period. The appearing time shift(Tzs) between the first low-point on May 9 and the minimum point occurring time of May 1-5, 2008 is also checked.The results show that Tzs is on the order of 1-2 hours earlier or later than usual and there is a 2-6 hours’ gap between these two lowpoints. However, there is still a transition area which includes the epicenter where Tzs=0. Variation amplitude examined on vertical Z increases as the distance from the epicenter decreases. An Earth-air-ionosphere model has been employed to investigate a possible mechanism of this phenomenon and positive results have been unexpectedly attained. All these above-related results tend to prove that the variations of the Z and H on May 9, 2008 during the solar quiet period are probably associated with the forthcoming Wenchuan MS 8.0 earthquake.

Deformation Evolution Characteristics Revealed by GPS and Cross-fault Leveling Data before the M_S8. 0 Wenchuan Earthquake

Based on GPS velocity during 1999-2007,GPS baseline time series on large scale during1999-2008 and cross-fault leveling data during 1985-2008,the paper makes some analysis and discussion to study and summarize the movement,tectonic deformation and strain accumulation evolution characteristics of the Longmenshan fault and the surrounding area before the MS8. 0 Wenchuan earthquake,as well as the possible physical mechanism late in the seismic cycle of the Wenchuan earthquake. Multiple results indicate that:GPS velocity profiles show that obvious continuous deformation across the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau before the earthquake was distributed across a zone at least 500 km wide,while there was little deformation in Sichuan Basin and Longmenshan fault zone,which means that the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau provides energy accumulation for locked Longmenshan fault zone continuously. GPS strain rates show that the east-west compression deformation was larger in the northwest of the mid-northern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone,and deformation amplitude decreased gradually from far field to near fault zone,and there was little deformation in fault zone. The east-west compression deformation was significant surrounding the southwestern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone,and strain accumulation rate was larger than that of mid-northern segment.Fault locking indicates nearly whole Longmenshan fault was locked before the earthquake except the source of the earthquake which was weakly locked,and a 20 km width patch in southwestern segment between 12 km to 22. 5 km depth was in creeping state. GPS baseline time series in northeast direction on large scale became compressive generally from 2005 in the North-South Seismic Belt,which reflects that relative compression deformation enhances. The cross-fault leveling data show that annual vertical change rate and deformation trend accumulation rate in the Longmenshan fault zone were little,which indicates that vertical activity near the fault was very weak and the fault was tightly locked. According to analyses of GPS and cross-fault leveling data before the Wenchuan earthquake,we consider that the Longmenshan fault is tightly locked from the surface to the deep,and the horizontal and vertical deformation are weak surrounding the fault in relatively small-scale crustal deformation. The process of weak deformation may be slow,and weak deformation area may be larger when large earthquake is coming. Continuous and slow compression deformation across eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau before the earthquake provides dynamic support for strain accumulation in the Longmenshan fault zone in relative large-scale crustal deformation.

The Geodynamic Mechanism of the M_S8.0 Wenchuan Earthquake

Located on the east boundary of Qinghai-Xizang （Tibet） Plateau, the Ms8.0 Wenchnan earthquake is the strongest event to hit the active block since the 2001 Kunlun Mountains Pass earthquake. In this study, a simplified source model of the Wenchnan earthquake is constructed based on the deep/shallow tectonic settings and crust/mantle structure features of the Longmenshan thrust fault zone. On the basis of dynamic model abstraction, we construct a system of dynamical equations for the seismogenic process and obtain the analytical expressions of stress and strain in the seismogenic process. A preliminary study of the seismogenic process of the Ms8.0 Wenchuan earthquake, based on the analytical solution of the model and observation of tectonic deformation in the Longmenshan region, indicates that the seismogenic process of the Wenchuan earthquake took place over a period of more than 3200 years. The slow process of seismogeny and the long recurrence period of strong earthquakes are attributed to the low deformation rate of the Longmenshan tectonic zone.

汶川MS8.0地震中央断裂东北端地表破裂特征及其构造含义

汶川地震地表破裂在东北端从石坎子乡到窝前的运动性质存着从走滑分量略高于倾滑分量到完全为右旋走滑运动的变化过程,倾滑分量在石坎子—平溪段具有逆断性质,在矿坪子及其以北为正断性质,未见挤压变形,窝前完全为右旋走滑运动,地表变形带宽度集中在10m以内;在董家村,地震地表破裂带主要表现为张性裂缝及地堑式负地形,是地震破裂在尾端应力作用下,应变不均一性调节的产物,地表变形带宽度约10～12m;在东河口以北未见地表破裂的证据,推测汶川地震地表破裂带没有穿过流经青川县东河口、关庄、凉水井一带的清水河,东河口一带的构造地貌现象反映了垂直差异性运动,不存在右旋走滑运动的地质地貌证据。在中央断裂东北端断层一侧隆升和另一侧拉张的典型四象限格局成为汶川地震地表破裂的端部表现特征。中央断裂上的汶川地震地表破裂带总长度为240km左右。在汶川地震过程中,沿着中央断裂在地表产生的构造变形在中央断裂的范围内就已经得到了调整,并没有越过中央断裂的范围而传递到以外的地段。

基于断层虚位错模式讨论2008年汶川MS 8.0地震前视电阻率变化

2008年汶川MS8.0地震前,距震中450km范围内有7个视电阻率台站运行,震前记录到了不同形态和幅值的变化。本文采用断层虚位错模式,在模型中将汶川地震同震滑动位移按大小相等但方向相反的方式进行加载,计算震前产生这些同震位错所需积累的应力应变分布。计算结果表明:在100m深度,震前正应力和剪切应力主要积累区域位于龙门山断裂带两侧约100km范围内,最大应力变化量为0.5MPa;体应变积累区域与应力积累区域基本一致,最大应变值为10-5,显示这些区域在震前存在较高的挤压应力应变积累,而在这些区域外,应力应变积累程度较低。成都台和江油台位于震前主要的应力应变挤压积累集中区域,视电阻率观测数据均为震前下降—准同震阶跃—震后回升,与震前应力应变积累—震后释放的变化形式一致,这2个台站震前的异常变化与汶川地震关系密切;而甘孜台、武都台、冕宁台、小庙台和天水台位于应力应变积累较弱的区域,其视电阻率变化与汶川地震的关联性较弱。

汶川Ms8.0地震同震倾斜应变变化分析

对汶川地震震中附近450 km范围内倾斜仪、应变仪记录到的同震变化做了筛选统计,并根据弹性半无限空间矩形位错模型,分别采用远场地震波资料、近场大地测量资料反演的同震滑移分布模型,正演计算震中附近台站的同震倾斜、应变变化。通过对实际观测与模拟计算结果的比较,初步表明:实际观测的同震倾斜变化方向与模拟计算结果存在75%的一致性,实际观测的同震倾斜变化比模拟值大约1～2个量级;实际观测的同震应变方向与模拟计算结果仅有33.3%的一致性,实际观测的同震应变变化与模拟计算值相当或仅大1个数量级。

汶川Ms8.0地震北川附近同震垂直位移特征

汶川发生8.0级地震后,中国地震局第一监测中心和第二监测中心分别施测了平武-北川-绵竹(201.8km)和桂溪-江油(35.6 km)两条一等水准测线。对两条测线的处理获得以下结果:1)汶川8.0级地震造成平武县古城区附近的青川断裂同震垂直位移不大,断裂上下盘相对垂直位移量为0.064 m,断层表现为逆断活动;2)北川县城附近的北川-映秀断裂同震垂直位移达4.711 m,断裂上下盘相对垂直位移量为5.100 m,断层表现为逆断活动;3)桂溪附近的北川-映秀断裂同震垂直位移量为2.440 m;4)江油-广元断裂同震垂直位移不大,断裂上下盘相对垂直位移量为0.101 m;5)平武县南坝镇附近的北川-映秀断裂同震垂直位移较大,最大为1.003 m,断裂上下盘相对垂直位移量为1.381 m,断层表现为逆断活动。

Relation between the characteristics of strong earthquake activities in Chinese mainland and the Wenchuan earthquake

This paper studies the relations between the great Wenchuan earthquake and the active-quiet periodic characteristics of strong earthquakes, the rhythmic feature of great earthquakes, and the grouped spatial distribution of Ms8.0 earthquakes in Chinese mainland. We also studied the relation between the Wenchuan earthquake and the stepwise migration characteristics of Ms≥7.0 earthquakes on the North-South seismic belt, the features of the energy releasing acceleration in the active crustal blocks related to the Wenchuan earthquake and the relation between the Wenchuan earthquake and the so called second-arc fault zone. The results can be summarized as follows： ① the occurrence of the Wenchuan earthquake was consistent with the activequiet periodic characteristics of strong earthquakes; ② its occurrence is consistent with the features of grouped occurrence of Ms8.0 earthquakes and follows the 25 years rhythm （each circulation experiences the same time） of great earthquakes; ③ the Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake follows the well known stepwise migration feature of strong earthquakes on the North-South seismic belt; ④ the location where the Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake took place has an obvious consistency with the temporal and spatial characteristic of grouped activity of Ms≥7.0 strong earthquakes on the second-arc fault zone; ⑤ the second-arc fault zone is not only the lower boundary for earthquakes with more than 30 km focal depth, but also looks like a lower boundary for deep substance movement; and ⑥ there are obvious seismic accelerations nearby the Qaidam and Qiangtang active crustal blocks （the northern and southern neighbors of the Bayan Har active block, respectively）, which agrees with the GPS observation data.

汶川MS8.0大震前后鲜水河断裂带滑动及其西部地壳形变的动态变化

基于鲜水河断裂带及邻近区域GPS资料,以发生汶川MS8.0大震的2008年为时间节点,利用视错动变形系统分析模型研究了鲜水河断裂带及邻区不同时段的滑动与区域形变活动特征,结果表明:汶川大震前后鲜水河断裂带构造活动的动态变化是显著的,其西部地区地壳形变的动态变化也较清晰,这些不仅说明了汶川大震的孕育在较大的空间范围存在不同特征的形变与构造活动,同时其西部地区也存在着疑似断裂带形变中心的地壳动态变化,这可能与特定的构造和动力环境密切相关,为我们识别大震前兆提供了更多的可能。

Regional Tectonic Deformation Background and Medium- and Short-Term Precursors to the Minle-Shandan Earthquakes1

Using GPS observations of horizontal movement from 2001 to 2003 and the cross-fault mobile short-levelling data of 1988～2003, and with the aid of the improved negative dislocation model and the time-varying curve of strain intensity ratio of fault deformation, the regional tectonic deformation background and medium- and short-term precursors related to the preparation of the Minle-Shandan earthquakes of M S6.1 and M S5.8 on October 25, 2003 are investigated. The results reveal that, under the background of the wide-range deformation adjustment, short-term relaxation and recovery caused by the Kunlun Mountains earthquake of M S8.1, the hypocenters of the earthquakes are located on the north edge of the shear stress enhancement zone between the compressional locked segments of block boundary fault, a place which may represent an accelerated strain accumulation. An obvious anomaly of strain intensity ratio appeared in short-levelling measurements crossing over the fault at the Shihuiyaokou site, the closest to the epicenters, 3 months before the occurrence of the earthquakes. In addition, the variation in number of anomalies from 10-odd days to months before the earthquakes in the entire monitoring area and the anomaly concentration and local enhancement relative to near source in the 3 months before the earthquakes are regarded to be precursors to the two events.