Interpretation of the west segment of the coastal fault zone in the coastal region of South China based on the gravity data

By systemic processing, comprehensive analysis, and interpretation of gravity data, we confirmed the existence of the west segment of the coastal fault zone(west of Yangjiang to Beibu Bay) in the coastal region of South China. This showed an apparent high gravity gradient in the NEE direction, and worse linearity and less compactness than that in the Pearl River month. This also revealed a relatively large curvature and a complicated gravity structure. In the finding images processed by the gravity data system, each fault was well reflected and primarily characterized by isolines or thick black stripes with a cutting depth greater than 30 km. Though mutually cut by NW-trending and NE-trending faults, the apparent NEE stripe-shaped structure of the west segment of the coastal fault zone remained unchanged,with good continuity and an activity strength higher than that of NW and NE-trending faults. Moreover,we determined that the west segment of the coastal fault zone is the major seismogenic structure responsible for strong earthquakes in the coastal region in the border area of Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan.

Relocation of the mainshock and aftershock sequences of M_S7.0 Sichuan Lushan earthquake

The mainshock of April 20,2013 Sichuan Lushan MS7.0 earthquake was relocated using a 3-D velocity model.Double difference algorithm was applied to relocate aftershock sequences of Lushan earthquake.The locations of 2405 aftershocks were determined.The location errors in E-W,N-S and U-D direction were 0.30,0.29 and 0.59 km on average,respectively.The location of the mainshock is 102.983°E,30.291°N and the focal depth is 17.6 km.The relocation results show that the aftershocks spread approximately 35 km in length and 16 km in width.The dominant distribution of the focal depth ranges from 10 to 20 km.A few earthquakes occurred in the shallow crust.Focal depth profiles show fault planes dip to the northwest,manifested itself as a listric thrust fault.The dip angle is steep in the shallow crust and gentle in the deep crust.Although the epicenters of aftershocks distributed mainly along both sides of the Shuangshi-Dachuan fault,the seismogenic fault may be a blind thrust fault on the eastern side of the Shuangshi-Dachuan fault.Earthquake relocation results reveal that there is a southeastward tilt aftershock belt intersecting with the seismogenic fault with y-shape.We speculate it is a back thrust fault that often appears in a thrust fault system.Lushan earthquake triggered the seismic activity of the back thrust fault.