Recent Crustal Stress Field and Dislocation Along Seismic Faults in the East China Region

A statistic analysis of the characteristics of recent tectonic stress fields in the East China region was performed using 143 sets of data of single focal mechanical solutions of moderate and small earthquakes and 17 sets of data of composite focal mechanism solutions. The result shows that at present the East China region is controlled by an ENE-（ about 80°） oriented principal compressive and NNW-（about 350°） oriented principal tensile stress field. The effect mode of the principal stress is mainly horizontal and sub-horizontal. In a background of basic consistency of the direction and effect mode of stress field, the existence of different seismotectonic zones may be related to the distribution of major active faults in the relevant areas. It indicates the effect and control of the existing structures on the seismic dislocation. Analysis of focal mechanism solution data of recent moderate and small earthquakes and directions of long axes of isoseismal contours of historic moderate and strong earthquakes and recent felt earthquakes indicates that seismic rupture and dislocation in East China region occurred mainly along the faults in NE and NW directions, and sometimes in NNE, ENE, WNW or near-WE directions. Movement along the seismic faults is mainly strike-slip or nearstrike-slip, with a less oblique slip component. Regional difference in dislocation modes exist along the seismic faults. The historical moderate and strong earthquakes in East China produced mainly NE-trending ruptures and dislocations, while the recent earthquakes produced NW-SE ruptures and dislocations in the land region and NE and NW ones in the sea areas.

Interpreting the sea surface temperature warming trend in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea

Previous studies have demonstrated that the low-frequency sea surface temperature(SST) variability in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea(YECS) is linked to large-scale climate variability, but explanations on the mechanisms vary. This study examines the low-frequency variability and trends of some atmospheric and oceanic variables to discuss their different effects on the YECS warming. The increasing temperature trend is also observed at a hydrographic section transecting the Kuroshio.The increasing rate of ocean temperature decreases with depth, which might result in an increase in vertical stratification and a decrease in vertical mixing, and thus plays a positive role on the YECS warming. The surface net heat flux(downward positive)displays a decreasing trend, which is possibly a result of the YECS warming, and, in turn, inhibits it. Wind speeds show different trends in different datasets, such that its role in the YECS warming is uncertain. The trends in wind stress divergence and curl have large uncertainties, so their effects on SST warming are still unclear. The Kuroshio heat transport calculated in this study,displays no significantly increasing trend, so is an unlikely explanation for the SST warming. Limited by sparse ocean observations,sophisticated assimilative climate models are still needed to unravel the mechanisms behind the YECS warming.

Study on the Recent Tectonic Stress Field in the “Huoshan Seismic Window” Region

The focal mechanisms of 62 moderate-small earthquakes since 1980 in the ＂ Huoshan seismic window＂ region are calculated with the method developed recently by Snoke, combining the use of the first motion of P, SV and SH waves with their amplitude ratios. Based on these abundant focal mechanisms, the mean tectonic stress field in the ＂Huoshan seismic window＂ region is inverted with the average stress tensor method, and the result shows that the ＂Huoshan seismic window＂ region is horizontally compressed in the near EW direction and horizontally dilated in the near NS direction, which is in accord with statistical results of focal mechanism parameters. We estimate the difference （also referred to as consistency parameter 0） between the force axis direction of the focal mechanism solution and the mean stress tensor, then further analyze the variation characteristics of 0 versus time, and the relationship with moderately strong earthquakes in the east China region. The result indicates that 0 in the ＂ Huoshan seismic window＂ region is in good correspondence with moderately strong earthquakes in the East China region. When 0 is lower than the mean value, corresponding moderately strong earthquakes may occur in the East China region.