Analysis of coordinate time series of DORIS stations on Eurasian plate and the plate motion based on SSA and FFT

This study focuses on analyzing the time series of DORIS beacon stations and plate motion of the Eurasian plate by applying Singular Spectrum Analysis(SSA)and Fast Fourier Transform(FFT).First,the rend terms and periodic signals are accurately separated by SSA,then,the periodic seasonal signals are detected using SSA,and finally,the main components of the time series are reconstructed successfully.The test results show that the nonlinear trends and seasonal signals of DORIS stations are detected successfully.The periods of the seasonal signals detected are year,half-year,and 59 days,etc.The contribution rates and slopes in E,N,and U directions of the trend items of each beacon station after reconstruction are obtained by least-square fitting.The velocities of these stations are compared with those provided by the GEODVEL2010 model,and it is found that they are in good agreement except the DIOB,MANB,and PDMB stations.Based on the DORIS coordinate time series,the velocity field on the Eurasian plate is constructed,and the test shows that the Eurasian plate moves eastward as a whole with an average velocity of 24.19±0.11 mm/y in the horizontal direction,and the average velocity of it is1.74±0.07 mm/y in the vertical direction.

Nonlinear flutter of a two-dimension thin plate subjected to aerodynamic heating by differential quadrature method

The problem of nonlinear aerothermoelasticity of a two-dimension thin plate in supersonic airflow is examined. The strain-displacement relation of the von Karman＇s large deflection theory is employed to describe the geometric non-linearity and the aerodynamic piston theory is employed to account for the effects of the aerodynamic force. A new method, the differential quadrature method （DQM）, is used to obtain the discrete form of the motion equations. Then the Runge-Kutta numerical method is applied to solve the nonlinear equations and the nonlinear response of the plate is obtained numerically. The results indicate that due to the aerodynamic heating, the plate stability is degenerated, and in a specific region of system parameters the chaos motion occurs, and the route to chaos motion is via doubling-period bifurcations.

Non-axisymmetrical vibration of elastic circular plate on layered transversely isotropic saturated ground

The non-axisymmetrical vibration of elastic circular plate resting on a layered transversely isotropic saturated ground was studied. First, the 3-d dynamic equations in cylindrical coordinate for transversely isotropic saturated soils were transformed into a group of governing differential equations with 1-order by the technique of Fourier expanding with respect to azimuth, and the state equation is established by Hankel integral transform method, furthermore the transfer matrixes within layered media are derived based on the solutions of the state equation. Secondly, by the transfer matrixes, the general solutions of dynamic response for layered transversely isotropic saturated ground excited by an arbitrary harmonic force were established under the boundary conditions, drainage conditions on the surface of ground as well as the contact conditions. Thirdly, the problem was led to a pair of dual integral equations describing the mixed boundaryvalue problem which can be reduced to the Fredholm integral equations of the second kind solved by numerical procedure easily. At the end of this paper, a numerical result concerning vertical and radical displacements both the surface of saturated ground and plate is evaluated.

A rotating elastic plate/block model for Eurasia

On the assumption that a plate is elastically deformable and may rotate as a whole, we found that Eurasian area may be divided into an Eurasian plate and three blocks of the Xiyu, the North China and the Southeast Asia according to tectonic frame of the East and Southeast Asia and the ITRF2008 velocity field in Eurasian area. F tests show that the accuracy of this elastic-plate/block model is significantly higher than the corresponding rigid-plate models; the area covered is notably larger also.

Tectonically asymmetric Earth:From net rotation to polarized westward drift of the lithosphere

The possibility of a net rotation of the lithosphere with respect to the mantle is generally overlooked since it depends on the adopted mantle reference frames, which are arbitrary. We review the geological and geophysical signatures of plate boundaries, and show that they are markedly asymmetric worldwide. Then we compare available reference frames of plate motions relative to the mantle and discuss which is at best able to fit global tectonic data. Different assumptions about the depths of hotspot sources （below or within the asthenosphere, which decouples the lithosphere from the deep mantle） predict different rates of net rotation of the lithosphere relative to the mantle. The widely used no-net-rotation （NNR） reference frame, and low （〈0.2°-0.4°/Ma） net rotation rates （deep hotspots source） predict an average net rotation in which some plates move eastward relative to the mantle （e.g., Nazca）. With fast （〉1°/Ma） net rotation （shallow hotspots source）, all plates, albeit at different velocity, move westerly along a curved trajectory, with a tectonic equator tilted about 30° relative to the geographic equator. This is consistent with the observed global tectonic asymmetries.

Lattice-Preferred orientations of olivine in subducting oceanic lithosphere derived from the observed seismic anisotropies in double seismic zones

Subduction zones can generally be classified into Mariana type and Chilean type depending on plate ages, plate thicknesses, subduction angles, back-arc deformation patterns, etc. The double seismic zones （DSZs） in sub- duction zones are mainly divided into type I and type II which, respectively, correspond to the Mariana type and Chilean type in most cases. Seismic anisotropy is an important parameter characterizing the geophysical fea- tures of the lithosphere, including the subduction zones, and can be described by the two parameters of delay time ~t and fast wave polarization direction ~b. We totally col- lected 524 seismic anisotropy data records from 24 DSZs and analyzed the statistical correlations between seismic anisotropy and the related physical parameters of DSZs. Our statistical analysis demonstrated that the fast wave polarization directions are parallel to the trench strike with no more than 30~ for most type I DSZs, while being nearlyperpendicular to the trench strike for type II DSZs. We also calculated roughly linear correlations that the delay time 6t increases with dip angles but decreases with subduction rates. A linear equation was summarized to describe the strong correlation between DSZ＇s subduction angle DSZ and seismic anisotropy in subduction zones. These results suggest that the anisotropic structure of the subducting lithosphere can be described as a possible equivalent crystal similar to the olivine crystal with three mutually orthogonal polarization axes, of which the longest and the second axes are nearly along the trench-perpendicular and trench-parallel directions, respectively.

Active Motion of Tectonic Blocks in East Asia: Evidence from GPS Measurement

The relative Euler vectors of the Pacific, Philippine, Amurian, Okhotsk, N.Honshu and South China plates or blocks are deduced from earthquake slip vectors, transform faultazimuths and spreading rates, which are consistent with new results derived from the InternationalTerrestrial Reference Frame ITRF2000 velocity field, the velocity field of GPS stations in China andthe GPS measurement data of the GEONET network in Japan. Based on the two groups of Euler vectors,analysis and comparative study of the relative motions and deformations of the tectonic blocks inEast Asia reveal the present-day motion characteristics of the blocks.

Investigation of earthquake mechanisms and their impact on certain basic concepts in earthquake engineering and seismology

In this paper, mantle circulation flow, continental drift, earthquake origin and other mechanical principles are examined as they apply to earthquake engineering, seismology and dynamics of fluid saturated porous medium. The relationship of mantle flow to earthquakes is examined and clarified, and a new model, different from Haskell’s, is proposed for the earthquake mechanism. The proposed new model is based on the discovery that two pairs of jump stress and jump velocity will start to act from the fault plane. Records obtained directly from recent earthquakes nearby and right on the fault break show a very large velocity impulse, which verify, indirectly, the new mechanism proposed by the author. Further, at least two physical parameters that characterize the seismic intensity must be specified, because according to the discontinuous (jump) wave theory, at the earthquake source, the stress jump and the velocity jump of particle motion should act simultaneously when a sudden break occurs. The third key parameter is shown to be the break (fracture) propagation speed together with the break plane area. This parameter influences the form of the unloading time function at the source. The maximum seismic stress in and displacement of a building are estimated for two unfavorable combinations of the building and its base ground in terms of their relative rigidity. Finally, it is shown that Biot’s theory of wave propagation in fluid saturated porous media is valid only when fluid flow cannot occur.

Subduction tectonics vs.plume tectonics——Discussion on driving forces for plate motion

Plate tectonics describes the horizontal motions of lithospheric plates,the Earths outer shell,and interactions among them across the Earths surface.Since the establishment of the theory of plate tectonics about half a century ago,considerable debates have remained regarding the driving forces for plate motion.The early"Bottom up"view,i.e.,the convecting mantledriven mechanism,states that mantle plumes originating from the core-mantle boundary act at the base of plates,accelerating continental breakup and driving plate motion.Toward the present,however,the"Top down"idea is more widely accepted,according to which the negative buoyancy of oceanic plates is the dominant driving force for plate motion,and the subducting slabs control surface tectonics and mantle convection.In this regard,plate tectonics is also known as subduction tectonics."Top down"tectonics has received wide supports from numerous geological and geophysical observations.On the other hand,recent studies indicate that the acceleration/deceleration of individual plates over the million-year timescale may reflect the effects of mantle plumes.It is also suggested that surface uplift and subsidence within stable cratonic areas are correlated with plumerelated magmatic activities over the hundred-million-year timescale.On the global scale,the cyclical supercontinent assembly and breakup seem to be coupled with superplume activities during the past two billion years.These correlations over various spatial and temporal scales indicate the close relationship and intensive interactions between plate tectonics and plume tectonics throughout the history of the Earth and the considerable influence of plumes on plate motion.Indeed,we can acquire a comprehensive understanding of the driving forces for plate motion and operation mechanism of the Earth's dynamic system only through joint analyses and integrated studies on plate tectonics and plume tectonics.

Tidal drag and westward drift of the lithosphere

Tidal forces are generally neglected in the discussion about the mechanisms driving plate tectonics despite a worldwide geodynamic asymmetry also observed at subduction and rift zones.The tidal drag could theoretically explain the westerly shift of the lithosphere relative to the underlying mantle.Notwithstanding,viscosity in the asthenosphere is apparently too high to allow mechanical decoupling produced by tidal forces.Here,we propose a model for global scale geodynamics accompanied by numerical simulations of the tidal interaction of the Earth with the Moon and the Sun.We provide for the first time a theoretical proof that the tidal drag can produce a westerly motion of the lithosphere,also compatible with the slowing of the Earth’s rotational spin.Our results suggest a westerly rotation of the lithosphere with a lower bound ofω≈(0.1-0.2)°/Myr in the presence of a basal effective shear viscosityη≈10^(16)Pa-s,but it may rise toω>1°/Myr with a viscosity ofη≈≤3×10^(14)Pa-s within the Low-Velocity Zone(LVZ)atop the asthenosphere.This faster velocity would be more compatible with the mainstream of plate motion and the global asymmetry at plate boundaries.Based on these computations,we suggest that the super-adiabatic asthenosphere,being vigorously convecting,may further reduce the viscous coupling within the LVZ Therefore,the combination of solid Earth tides,ultra-low viscosity LVZ and asthenospheric polarized small-scale convection may mechanically satisfy the large-scale decoupling of the lithosphere relative to the underlying mantle.Relative plate motions are explained because of lateral viscosity heterogeneities at the base of the lithosphere,which determine variable lithosphere-asthenosphere decoupling and plate interactions,hence plate tectonics.