COSEISMIC SURFACE RUPTURE OF THE MS6.8 DINGRI EARTHQUAKE IN XIZANG, CHINA, BASED ON GF IMAGERY INTERPRETATION

doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2025.03.20250043

SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY ›› 2025, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (3): 789-805.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2025.03.20250043

COSEISMIC SURFACE RUPTURE OF THE M_S6.8 DINGRI EARTHQUAKE IN XIZANG, CHINA, BASED ON GF IMAGERY INTERPRETATION

QIAO Jun-xiang¹^,²⁾(), SHI Feng¹^,²⁾, LI An¹^,²⁾, LI Tao¹^,³⁾, ZHANG Da¹^,²⁾, WANG Xin¹^,²⁾, Gesangdanzhen⁴⁾, SUN Hao-yue¹^,²⁾^,^*()

1)State Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamies and Forecasting, Institute of Geology, China Earhquake Administration, Beijing 100029, China
2)Shanxi Taiyuan Continental Rif Dynamics Nation Observation and Research Station, Beijing 100029, China
3)Xingjiang Pamir intracontinental Subduction National Observation and Research Station, Beijing 100029, China
4)Earthquake Administration of Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa 850000, China

Received:2025-01-27 Revised:2025-03-19 Online:2025-06-20 Published:2025-08-13

高分影像在2025年1月7日西藏定日M_S6.8地震同震地表破裂调查中的应用

乔俊香¹^,²⁾(), 石峰¹^,²⁾, 李安¹^,²⁾, 李涛¹^,³⁾, 张达¹^,²⁾, 王鑫¹^,²⁾, 格桑旦珍⁴⁾, 孙浩越¹^,²⁾^,^*()

1)中国地震局地质研究所, 地震动力学与强震预测全国重点实验室(中国地震局地质研究所), 北京 100029
2)山西太原大陆裂谷动力学国家野外科学观测研究站, 北京 100029
3)新疆帕米尔陆内俯冲国家野外科学观测研究站, 北京 100029
4)西藏自治区地震局拉萨, 850000

通讯作者: *孙浩越, 男, 1986年生, 博士, 副研究员, 主要研究方向为活动构造, Email: sunhaoyue@ies.ac.cn。
作者简介:
乔俊香, 女, 2001年生, 2023年于西南科技大学获地质工程专业学士学位, 现为中国地震局地质研究所构造地质学专业在读硕士研究生, 主要研究方向为活动构造, E-mail: xeniaqjx@163.com。
基金资助:
中国地震局地质研究所基本科研业务专项(IGCEA1801); 中国地震局地质研究所基本科研业务专项(IGCEA2502); 地震动力学国家重点实验室自主课题(LED2021A02)

Abstract

Abstract:

On January 7, 2025, at 09:05, a M_S6.8 earthquake occurred in Dingri County, Shigatse City, Xizang, China, with a focal depth of 10km and an epicenter located at 87.45°E, 28.50°N, as per data from the China Earthquake Networks Center. Rapid identification of coseismic surface ruptures is crucial not only for determining the seismogenic structure but also for post-earthquake damage assessment and emergency response. Based on the objective geological conditions of the Dingri earthquake-affected area, preliminary interpretation of pre- and post-earthquake high-resolution remote sensing data to delineate the spatial distribution and geometric characteristics of coseismic surface rupture zones before field investigations can effectively guide emergency response teams in rapidly and accurately identifying coseismic surface ruptures and conducting subsequent field surveys. This methodology demonstrates high feasibility and necessity for optimizing field workflow efficiency and ensuring targeted structural analysis of seismogenic faults.

This study utilizes high-resolution imagery from the Gaofen -1 satellite to interpret pre- and post-earthquake images, rapidly obtaining the spatial distribution and geometric characteristics of the coseismic surface ruptures. The seismogenic fault is identified as the Dengmecuo Fault, located in the southwest segment of the Shenzha-Dingjie Rift. The coseismic surface rupture zone is primarily distributed near Gulong Village in the northern and central segments of the Dengmecuo Fault, with discontinuous extensions of approximately 15km, consistent with the location of the pre-existing fault. The coseismic surface rupture zone is tectonically partitioned into three distinct segments based on their geographic distribution: The Nixiacuo and Yangmudingcuo segments situated within the northern fault segment, and the Gurong segment developed along the eastern piedmont front of Gurong Village. These three segments exhibit marked differences in spatial scale and morphological characteristics between remote sensing observations and field investigations. The Nixiacuo segment exhibits linear and continuous coseismic surface ruptures, extending approximately 5km, with prominent linear traces visible in satellite imagery, facilitating clear identification. Field investigations reveal that this segment predominantly develops a series of large-scale tensional fractures and three categories of fault scarps with differential heights, with a maximum coseismic displacement of ~3m recorded. In contrast, both the Yangmudingcuo and Gurong segments exhibit smaller-scale coseismic surface ruptures localized along the eastern graben-bounding basin-range boundary. These secondary ruptures are characterized by minor extensional cracks with limited opening amounts(<1m vertical displacements)and fault scarps, manifesting as dark-gray linear features in remote sensing imagery that coincide with pre-existing rupture traces. Their partial obscuration in spectral signatures renders comprehensive visual interpretation impractical, necessitating field validation for complete delineation. Furthermore, this study identifies an ~10km-long associated surface deformation zone along the eastern Dengmecuo Lake shoreline, exhibiting a structural assemblage of extensional fissures proximal to the mountain front and compressional ridges adjacent to the lakeshore, with concomitant sand boil structures observed within the deformation zone. These extensional features present as dark-toned linear traces paralleling the main surface ruptures, displaying discontinuous arcuate configuration convex toward the mountain front within the mid-fan sector of alluvial fans. The compressional uplift zone west of the extensional belt appears as curvilinear bands with central whitish zones flanked by shadowed margins in imagery, demonstrating enhanced spatial continuity along distal fan margins.

The conclusions of this study exhibit high consistency with previous research based on submeter-level resolution remote sensing imagery, confirming the reliability of remote sensing interpretation. However, interpretations derived from 2m resolution imagery have inherent limitations, including difficulties in identifying small-scale surface ruptures and distinguishing surface deformations of diverse genetic origins. Based on existing research integrated with remote sensing image interpretation and field investigations, the identification capability of coseismic surface ruptures in 2m-resolution remote sensing imagery is fundamentally governed by the three-dimensional geometric parameters of the rupture zone—specifically, rupture zone width, along-strike continuity length, and fault scarp vertical displacement. From the case study of the Dingri earthquake, we hypothesize that GF-1 satellite imagery with 2m resolution is capable of resolving coseismic surface ruptures characterized by a minimum rupture width of 1m, along-strike continuity exceeding 10m, and vertical offset≥1m Furthermore, the composite deformation pattern observed along the eastern shore of Dengmecuo Lake, characterized by rear tensile fractures and frontal thrusting, is interpreted as shallow detachment sliding induced by seismic shaking, representing a secondary associated surface deformation zone rather than direct fault displacement. Therefore, the identification of coseismic surface ruptures necessitates integrating remote sensing interpretation with field investigations, requiring not only the analysis of their geometric configuration and vertical displacement but also a synthetic evaluation of genetic origin based on the geological environment to achieve comprehensive and accurate determination.

This study conducted a detailed interpretation of the coseismic surface rupture zone in the earthquake-affected area using GF-1 image data acquired within 24 hours post-earthquake, rapidly delineating the overall geometry and location of the coseismic surface rupture. This approach effectively supported subsequent field investigations and enhanced the efficiency of earthquake emergency response. Furthermore, rigorous field reconnaissance was carried out to validate the remote sensing interpretation results. The findings demonstrate a high consistency between the interpreted segments of the coseismic surface rupture and field observations, confirming the reliability of the remote sensing interpretation. This highlights the potential of domestic high-resolution satellite data for rapid coseismic surface rupture mapping and seismogenic structure identification, providing a feasible, rapid, and efficient methodology for future emergency response to major earthquakes.

Key words: Dingri M_S6.8 earthquake, Dengmecuo Fault, coseismic surface rupture zone, Shenzha-Dingjie rift, remote sensing interpretation

摘要：

中国地震台网中心测定, 2025年1月7日9时5分, 西藏自治区日喀则市定日县发生6.8级地震。快速发现同震地表破裂不仅可确定地震的发震构造, 对于震后的震害评估和应急救援都具有十分重要的意义。文中利用国产高分一号卫星于地震当日对震区采集的震后影像与震前影像进行对比解译, 快速获得了本次地震的同震地表破裂的空间分布和几何形态, 确定此次地震的发震断层为位于申扎-定结裂谷西南段的登么错断裂。遥感解译和野外调查确定本次地震的同震地表破裂带主要分布于登么错断裂北段及中段的古荣村附近, 断续延伸约15km, 与先存断层位置一致, 并且于地表破裂带尼辖错段测得本次地震的最大同震位错量约3m, 同时在登么错湖东岸确定近10km重力成因的伴生地表变形带。本次定日地震同震地表破裂的遥感解译结果和野外实地调查情况具有较高的一致性, 体现了国产高分辨率数据在地震同震地表破裂快速获取和发震构造快速确定工作中的应用潜力, 为未来强震的应急工作提供了一条可行且快速高效的路径。

关键词: 定日M_S6.8地震, 登么错断裂, 同震地表破裂带, 申扎-定结裂谷, 遥感解译

QIAO Jun-xiang, SHI Feng, LI An, LI Tao, ZHANG Da, WANG Xin, Gesangdanzhen, SUN Hao-yue. COSEISMIC SURFACE RUPTURE OF THE M_S6.8 DINGRI EARTHQUAKE IN XIZANG, CHINA, BASED ON GF IMAGERY INTERPRETATION[J]. SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY, 2025, 47(3): 789-805.

乔俊香, 石峰, 李安, 李涛, 张达, 王鑫, 格桑旦珍, 孙浩越. 高分影像在2025年1月7日西藏定日M_S6.8地震同震地表破裂调查中的应用[J]. 地震地质, 2025, 47(3): 789-805.

Figures/Tables 10

Fig. 1 Tectonic background of the 2025 MS6.8 Dingri Earthquake.

Fig. 2 Regional tectonic setting map.

Fig. 3 Seismogenic fault and surface rupture zone distribution map.

Fig. 4 Fault-displaced landforms along the southern segment of the Dengmecuo Fault.

Fig. 5 Comparison of pre-earthquake and post-earthquake surface rupture zones in the Yangmudingcuo fault segment.

Fig. 6 Comparison of pre-earthquake and post-earthquake coseismic surface rupture in the Nixiacuo segment.

Fig. 7 Three styles of fault scarps and maximum coseismic displacement points in the Nixiacuo segment.

Fig. 8 Surface rupture process of Gurong segment.

Fig. 9 Surface deformation zone accompanying the middle segment of the Dengmecuo Fault.

Fig. 10 Liquefaction-induced geomorphic features along the southern margin of Dengmecuo Lake.

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