Abnormal Phenomena Recorded by Several Earthquake Precursor Observation Instruments Before the M_s 8.0 Wenchuan,Sichuan Earthquake

The paper introduces the anomalies observed by digital tiltmeter, cross-fault deformation meter, 4-component borehole strainmeter and geothermometer before May 12, 2008, Ms8.0 Wenchuan earthquake, Sichuan. The digital tiltmeter installed in the epicentral region in Shifang County recorded the tilt anomalies 15 days before the earthquake with variation amplitude of 3.7 times larger than the annual deviation of 2007. The cross-fault deformation meter installed at Zimakua station on the Xianshuihe-Anninghe fault zone detected displacement anomaly occurring since 2006 with the variation amplitude exceeding the cumulative value of the last ten years. Five borehole strainmeter stations in the Chongqing section of Three Gorges Reservoir area observed unconventional strain changes occurring in the period from May 1 through 12, 2008. Among them, the strainmeter at Wanzhou station recorded the great compression strain rate on the EW component at 14：00 o＇clock of May 10, and the anomaly amplitude was so large that the instrument output exceeded its dynamic range, corresponding to a level of -10^4 nanostrains. The geothermometers installed in Xi＇an, Chongqing and Xichang recorded the sudden temperature changes from November 2007 to January 2008 with the variation amplitudes several times larger than the ordinary deviation. The above phenomena and the criteria for distinguishing the anomalies from background fluctuations are discussed in this paper.

On Application of Big Data Mining in Earthquake Precursor Observation

Research and application of big data mining,at present,is a hot issue. This paper briefly introduces the basic ideas of big data research, analyses the necessity of big data application in earthquake precursor observation,and probes certain issues and solutions when applying this technology to work in the seismic-related domain. By doing so,we hope it can promote the innovative use of big data in earthquake precursor observation data analysis.

The Seismic Characteristics of Surface Ground of Zushi-Site during the 2011 off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake

In Tokyo Metropolitan University, the horizontal and vertical array earthquake observations has begun in June 1994 at the five stations （kl-k5） on the ground surface and bedrock （k6：-30 m depth） at Zushi-site. More than 200 medium and small earthquakes with the magnitude 5.0-7.3 were recorded between 1994 and 2012. At the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake （EQ.3.11 M = 9.0）, the largest surface ground acceleration （kl = 124.5 gal, k6 = 45.5 gal） of the horizontal component was recorded. Main results were obtained as follows： （1） the surface ground motion characteristics of Zushi-site were examined using the observed data （kl ＆ k6） of EQ.3.11, the past-observed smaller earthquakes （EQ.1 ＆ EQ.10.08） and aftershock （EQ.12.3）, respectively. The non-liner seismic response characteristics of the surface ground at Zushi-site were verified during EQ.3.11. （2） The ground structure models were examined and identified by the modal analyses and the FEM （finite element method） identification analyses using the observed acceleration data of EQ.3.11 and the past observed smaller earthquakes. （3） Moreover, the three dimensional seismic response analyses were performed by TDAPUl （time domain 3-dimensional dynamic analysis program）, using k6 for input motions and identified ground structure model, and evaluated the dynamic behaviours of the surface ground. The calculated results agreed well with the observed ones.

Development of damage probability matrices based on Greek earthquake damage data

A comprehensive study is presented for empirical seismic vulnerability assessment of typical structural types, representative of the building stock of Southern Europe, based on a large set of damage statistics. The observational database was obtained from post-earthquake surveys carried out in the area struck by the September 7, 1999 Athens earthquake. After analysis of the collected observational data, a unified damage database has been created which comprises 180,945 damaged buildings from/after the near-field area of the earthquake. The damaged buildings are classified in specific structural types, according to the materials, seismic codes and construction techniques in Southern Europe. The seismic demand is described in terms of both the regional macroseismic intensity and the ratio αg/ao, where αg is the maximum peak ground acceleration （PGA） of the earthquake event and ao is the unique value PGA that characterizes each municipality shown on the Greek hazard map. The relative and cumulative frequencies of the different damage states for each structural type and each intensity level are computed in terms of damage ratio. Damage probability matrices （DPMs） and vulnerability curves are obtained for specific structural types. A comparison analysis is fulfilled between the produced and the existing vulnerability models.

Study on the applicability of frequency spectrum of micro-tremor and dynamic characteristics of surface ground in Asia area

The dynamic characteristics of ground soil using micro-tremor observation in Asia (Zushi and Ogasawara (Japan), Xi’an (China), Manila (Philippines), and Gujarat (India)) are studied. Ground micro-tremor signals were observed and analyzed by fast Fourier transform method (FFT). The response of ground soil to frequency of ground micro-tremor is revealed, and func- tions with frequency-dependence and frequency-selection of micro-tremor for different foundation soil strata are also researched. The horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (H/V, Nakamura technique) of micro-tremor observed at the surface ground was used to evaluate the site’s predominant period. This paper also discusses the application of micro-tremor on site safety evaluation, and gives the observed calculation results obtained at multiple points. The experimental foundation and the deduction process of the method are described in detail. Some problems of the method are pointed out. Potential use of the technique’s good expandable nature makes it a useable means for preventing and reducing disaster’s harmful effects.