Features of seismicity in Xinjiang and its possible reason after the Yutian M_S7.4 earthquake,2008

The paper discusses quantitatively the influence of the Yutian Ms7.4 earthquake of March 21, 2008 and Wuqia Ms6.9 earthquake of October 5, 2008 on regional seismicity in Xinjiang, and explains primarily the possible reason of earthquake activity feature in Xinjiang after the Yutian Ms7.4 earthquake by analyzing the static Coulomb failure stress change produced by the Yutian Ms7.4 earthquake and Wuqia Ms6.9 earth-quake, and the seismicity feature of Ms≥3 earthquakes in the positive Coulomb stress change region of Kashi-Wuqia joint region, the central segment of Tianshan Mountain and Kalpin block. The result shows that the Yutian Ms7.4 earthquake of March 21, 2008, may encourage the Wuqia Ms6.9 earth-quake of October 5, 2008, and the Yutian Ms7.4 earthquake and Wuqia Ms6.9 earthquake may change the seismicity state in the central segment of Tianshan Mountain, Kalpin block and Kashi-Wuqia joint region, and encourage the subsequent Ms≥3 earthquakes.

Study of Sediments in the Yutian-Hotan Oasis, South Xinjiang, China

Based on investigation of sediments in the Yutian-Hotan Oasis at the southernmargin of the Tarim basin, ^(14)C ages and grain-size and chemical element analyses, the followingviews are put forward in this paper.(1) Sediments in the Yutian-Hotan Oasis are composed chiefly of 'oasis soil', similar to the recentoasis soil, i.e. brown desert soil, which was formed due to pedogenesis after aeolian sand (sandyloam) and dust (loess) of 3.32-6.64 phi were deposited.(2) The ancient Yutian-Hotan Oasis represented by oasis soil was formed at 13000 a B.P. During thecold period of the past 13000 years, this region is characterized mainly by accumulation of sand anddust storms, and sandy oasis soil was developed in this region due to pedogenesis in an oasisenvironment; during the warm period, dust falls predominated along with certain current concomitants(lacustrine facies), and silty oasis soil was formed by pedogenesis. Owing to fluctuations of coldand warm climates since 13000 a B.P., sandy oasis soil was deposited alternately with silty oasissoil and lacustrine soils. Nevertheless, the Yutian-Hotan Oasis has been preserved and developingcontinuously towards the contemporary time.(3) At the latest, the oasis became an important site of human inhabitancy at 10000 a B.P., andsince then it has been an important base for the propagation and activity of local people in theTarim Basin.

Research of Source Parameters of the Yutian Ms7.3 Earthquake in Xinjiang on February 12, 2014

The Ms7. 3 earthquake occurred in Yutian, Xinjiang on February 12, 2014. Based on seismic waveform data before the earthquake and aftershocks of the earthquake sequence, which were recorded by the Xinjiang Regional Digital Seismic Network, this paper corrected instrument response, propagation path and site response of the S-wave recording spectra. We then calculated with genetic algorithms, on the basis of the Brune model, the source parameters of the 102 M, ≥ 3. 0 Yutian earthquake sequence, seismic moment, apparent stress and corner frequency. The results show that, seismic moment of the earthquake sequence is between 3. 46 × 10^11 -2. 08×10^15N.m, apparent stress is between 1.48 × 10^5 -1.16 ×10^6Pa, mean stress level is 0. 31MPa, and corner frequency is between 1.4-7. 1Hz in the range of 3. 0 -5. 0. By analyzing the apparent stress and corner frequency variation with time, we obtain that apparent stress of earthquakes before the Yutian Ms7. 3 earthquake was significantly higher than the aftershock sequence, but the corner frequency was significantly lower than the aftershock sequence. Apparent stress was at a high level before the main shock, which shows that the main shock zone accumulated higher stress, and then the apparent stress was reduced. The main shock occurred in the process of slow increase. Because of the release of a large amount of stress, after the Ms7. 3 earthquake, the apparent stress was gradually reduced. That was the performance of low stress fracture of aftershocks.

Seismic Sequence Characteristics of the March 21,2008,M_S 7. 4 Yutian,Xinjiang Earthquake and Seismological Anomalies before the Earthquake

The parameters, stress field background, geological tectonics and seismic sequence of the March 21, 2008, Ms7.4 Yutian, Xinjiang earthquake are discussed in this paper. The characteristics of seismic activity in the epicenter and its adjacent region before the earthquake are analyzed; and a comparison is made between the Ms7.4 Yutian earthquake sequence, the Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake sequence and the Wuqia Ms6.9 earthquake sequence. The results show the Ms7.4 Yutian earthquake occurred in the junction between the Aityn Tagh fault and the western Kunlun fault, resulting perhaps from the tensile fracture of the branch fault located southwest of the Ashikule basin due to left-lateral dislocation of the Aityn Tagh fault; the seismic sequence is of main shock-aftershock type, the strongest aftershock being Ms5.8. The aftershocks attenuated quickly, and occurred in groups; the focal mechanism solutions and epicenter distribution have revealed a unilateral rupture source of this earthquake. Seismic activity shows that there was medium and medium-short term abnormity before the earthquake, but there was not short-imminent abnormity. Seismic activity of this earthquake sequence enhanced before the Ms8. 0 Wenchuan and the Ms6. 9 Wuqia earthquakes, showing the window effect to some extent.

A Study on the Characteristics of the Yutian,Xinjiang M_S7.3 Earthquake,February 12,2014

The February 12, 2014, Ms7. 3, earthquake in Yutian, Xinjiang, China, occurred as a result of shallow strike-slip faulting in the tectonicaUy complex region of the northern Tibetan Plateau, with a depth of 17kin. This earthquake occurred several hundred kilometers north of the convergent India-Eurasia plate boundary. The epicenter location of the Yutian earthquake, 36. 1° N, 82. 5° E, is ll0km north of Yutian County, Hotan Prefecture. A large number of aftershocks from ML2. 0 to ML3. 0 occurred until 12：00 o＇clock, February 23, 2014 and the largest aftershock, Ms5. 7, occurred at 17：24 μm. , February 12, 2014. The b and h value of Yutian sequence are 0.70 and 1.29, respectively. The waiting time method reveals that the strong aftershocks above ML 4. 5 comply with a linear relationship, which is consistent with the characteristics of a mainshock-aftershock sequence. Furthermore, we calculate the source parameters and analyze the rupture process based on the empirical relationships for the Yutian earthquake, and the results indicate a frictional undershoot behavior in the dynamic source process of the Yutian earthquake, which is also in agreement with the lower and similar b values compared with the 2008 Ms 7.3 Yutian earthquake and the 2012 Ms 6. 2 Yutian earthquake.

Rapid Determination of the Centroid Moment Tensor of the 2014 M_S7.3 Yutian,Xinjiang Earthquake

We successfully employ an automatic centroid moment tensor(CMT) inversion system to infer the CMT solutions of the February 12,2014 MS7.3 Yutian,Xinjiang earthquake using near-field seismic waveforms(4° < △ < 12°) observed by the virtual China seismic networks,which have been recently set up.The results indicate that this event occurred on a rupture plane(strike 243°,dip 70°,and rake-18°),showing left-lateral strike-slip faulting with a minor normal-faulting component.The centroid in the horizontal direction is located nearly 13 km east of the epicenter(36.123° N,82.499° E),and the best-fitting centroid depth is around 10 km.The total scalar moment,M0,is retrieved with an average value of 3.05 × 1019N·m,corresponding to moment magnitude MW6.92.Most of the energy is released within about 14 s.Moreover,we discuss about the potential application of this system in earthquake disaster decision.

Analysis of Seismic Activity Characteristics before the Yutian M_S7.3 Earthquake,Xinjiang on February 12,2014

This paper introduces the geological structure background around the 2014 Yutian Ms7. 3 earthquake area, investigates and analyzes the regime of small earthquake activity and the characteristics of regional seismicity pattern in Xinjiang before the earthquake, and compares the characteristics of the regional seismic activity with the 2008 Yutian Ms7.3 earthquake. The results show： ① 2 ~ 3 years before the 2014 Yutian Ms7. 3 earthquake, Xinjiang was in a seismic active state with strong earthquake occurring successively, and before the 2008 Ms 7. 3 earthquake, Xinjiang was in the quiet state of moderate-small earthquakes with M3. 0 ~ 4. 0. ② Before this Yutian Ms7. 3 earthquake, the regional seismic activity showed a short-term anomaly feature, that is, seismicity of M ≥ 5. 0 earthquakes significantly increased on the Altun seismic zone and in the source area three years before the Ms7.3 earthquake, while a five year long quiescence of seismicity of M ≥4. 0 earthquakes appeared on the east of the source area in a range of about 440kin. Six months before this M7. 3 earthquake, there existed seismic gap of M3. 0 ~ 4. 0 earthquakes and near-conjugate seismic belt magnitude 3. 0 and 4. 0 in the source area. ③ The state of strong earthquake activity and the seismicity pattern of small earthquakes before this Yutian Ms7. 3 earthquake were significantly different to that before the 2008 Yutian Ms7. 3 earthquake, and this may be related to the different seismogenic environments of the two Ms7. 3 earthquakes.

Analysis and prediction of glacier evolution trend(2020-2100)in Northern Xinjiang

Glaciers,as“solid reservoirs”,are precious resources in arid areas.The study of glaciers is of great significance to the sustainable development and management of agriculture and the economy in northern Xinjiang.The area of glacier distribution on the 1963 topographic map data,1975 MSS data,2000 ETM data,2008 CBERS-2 data,2014 and 2018 ETM+were collected as secondary data.According to the remote sensing survey,the glacier areas in Northern Xinjiang are identified during 1963-2018.Based on the evolution of glacier area in the past 55 years,and using two scenarios,the average annual decrease area of a region during the whole 1963-2018 and the period with the minimum reduction area,the glacier areas of Southern Tianshan Mountains,Western Tianshan Mountains,Eastern Tianshan Mountains,the Sawuer Mountains and Altai Mountains in Northern Xinjiang,and the whole northern Xinjiang in 2030,2040,2050,and 2100 are examined and predicted.In 2100,the glacier area in Northern Xinjiang may decrease by 43%-59%.

Research progress of local characteristic drugs for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in Xinjiang

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA)is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by synovitis.This disease tends to recur,persist,and is difficult to cure.The pathogenesis of RA is complex.Currently,the commonly used treatments for RA—non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs),disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs(DMARDs),glucocorticoids,and immunosuppressants—have notable side effects with long-term use and may be ineffective for some patients.Therefore,it is crucial to find drugs with limited side effects and significant curative effects.Xinjiang's local characteristic drugs have a long history,abundant resources,and are known for their safety and effectiveness in treating RA.In recent years,many studies have reported on the mechanisms of action and therapeutic effects of Xinjiang's local characteristic drugs on RA.This article reviews the pathogenesis of RA,as well as the research progress and treatment characteristics of Xinjiang-featured drugs.

LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating of tuffites in the Sachakou Pb-Zn mining area, Karakorum, Xinjiang and its establishment of Early Triassic strata

1.Objective In the past decade,a group of medium to giant lead-zinc deposits,represented by Huoshaoyun,Sachakou,and Yuanbaoling,have been discovered in the Aksai Chin region of Karakoram,Xinjiang.They are all located in the Mesozoic carbonate and clastic rock formations.The Sachakou leadzinc mining area is adjacent to the northwest of the Huoshaoyun lead-zinc mining area and is in the same stratigraphic layer as Huoshaoyun.Although many scholars have been arguing about the type and age of Huoshaoyun lead-zinc mineralization,few scholars have paid attention to the classification of the ore-bearing strata in the area.The stratigraphy of the Lower Permian Shenxianwan Group to the Upper Cretaceous Tielongtan Group is exposed in the Sachakou area of Karakorum,Xinjiang,however,the Late Permian-Early Triassic stratigraphy is missing(Fig.1a).Due to the harsh natural conditions in the area and the low level of work,the stratigraphic delineation is not exhaustive,and the regional lithology is dominated by carbonates and clastic rocks,which makes it difficult to identify the age of the regional lithology and causes problems for the exploration and research of lead-zinc in the area.

A new small baurioid therocephalian from the Lower Triassic Jiucaiyuan Formation, Xinjiang, China

Several therocephalian species,mainly represented by cranial material from the late Permian,have been reported from China in recent years.Here we describe a tiny new baurioid therocephalian,Jiucaiyuangnathus confusus gen.et sp.nov.,from the Jiucaiyuan Formation,Xinjiang,China.The new taxon is represented by a partial snout with occluded partial lower jaw and two postcranial skeletons.Although juvenile in stage,the new species is diagnosed by the following features:round pit in middle of lateral surface of maxilla;lacrimal contact nasal;fossa for dentary tooth on the posterior end of the premaxilla,lateral to the anterior choana;two small vertical triangular ridges extending dorsally and ventrally on the vomerine anterior portion,and bordering a thin vomerine foramen laterally;anterior projection of the lateral part of the frontal on the nasal;symphyseal region of the dentary projected anteriorly;5 upper premaxillary teeth,upper and lower canines absent,diastema between the last premaxillary upper incisor and first maxillary tooth present,no diastema separating anterior from posterior dentition in the mandible,10 maxillary teeth and 12 dentary teeth,posterior postcanine expands mesiodistally,having a main large cusps and tiny anterior and posterior accessory cusps in line;neural arches of the atlas fused by the neural spine,neural spine of the axis projected posteriorly,procoracoid foramen lies between procoracoid and scapula.Features of the dentition resembles those of the small baurioid Ericiolacerta parva from South Africa and Silphedosuchus orenburgensis from Russia.The specimens provide the rare opportunity to know in detail the postcranial skeleton of baurioids.

Estimation of Potential Habitat of Caragana acanthophylla in Xinjiang Based on Maximum Entropy Model

[Objectives]To determine the potential habitat range of Caragana acanthophylla in Xinjiang.[Methods]The known distribution points of C.acanthophylla were used as samples,and a MaxEnt model was developed based on their climatic variables to identify key environmental factors affecting the potential habitats of C.acanthophylla through jackknife method and construction of a response relationship between representative variables and habitat suitability;the suitability of habitats for C.acanthophylla in Xinjiang was evaluated based on the output results of the model.[Results](i)The accuracy of the model verified by AUC curve was 0.971,indicating that the potential habitats of C.acanthophylla in Xinjiang predicted by MaxEnt model were highly credible.(ii)The optimum climatic characteristics for the distribution of C.acanthophylla in Xinjiang were:isothermality 18.8%-34%,minimum temperature of coldest month-30℃to-13℃,mean temperature of coldest quarter-18℃ to-4℃,annual precipitation 80-410 mm,precipitation of driest month 0-25 mm,precipitation of driest quarter 0-82 mm,and precipitation of coldest quarter 0-75 mm.(iii)The total potential distribution area of C.acanthophylla in Xinjiang was modeled to be 1.03×10^(5) km^(2),of which 8.54×10^(3)km^(2) was high suitability area,mainly in the front mountain belt of the north slope of Tianshan Mountain in Urumqi City,Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture,Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture,and Yili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture and the front mountain belt of Barluk Mountain in Tacheng Prefecture.[Conclusions]This study is of great significance for the future scientific management,regeneration,vegetation restoration and ecological protection of C.acanthophylla.

From Poverty to Prosperity How relocation to Aktas Town is a living-standards leap for Xinjiang people

"3,000 yuan per month,"proclaimed Abdulaziz Mehmet,a Uygur worker at Dena Shoes Factory in Kargilik County of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.Why is it noteworthy?Bangkok's minimum wage in 2024 is US$327.65,while Jakarta is US$332.92.Mehmet is earning significantly more than what he would getin either of the national capitals.

Lighting Up Lives The rise of renewable energy in Hami, Xinjiang

Any time of the year,Hami,a city in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,is memorable for its unique food and stunning landscapes set against the majestic Tianshan Mountains.However,September's significant temperature drops once the sharp rays of sunset beneath the Gobi Desert make Hami an even more fascinating seasonal destination.The renowned sun-drenched scenery is ideal for renewable energy projects such as wind,solar,and hydrogen power.The region also hosts one of China's two supercomputers,which requires significant energy.

Path to Green Growth——The Xinjiang example

A key part of achieving high-quality development is promoting the greening and decarbonization of economic and social development.Opinions on Accelerating the Comprehensive Green Transformation of Economic and Social Development,jointly issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council in August,provided a roadmap for China's green transformation.As a major energy base in western China,Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region leads the nation in installed capacity of both fossil energy like coal,oil,and natural gas and renewable energy like wind and solar.In recent years,leveraging its resource endowment and industrial foundation,Xinjiang has been enhancing efforts to transform traditional high energy-consuming industries into energy-saving and low-carbon industries and vigorously develop wind,solar,and hydrogen energy,as well as cloud computing.Its achievements in these areas have provided a blueprint that can be followed by any region pursuing green industrial transformation and high-quality development This September,China Report ASEAN journalists flew to Xinjiang and conducted interview and investigations in the regional capital Urumqi,the oil city of Karamay,and Hami,dubbed Xinjiang's"eastern gateway,"to shed light on how the autonomous region seeks to foster economic growth while ensuring environmental sustainability.

Empowering Xinjiang

EARLY in the morning,Hankiz Ablimit leaves her home in Aksu Prefecture,southern Xinjiang,takes a train to Urumqi,capital of China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,and then transfers to another train bound for her final destination,Bole in northwestern Xinjiang.The journey takes one day and one night to complete.Bole,capital city of Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture,houses the prefecture’s only formal institution of higher learning-Bortala Polytechnic.Hankiz studies in this university,with 10 colleges.Most of the teachers working here come from Hubei Province in central China.

TUNING INTO UYGUR TRADITION Xinjiang Muqam melodies resonate through the corridors of time

As dawn breaks over the ancient Silk Road lands of China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,Dilixiati Parhati is gearing up for yet another busy day.He juggles multiple roles:musician,scholar,leader of a Muqam art troupe and,most recently,a voice in China’s National People’s Congress(NPC)-the country’s top legislature.In all these roles,safeguarding the soul-stirring music of Uygur Muqam,often dubbed“the mother of Uygur music,”for future generations is his mission.

Chasing Snowflakes to See Xinjiang

The great beauty of Xinjiang is presented in ice and snow.Xinjiang's winter scenery and ice and snow landscapeare spectacular,with itsuniquenatural environment having nurtured an extraordinary ice and snow culture.Nowadays,Xinjiang attracts many tourists from home and abroad to enjoy and experience the charm of ice and snow every winter.From December7 to 13,2023,"Nihao!China"-2024China lce&Snow TourismOverseas Promotion Season launched"Xinjiang Overseas Promotion Ice and Snow Season in Bosten Lake,Bohu County,Xinjiang Week".

Encircling the Desert Xinjiang wins a 4O-year battle against sand erosion

Forty years ago,driving through Hotan Prefecture in south Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region meant skirting the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert,China's largest desert and the world's second largest shifting desert.

Embracing Ethnic Harmony In Xinjiang

"All ethnic groups remain closely united like the seeds of a pomegranate that stick together,"goes a saying that deeply resonated with me as an Indonesian when I first heard it in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.The analogy was cemented even deeper in my brain when I learned that Xinjiang is known as a"Homeland of Pomegranates."