Intrinsic and scattering attenuations of the Sichuan-Yunnan region in China from S coda waves

Seismic attenuation is a fundamental property of the Earth's media.Attenuation structure for the complicated geological structures with strong seismicity in the Sichuan-Yunnan region is poorly studied.In this study,we collected 108,399 waveforms of 11,517 local small earthquakes with magnitudes between 1.5 and 3.5 from January 2014 to September 2021 in the Sichuan-Yunnan region and its adjacent areas.We employed an envelope inversion technique for separating the intrinsic and scattering attenuations of the S coda wave,and obtained the intrinsic and scattering attenuation structures for frequencies between 0.25 and 8.00 Hz.The attenuation structures correlate well with the geological units,and some major faults mark the attenuation variations where historic large earthquakes have occurred.The regional average attenuation shows a negative frequency dependence.The average scattering attenuation has a faster descending rate than the average intrinsic attenuation,and is dominant at low frequencies,while at high frequencies the average intrinsic attenuation is stronger.The lateral variation in the intrinsic attenuation is consistent with the variation in heat flow,the scattering attenuation may be related to the scatter distribution and size.The total attenuation is consistent with the previous studies in this region,and the separate intrinsic and scattering attenuation may be useful in understanding regional tectonics and important in earthquake prevention and disaster reduction.

Trade space for time for inspecting an earthquake cycle by modern seismological observation: The central-southern part of the Sichuan-Yunnan rhombic block

The central-southern part of the eastern border of the Sichuan-Yunnan rhombic block provides the research strategy of ‘trade space for time' with an interesting fault system, where the segments have similar focal mechanisms and cover almost continuous spectra of elapse rates. We experiment to study the seismological characteristics of different segments with different elapse rates. We employed the de-clustered earthquake catalog for the calculation of b values for each segment. The analysis revealed that different segments have similar b values,which implies that, although different segments have different periods of earthquake recurrence, the 'natural time' for the whole fault system elapses with a homogeneous pace. We extended the earthquake potential score(EPS)for nowcasting earthquakes to a quasi-EPS(q EPS). It is found that q EPS increases with the increase of elapse rates,albeit for those fault segments whose elapse rates have exceeded 1, q EPS may better reflect the seismic hazard.

Study on distribution characteristics of strong earthquakes in Sichuan-Yunnan area and their geological tectonic background

In the paper, the distribution characteristics of strong earthquakes in Sichuan-Yunnan area and their geological tectonic background, especially the relation to Sichuan-Yunnan and Sichuan-Qinghai crustal blocks have been studied. The main results are: a) Strong earthquakes in Sichuan-Yunnan area distribute mainly in Sichuan-Yunnan and Sichuan-Qinghai crustal blocks; b) Most of strong earthquakes of the two blocks distribute mainly along their boundary faults; c) A few strong earthquakes are not obviously related to active faults. It shows that the relation between strong earthquakes and geological tectonics can be very complex; d) There is a certain correlativity for seismic activities among boundary faults of the two blocks, but they have different features; e) There are some anomalous changes of velocity structures in the deep crust of boundary faults of the two blocks. Many boundary faults, especially Longmenshan fault, cut obviously the Moho discontinuity. The Xianshuihe fault, a typical strike-slip fault, has no obvious indication of cutting the Moho discontinuity, but has distinct low-velocity zone in different depths.

Magnitude and distance distribution of strong aftershocks in Sichuan-Yunnan region

研究了川滇地区1966年以来12次主震震级Ms≥6.5的地震序列中，主震与强余震（本文定义为所有Ms≥5的余震）震级差分布特征和强余震与主震距离的分布特征。结果表明，强余震与主震震级差服从截断的指数分布，据此推导出了强余震与主震震级差的概率密度函数；强余震距离分布的优势范围是距主震10-39km，且强余震与主震震中的距离服从正态分布。

Determination of the degree 120 time-variable gravity field in the Sichuan-Yunnan region using Slepian functions and terrestrial measurements

The terrestrial time-variable gravity measurements are characterized by a high signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity to the sources of mass change in the Earth's crust.These gravity data have many applications,such as surface deformation,groundwater storage changes,and mass migration before and after earthquakes.Based on repeated terrestrial gravity measurements at 198 gravity stations in the Sichuan-Yunnan region(SYR)from 2015 to 2017,we determine a time series of degree 120 gravity fields using the localized spherical harmonic(Slepian)basis functions.Our results show that adopting the first 6 Slepian basis functions is sufficient for effective localized Slepian modeling in the SYR.The differences between two gravity campaigns at the same time of year show an obvious correlation with tectonic features.The degree 120 timevariable gravity models presented in this paper will benefit the study of the regional mass migration inside the crust of the SYR and supplement the existing geophysical models for the China Seismic Experimental Site.

Prospect on Present-Day Crustal Kinematics and Dynamics Research in Sichuan-Yunnan Area with Geodetic Data

Combining the dense GPS and gravity observation data in Sichuan-Yunnan area, where there are the relatively complete active tectonic zones and seismic data, this paper applies the geodesy and geophysical inversion technique and the advanced numerical simulation to the synthesis study of geodesy inversion to find the dynamic process of tectonic movement and deformation in the area and finally to investigate the kinematics characteristic of the geological structure of different layer and different scale. This paper discusses the kinematics, dynamics model about the crustal movement of active blocks in Sichuan-Yunnan area and its adjacent areas.

Influence of 2008 Wenchuan earthquake on earthquake occurrence trend of active faults in Sichuan-Yunnan region

The Wenchuan earthquake coseismic deformation field is inferred from the coseismic dislocation data based on a 3-D geometric model of the active faults in Sichuan-Yunnan region. Then the potential dislocation displacement is inverted from the deformation field in the 3-D geometric model. While the faults＇ slip velocities are inverted from GPS and leveling data, which can be used as the long-term slip vector. After the potential dislocation displacements are projected to long-term slip direction, we have got the influence of Wenchuan earthquake on active faults in Sichuan-Yunnan region. The results show that the northwestern segment of Longmenshan fault, the southern segments of Xianshuihe fault, Anninghe fault, Zemuhe fault, northern and southern segments of Daliangshan fault, Mabian fault got earthquake risks advanced of 305, 19, 12, 9.1 and 18, 51 years respectively in the eastern part of Sichuan and Yunnan. The Lijiang-Xiaojinhe fault, Nujiang fault, Longling-Lancang fault, Nantinghe fault and Zhongdian fault also got earthquake risks advanced in the western part of Sichuan-Yunnan region. Whereas the northwestern segment of Xianshuihe fault and Xiaojiang fault got earthquake risks reduced after the Wenchuan earthquake.

Study on distribution characteristics of strong earthquakes in Sichuan-Yunnan area and their geological tectonic background

In the paper, the distribution characteristics of strong earthquakes in Sichuan-Yunnan area and their geological tectonic background, especially the relation to Sichuan-Yunnan and Sichuan-Qinghai crustal blocks have been studied. The main results are: a) Strong earthquakes in Sichuan-Yunnan area distribute mainly in Sichuan-Yunnan and Sichuan-Qinghai crustal blocks; b) Most of strong earthquakes of the two blocks distribute mainly along their boundary faults; c) A few strong earthquakes are not obviously related to active faults. It shows that the relation between strong earthquakes and geological tectonics can be very complex; d) There is a certain correlativity for seismic activities among boundary faults of the two blocks, but they have different features; e) There are some anomalous changes of velocity structures in the deep crust of boundary faults of the two blocks. Many boundary faults, especially Longmenshan fault, cut obviously the Moho discontinuity. The Xianshuihe fault, a typical strike-slip fault, has no obvious indication of cutting the Moho discontinuity, but has distinct low-velocity zone in different depths.

Recent tectonic stress field zoning in Sichuan-Yunnan region and its dynamic interest

In this paper, we have carefully determined the stress zones in the Sichuan-Yunnan region with reference to the in-situ stress data of hydraulic fracturing and the inverted fault slip data by using the step-by-step convergence method for stress zoning based on focal mechanism solutions. The results indicate that the tectonic stress field in the Sichuan-Yunnan region is divided into 3 stress zones by 2 approximately parallel NNW-trending stress transition belts. The area between the 2 belts is the Sichuan-Yunnan stress zone where the maximum principal stress σ1 is just in the NNW direction. The eastern boundary of Sichuan-Yunnan stress zone （the eastern stress transition belt） is basically consistent with the eastern boundary of Sichuan-Yunnan rhombic block. The western boundary of Sichuan-Yunnan stress zone （the western stress transition belt） is not totally consistent with the western boundary of Sichuan-Yunnan rhombic block. The northern segment of the western stress transition belt extends basically along the Jinshajiang fault and accords with the western boundary of Sichuan-Yunnan rhombic block, while its southern segment does not extend along the southwestern boundary of the rhombic block, i.e., Honghe fault and converge with the eastern stress transition belt, but stretches continuously in the NNW direction and accords with the Yingpanshan fault. We therefore consider that under the combined influence from the northward motion of India Plate, the southeastward shift of east Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and the strong obstruction of South China block, the tectonic stress field in the Sichuan-Yunnan region might not be totally controlled by the previous tectonic frame and new stress transition belt may have possibly formed.

Wavelet analysis and interpretation of gravity data in Sichuan-Yunnan region, China

The Bouguer gravity anomaly data of Sichuan-Yunnan region and its vicinity were analyzed with wavelet trans- formation method. In the process, complete orthogonal wavelet function system with good symmetry and higher vanishing moment was selected to decompose the gravity anomaly into two parts. With the power spectral analysis on the decomposed anomalies, we interpreted that the two parts of anomalies represent the density variation in upper and middle crust, and in deep crust and uppermost mantle, respectively. The two parts of anomalies indicate the difference between shallow and deep tectonics. The results of shallow-layer apparent density mapping reveal that: a) the crustal density in Sichuan basin is higher than that in Songpan-Garze orogenic zone; b) the density of Kangdian rhombic block is heterogeneous; c) the boundary faults of Kangdian block are of different density fea- tures, suggesting different tectonic signification. The results of deep-layer apparent density mapping show a similar, but not the same, density distribution pattern as the shallow results, and indicate that the tectonics of shallow and deep crust are different, they may be in a status of incomplete coupling. Our results also show that the earthquakes in this area are controlled not only by the fracture zones but also by the deep density distribution.

Strong Earthquake Activity and Its Relation to Regional Neotectonic Movement in Sichuan-Yunnan Region

Based on analyzing space inhomogeneous image of strong earthquake activity, the image of source rupture and the mechanical property of the source fault in Sichuan-Yunnan region, the relations among the strong earthquake activity, active fault, modern movement status of active blocks and structural background of the deep media have been discussed, and the characteristics of strong earthquake activity and possible mechanism have been also discussed.

Analysis of Ground Motion Attenuation Characterization for Moderate Earthquakes in the Sichuan-Yunnan Region

The ground motion attenuation models for PGA,PGV and response spectrum at rock sites and soils sites are derived separately from the digital strong motion records of moderate earthquakes in the Sichuan-Yunnan region after 2007. By comparison with Yu Yanxiangs attenuation model for rock sites in western China,reliability of the model is verified for moderate earthquake. According to the distribution of strong motion data against magnitude and epicentral distance,the applicability and reliability of the results in this paper are discussed.

Study on Integrated Recurrence Behaviors of Strong Earthquakes Along Entire Active Fault Zones in the Sichuan-Yunnan Region, China

Based on historical earthquake data, we use statistical methods to study integrated recurrence behaviors of strong earthquakes along 7 selected active fault zones in the Sichuan-Yunnan region. The results show that recurrences of strong earthquakes in the 7 fault zones display near-random, random and clustering behaviors. The recurrence processes are never quasi-periodic, and are neither strength-time nor time-strength dependent. The more independent segments for strong earthquake rupturing a fault zone has, the more complicated the corresponding recurrence process is. And relatively active periods and quiescent periods for earthquake activity occur alternatively. Within the active periods, the distribution of recurrence time intervals between earthquakes has relatively large discretion, and can be modelled well by a Weibull distribution. The time distribution of the quiescent periods has relatively small discretion, and can be approximately described by some distributions as the normal. Both the durations of the active periods and the numbers of strong earthquakes within the active periods vary obviously cycle by cycle, leading to the relatively active periods having never repeated quasi-periodically. Therefore, the probabilistic assessment for middle- and long-term seismic hazard for entireties of active fault zones based on data of historical strong earthquakes on the fault zones still faces difficulty.

Determinations of directions of the mean stress field in Sichuan-Yunnan region from a number of focal mechanism solutions

Based on the spatial orientation and slip direction of the fault plane solutions, we present the expression of corresponding mechanical axis tensor in geographic coordinate system, and then put forward a method for calculating average mechanical axis tensor and its eigenvalues, which involves solving the corresponding eigenequation. The method for deducing mean stress field from T, B, and P axes parameters of a number of focal mechanism solutions has been verified by inverting data of mean stress fields in Fuyun region and in Tangshan region with fitting method of slip direction, and both results are consistent. To study regional average stress field, we need to choose a population of focal mechanism solutions of earthquakes in the massifs where there are significant tectonic structures. According to the focal mechanism solutions of 256 moderate-strong earthquakes occurred in 13 seismic zones of Sichuan-Yunnan region, the quantitative analysis results of stress tensor in each seismic zone have been given. The algorithm of such method is simple and convenient, which makes the method for analyzing tectonic stress field with large amount of focal mechanism solution data become quantified.

Fault plane solutions in Sichuan-Yunnan rhombic block and their dynamic implica-tions

Harvard Centroid Moment Tensor （CMT） solutions for earthquakes from 1977 to 2004 showed that the stress fields are obviously different in northwestern Sichuan sub-block （NWSSB）, western parts of Central Yunnan sub-block （CYSB） and eastern part of CYSB. The characteristics of the mean stress fields in these three regions are obtained by fitting to CMT solutions. The stress state in NWSSB is characterized by its sub-horizontal tensile principal axis of stress （T axis） in roughly N-S direction and west dipping compressive principal axis of stress （P axis）; the one in western part of CYSB is characterized by its ENE dipping T axis and sub-horizontal medium principal axis of stress （B axis） in roughly N-S direction; the one in eastern part of CYSB is characterized by its sub-horizontal P axis in roughly NNW-SSE direction and sub-horizontal T axis in roughly WSW-ENE direction. Finite element method simulation clearly shows that the Indian Plate imposes great extrusion on Sichuan-Yunnan rhombic block （SYRB） near Assam massif. The value of the simulated compressive principal stress decreases with the distance from Assam massif. The simulated directions of the T axes in SYRB form annular distribution encir cling Assam. For a homogeneous elastic medium with free boundary conditions on the top and bottom surfaces as well as the displacement boundary conditions derived from the GPS observations on the lateral boundaries, the computation results are consistent with the Harvard CMT solutions in NWSSB and western part of CYSB, while inconsistent with the Harvard CMT solutions in eastern part of CYSB. The inconsistency in eastern part of CYSB can be reduced when it includes inhomogeneous elastic media. The stress states in NWSSB and western part of CYSB revealed by the Harvard CMT solutions are not local, which are mainly controlled by the boundary force on the whole region. On the other hand, the stress state in eastern part of CYSB given by the Harvard CMT solutions is local, which may be affected by local topography, material inhomogeneity, and the drag force underneath.

Numerical simulation of the influence of lower-crustal flow on the deformation of the Sichuan-Yunnan Region

On the basis of distribution of active fault and regional rheological structure, a three-dimensional finite element model of Sichuan-Yunnan region, China, is constructed to simulate contemporary crustal motion and stress distribution and discuss the dynamic mechanism of crustal motion and deformation in the Sichuan-Yunnan region. Linear Maxwell visco-elastic model is applied, which includes the active fault zones, the elastic upper crust and viscous lower crust and upper mantle. Four different models with different boundary conditions and deep structure are calculated. Some conclusions are drawn through comparison. Firstly, the crustal rotation about the eastern syntaxis of the Himalaya in the Sicuan-Yunnan region may be controlled by the special dynamic boundary condition. The drag force of the lower-crust on the upper crust is not negligible. At the same time, the main active fault zones play an important role in the contemporary crustal motion and deformation in Sichuan-Yunnan region.

Numerical Manifold Method and Its Application in the Study of Crustal Movements in the Sichuan-Yunnan Area

The numerical manifold method （NMM） can calculate the movements and deformations of structures or materials. Both the finite element method （FEM） for continua and the discontinuous deformation analysis （DDA） for block systems are special cases of NMM. NMM has separate mathematical covers and physical meshes： the mathematical covers define only fine or rough approximations; as the real material boundary, the physical mesh defines the integration fields. The mathematical covers are triangle units; the physical mesh includes the fault boundaries, joints, blocks and interfaces of different crust zones on the basis of a geological tectonic background. Aiming at the complex problem of continuous and discontinuous deformation across the Chinese continent, the numerical manifold method （NMM） is brought in to study crustal movement of the Stchuan-Yunnan area. Based on the GPS velocity field in the Sichuan-Yunnan area, a crustal strain and stress field is simulated and analyzed. Moreover, results show that the NMM is a more suitable method than DDA in simulating the movement of the Sichuan-Yunnan area. Finally, a kind of mechanism of crustal motion in the Sichuan-Yunnan area is discussed in the paper.

GPS observation in Sichuan-Yunnan and its vicinity before and after the Wenchuan earthquake in a decade

Based on the horizontal velocity data observed by GPS during 2004-2007,2007-2009,and 2011-2017 before,during,and after the Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan-Yunnan and its vicinity,we analyze evolution features of the tectonic deformation caused by crustal movement in main active fault belts,and its possible influence.We conclude:the Wenchuan earthquake area showed obvious co-seismic thrust and dextral deformation from 2007 to 2009.The earthquake,to a certain extent,promoted tectonic movements on the Gansu-Sichuan boundary,Western Qinling fault zone,Anninghe-Zemuhe fault zone,and southern Xianshuihe fault zone.The vectors and strain filed acquired by GPS during Lushan and Jiuzhaigou earthquakes period may indicate that the southwest segment in the Longmenshan fault zone still has the possibility of larger earthquakes.

Precise Location of Earthquakes at the Eastern Boundaries of the Sichuan-Yunnan Rhombic Block

Based on the seismic station data sets from Sichuan and Yunnan provinces,we employed a multi-step seismic location method( Hypo2000 + Velest + HypoDD) to precisely locate the 7,787 earthquakes that occurred during 2010-2015 along the eastern boundaries of the Sichuan-Yunnan rhombic block,namely from southern Dawu to the Qiaojia segment.The final results show that location precision is greatly advanced and epicenter distribution exhibits good consistency with the linear distribution of the seismic faults. Earthquake distribution is quite intensive at the intersection region in the southern segment of the Xianshuihe fault,the Anninghe fault zone,the Xiaojinhe fault zone and the Daliangshan fault zone to the east. The depth profile of seismicity shows a clear stepwise activity along the active seismic fault zones. The profile crossing the faults of the Xianshuihe,Anninghe,and Daliangshan presents a complex interaction among faults near the multiple faults intersection region,Shimian,where the earthquakes are obviously divided into two groups in depth. Earthquakes are very rare at the depth of 15km-20 km,which is consistent with the region of the plastic rheology between 14km-19 km calculated by Zhu Ailan et al.,( 2005).