The Daliangshan fault zone(DF)constitutes an important part of the large-scale strike-slip Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system(XXFS). Affected by the channel flow of the middle-lower crust in the western Sichuan region, the XXFS is strongly active, and large earthquakes occur frequently. On average, there is an earthquake of magnitude 7 or more every 34 years. However, the DF, as an important part of the middle segment of the XXFS, has only recorded several earthquakes with magnitude 5-6, and no earthquakes with magnitude over 6 have been recorded. The reason for the lack of strong earthquake records may be related to the lack of historical records in remote mountainous areas, but the main reason may be attributed to the active behavior of the faults. He et al.(2008)hold that the DF is a new fault, resulting from straightening of the middle section of the XXFS, and its activity gradually changes from weak to strong, and will probably replace the Anninghe-Zemuhe Fault. However, this view lacks evidence of strong earthquakes. In recent years, some scholars have studied the paleoearthquakes on the DF, and found the signs of strong earthquake activity, and considered that the fault has the seismogenic capacity of earthquakes with magnitude more than 7. These studies are mainly concentrated in the middle and southern segments of the DF. Although there are scattered activity data and individual trench profiles, direct evidence of Holocene activity and paleoearthquake data are very scarce in the northern part of DF. On the basis of the previous studies, combined with our detailed field geomorphological surveys, we excavated a set of two trenches at Lianhe village in Shimian Fault to reveal the direct evidence of fault activity in Holocene. From paleoseismic analysis and radiocarbon samples accelerated mass spectrometry(AMS)dating, four paleoseismic events are identified, which are E1 between 20925—16850BC, E2 between 15265—1785BC, E3 between 360—1475AD, and E4 between 1655—1815AD. The results of the latest two events should be relatively reliable, and the latest event may be related to the Moxi earthquake of magnitude 7^3/4 on June 1, 1786 or the Dalu earthquake of magnitude ≥7 on June 10, 1786. Among the four events revealed, three are since the Holocene, and the recurrence interval of the latest two events is about 800 years. Compared with other active faults at the triple junction, the recurrence interval is slightly longer than that at the northern segment of the Anninghe fault zone, but close to that at the Moxi segment of the Xianshuihe fault zone. Compared with the western segment of Xianshuihe Fault and the northern segment of Anninghe Fault, the Shimian Fault also has a higher seismic risk, which needs further attention.

Complex geometrical structures on strike-slip faults would likely affect fault behavior such as strain accumulation and distribution, seismic rupture process, etc. The Xianshuihe Fault has been considered to be a Holocene active strike-slip fault with a high horizontal slip rate along the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau. During the past 300 years, the Xianshuihe Fault produced 8 earthquakes with magnitude≥7 along the whole fault and showed strong activities of large earthquakes. Taking the Huiyuansi Basin as a structure boundary, the northwestern and southeastern segments of the Xianshuihe Fault show different characteristics. The northwestern segment, consisting of the Luhuo, Daofu and Qianning sections, shows a left-stepping en echelon pattern by simple fault strands. However, the southeastern segment(Huiyuansi-Kangding segment)has a complex structure and is divided into three sub-faults: the Yalahe, Selaha and Zheduotang Faults. To the south of Kangding County, the Moxi segment of the Xianshuihe Fault shows a simple structure. The previous studies suggest that the three sub-faults(the Yalahe, Selaha and Zheduotang Faults of the Huiyuansi-Kangding segment)unevenly distribute the strain of the northwestern segment of the Xianshuihe Fault. However, the disagreement of the new activity of the Yalahe Fault limits the understanding of the strain distribution model of the Huiyuansi-Kangding segment. Most scholars believed that the Yalahe Fault is a Holocene active fault. However, Zhang et al.(2017)used low-temperature thermochronology to study the cooling history of the Gongga rock mass, and suggested that the Yalahe Fault is now inactive and the latest activity of the Xianshuihe Fault has moved westward over the Selaha Fault. The Yalahe Fault is the only segment of the Xianshuihe Fault that lacks records of the strong historical earthquakes. Moreover, the Yalahe Fault is located in the alpine valley area, and the previous traffic conditions were very bad. Thus, the previous research on fault activity of the fault relied mainly on the interpretation of remote sensing, and the uncertainty was relatively large. Through remote sensing and field investigation, we found the geological and geomorphological evidence for Holocene activity of the Yalahe Fault. Moreover, we found a well-preserved seismic surface rupture zone with a length of about 10km near the Yariacuo and the co-seismic offsets of the earthquake are about 2.5~3.5m. In addition, we also advance the new active fault track of the Yalahe Fault to Yala Town near Kangding County. In Wangmu and Yala Town, we found the geological evidence for the latest fault activity that the Holocene alluvial fans were dislocated by the fault. These evidences suggest that the Yalahe Fault is a Holocene active fault, and has the seismogenic tectonic condition to produce a large earthquake, just like the Selaha and Zheduotang Faults. These also provide seismic geological evidence for the strain distribution model of the Kangding-Huiyuansi segment of the Xianshuihe Fault.

The Yarlung Tsangbo fault zone, one of the most important geological interfaces in the Yarlung Tsangbo suture zone which is a huge geotectonic boundary with nearly east-west-trending in southern Tibet Plateau, has undergone a long-term tectonic evolution. Studying this fault zone can help us understand the development and evolution history of the suture zone and the tectonic mechanism of subduction-collision about the Tibet Plateau, so it has always been a hot topic in the field of geology. Most of existing data suggest that the current tectonic activity in southern Tibet is given priority to the rift system with nearly north-south-trending, and the Yarlung Tsangbo fault zone with nearly east-west-trending has relatively weaker activity since late Quaternary. There are only some evidences of Holocene activity found in the Lulang town section near eastern Himalayan syntaxis, and there are few reports about the reliable geological evidences of late Quaternary activity of the section on the west of Milin County of the fault zone.
Based on image interpretation, field investigation and chronological method, we found several fault profiles along the Yarlung Tsangbo fault zone near the Angren Lake in this study. These profiles reveal that loose fault gouge has been developed on the fault plane which nearly extends to the surface and offsets the loess sediments and its overlying alluvial-proluvial gravels. The loess is characterized by coarser grains, higher content of fine sand and tiny small gravels. The results of the two OSL dating samples collected in the loess are(94.68±6.51)ka and(103.84±5.14)ka respectively, showing that the loess revealed at the Angren site should be the middle-late Pleistocene sand loess distributed on the high-terraces along the Yarlung Tsangpo River. Consequently, the Angren segment of the Yarlung Tsangpo fault zone is active since the late Quaternary. In addition, synchronous left-lateral offsets of a series of small gullies and beheaded gullies can be seen near the profiles along the fault, which are the supporting evidence for the late Quaternary activity of the fault.
However, the segment with obvious geomorphology remains is relatively short, and no evidence of late Quaternary activity have been found in other sections on the west of Milin County of the Yarlung Tsangpo fault zone. Existing data show that, in the southern Tibet, a series of near NS-trending rift systems are strongly active since the late Quaternary, cutting almost all of the near east-west-trending tectonic belts including the Yarlung Tsangpo fault zone. In addition, majority of the earthquakes occurring in southern Tibet are related to the NS-trending rift systems. Tectonic images show that the Angren segment locates between the Shenzha-Dingjie rift and the Dangreyong Lake-Gu Lake rift. These two adjacent rifts are special in the rift system in southern Tibet:Firstly, the two rifts are located in the conversion position of the trend of the whole rift system; Secondly, the size of the two rifts varies significantly between the north side and the south side of the Yarlung Tsangbo fault zone. Thirdly, the Shenzha-Dingjie rift seems to be of right-lateral bending, while the Dangreyong Lake-Gu Lake rift shows left-lateral bending. These characteristics may lead to the fact that the amount of absorption and accommodation of the rift activities in the north side of the Yarlung Tsangbo fault zone is larger than that in the south side during the migration of the plateau materials, leading to the differential movement of the block between the two sides of the fault zone. Therefore, the Yarlung Tsangbo fault zone possesses the accommodating tectonic activity, of course, the intensity of this accommodating activity is limited and relatively weaker, which may be the reason why it is difficult to find large-scale tectonic remains characterizing the late Quaternary activity along the fault zone. The scale of the rift system in southern Tibet is systematically different between the two sides of the Yarlung Tsangbo fault zone, so it cannot be ruled out that there are also weak activities similar to the Angren segment in other sections of the fault zone.

The W-phase is a long period phase arriving between the P and S wave phases of a seismic source, theoretically representing the total near-and far-field long-period wave-field. Recent study suggests that the reliable source properties of earthquake with magnitude greater than ~M_W4.5 can be rapidly inverted by using the W-phase waveform data. With the advantage of W-phase, most of major earthquake research institutes in the world have adopted the W-phase based inversion method to routinely assess focal mechanism of earthquake, such as the USGS and GFZ. In this study, the focal mechanism of the August 8, 2017 M7.0 Sichuan Jiuzhaigou and August 9, 2017 M6.6 Xinjiang Jinghe earthquakes were investigated by W-phase moment tensor inversion technique using global seismic event waveform recordings provided by Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology, Data Management Center. To get reliable focal mechanism, we strictly select raw waveform data and carry out inversion in stages. At first, we discard waveform without correct instrument information. Then we carry out an initial inversion using selected waveform data to get primary results. Using the preliminary results as input, we carry out grid-search based inversion to find the final optimal source parameters. The inverted results indicate that the August 8, M7.0 Sichuan Jiuzhaigou shock resulted from rupturing on a NW-trending normal fault with majority of strike-slip movement. The parameters of two nodal planes are strike 152.7°, dip 61.4°, rake -4.8° and strike 245.0°, dip 85.8°, rake -151.3° respectively, and focal depth is 14.0km. The August 9, Xinjiang Jinghe M6.6 shock resulted from rupturing on a south-dipping thrust fault with left-lateral strike-slip. The parameters of two nodal planes are strike 100.6°, dip 27.5°, rake 114.1° and strike 259.3°, dip 65.1°, rake 78.0°, and the focal depth is 16.0km. The direction of two nodal planes is consistent with regional seismotectonic background.

The Anninghe Fault has been suggested as an important segment of the fault system along the eastern boundary of the Sichuan-Yunnan faulted block in the southeastern region of the Tibetan plateau. Reliable determination of the Late Quaternary slip rate on the Anninghe Fault is very helpful and significant for revealing deformation mechanism and kinematic characteristics of the Sichuan-Yunnan faulted block, which further helps us understand fault activity and seismic potential of the region. However, previous studies were focused mainly on the northern segment of the Anninghe Fault, while slip rate on its southern segment has been less studied. Therefore, in this paper, we chose two sites at Dashuigou and Maoheshan on the southern segment of the Anninghe Fault, and used high-resolution images of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)photogrammetry technology, detailed field survey, multiple paleoseismic trenching and radiocarbon dating methods to constrain slip rate on the southern fault segment of the Anninghe Fault. Specifically, we suggest that the slip rate at the Dashuigouo site is narrowly constrained to be~4.4mm/a since about 3^￣￣300a^￣￣BP based on a linear regression calculation method, and speculate that a slip rate of 2.6~5.2mm/a at the Maoheshan site would be highly possible, although we poorly constrained the whole deformation amount of the two branch faults at the Maoheshan site from multiple paleoseismic trenching. The data at the two sites on the southern segment show a consistent slip rate compared with that of the northern segment of the Anninghe Fault. Moreover, considering a similar paleoseismic recurrence interval on the two segments of the Anninghe Fault from previous studies, we further suggest that the fault activity and deformation pattern on the two segments of the Annignhe Fault appears to be well consistent, which is also in agreement with the regional tectonic deformation.

The M_S7.0 Jiuzhaigou earthquake in Sichuan Province of 8 August 2017 triggered a large number of landslides. A comprehensive and objective panorama of these landslides is of great significance for understanding the mechanism, intensity, spatial pattern and law of these coseismic landslides, recovery and reconstruction of earthquake affected area, as well as prevention and mitigation of landslide hazard. In this paper, we use the trinity method of space, sky and earth to create a panorama of the landslides triggered by this event. There are 4 roads in the distribution area of the coseismic landslides. The Jinglinghai-Xiamo and Jiudaoguai-Jiuzhaitiantang road sections register the most serious coseismic landslides. The landslides are mainly of moderate-and small-scales, and also with a few large landslides and avalanches. A detailed visual interpretation of the coseismic landslides is performed in two areas of Wuhuahai(11.84km²) and Zharusi-Shangsizhai village(47.07km²), respectively. The results show the overall intensity of landsliding(1088 landslides, a total area 1.514km²) in the Wuhuahai area is much higher than those in the Zharusi-Shangsizhai village area(528 landslides, a total area 0.415km²). On the basis of a scene of post-earthquake Geoeye -1 satellite images, we delineate more than 4 800 coseismic landslides with a total occupation area 9.6km². The spatial pattern of these landslides is well related with the locations of the inferred seismogenic fault and aftershocks. Widely distributed earthquake-affected weakened slopes, residual loose materials staying at high-position slopes and in valleys have greater possibilities to fail again and generate new landslides or debris flows under the conditions of strong aftershocks or heavy rainfalls in the future. Geological hazard from these events will become one of the most serious problems in the recovery and reconstruction of the earthquake-affected area which should receive much attention.

On 8 August 8 2017, an M_S7.0 earthquake occurred in Jiuzhaigou County, Sichuan Province. Field geological investigations did not find any co-seismic surface rupture in the epicenter area, implying that the seismogenic structure is likely a hidden active fault. Based on the results of the relocated aftershocks, the seismogenic fault was simulated and characterized using the SKUA-GOCAD software. The three-dimensional model of the seismogenic fault was preliminarily constructed, which shows that the main shock of the Jiuzhaigou M_S7.0 earthquake occurred at the sharp bending area of the fault surface, similar to the geometry of the active fault that generated several major earthquakes in the Songpan area during 1973-1976. Our study suggests that high seismicity of this area may be closely related to the inhomogeneous geometry of the fault surface. In this work, we collected the historical earthquakes of M ≥ 6.5, and analyzed the geometric and kinematic features of the active faults in the study area. A three-dimensional fault model for the 10 main active faults was constructed, and its limitation in fault modeling was discussed. It could provide evidence for analyzing the seismotectonics of historical earthquakes, exploring the relationships between earthquakes and active faults, and predicting major earthquakes in the future.

Before 2013 Lushan M_S7.0 earthquake, the bedrock ground temperature in Kangding station, the cross-fault deformation and the borehole strain in Guza station all show that regional stress changes possibly occurred along the Xianshuihe Fault. In this paper, further analysis is made on the observation data of bedrock ground temperature in the three stations in the Xianshuihe fault zone, and the results are compared with borehole strain, seismometry and cross-fault deformation data. Stress temperature in the three stations dropped suddenly synchronously a few days before the Lushan earthquake, indicating the enhanced tension characteristics of the regional stress in the Qianning-Kangding zone. High-frequency components of bedrock temperature in the three stations also showed synchronous changes in the 80 days before the Lushan earthquake, with an estimated stress change range of 0.98~1.96MPa, an average of about 1.47MPa, which is close to the seismometry results. Besides, tensional mutation in borehole strain is consistent with the enhanced tensional characteristics of regional stress revealed by bedrock ground temperature. Comparison with cross-fault deformation shows that the stress change was different in different active segments of the Xianshuihe Fault in different time periods before the Lushan earthquake, but the regional stress change did appear along the Xianshuihe fault zone before the Lushan earthquake.

The Xianshuihe Fault, the boundary of Bayan Har active tectonic block and Sichuan-Yunnan active tectonic block, is one of the most active fault zones in the world. In the past nearly 300 years, 9 historical earthquakes of magnitude ≥ 7 have been recorded. Since 2008, several catastrophic earthquakes, such as Wenchuan M_S8 earthquake, Yushu M_S7.1 earthquake and Lushan M_S7 earthquake, have occurred on the other Bayan Har block boundary fault zones. However, only the Kangding M_S6.3 earthquake in 2014 was documented on the Xianshuihe Fault. Thus, the study of surface deformation and rupture behavior of large earthquakes in the late Quaternary on the Xianshuihe Fault is of fundamental importance for understanding the future seismic risk of this fault, and even the entire western Sichuan region. On the basis of the former work, combined with our detailed geomorphic and geological survey, we excavated a combined trench on the Qianning segment of Xianshuihe fault zone which has a long elapse time. Charcoal and woods in the trench are abundant. 30 samples were dated to constrain the ages of the paleoseismic events. Five events were identified in the past 9  000 years, whose ages are:8070-6395 BC, 5445-5125 BC, 4355-4180 BC, 625-1240 AD and the Qianning earthquake in 1893. The large earthquake recurrence behavior on this segment does not follow the characteristic earthquake recurrence model. The recurrence interval is 1000~2000 years in early period and in turn there is a quiet period of about 5 000 years after 4355-4180 BC event. Then it enters the active period again. Two earthquakes with surface rupture occurred in the past 1000 years and the latest two earthquakes may have lower magnitude. The left-lateral coseismic displacement of the 1893 Qianning earthquake is about 2.9m.

Nine earthquakes with M≥6 have stricken the northern segment of the Red River fault zone since the historical records, including the 1652 Midu M7 earthquake and the 1925 Dali M7 earthquake. However, there have been no earthquake records of M≥6 on the middle and southern segments of the Red River Fault, since 886 AD. Is the Red River fault zone, as a boundary fault, a fault zone where there will be not big earthquake in the future or a seismogenic structure for large earthquake with long recurrence intervals?This problem puzzles the geologists for a long time. Through indoor careful interpretation of high resolution remote sensing images, and in combination with detailed field geological and geomorphic survey, we found a series of fault troughs along the section of Gasha-Yaojie on the southern segment of the Red River fault zone, the length of the Gasha-Yaojie section is over ten kilometers. At the same time, paleoseismic information and radiocarbon dating result analysis on the multiple trenches show that there exists geological evidence of seismic activity during the Holocene in the southern segment of the Red River fault zone.

The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake occurred along the Longmen Shan fault zone, only five years later, another M7 Lushan earthquake struck the southern segment where its seismic risk has been highly focused by multiple geoscientists since this event. Through geological investigations and paleoseismic trenching, we suggest that the segment along the Shuangshi-Dachuan Fault at south of the seismogenic structure of the Lushan earthquake is active during Holocene. Along the fault, some discontinuous fault trough valleys developed and the fault dislocated the late Quaternary strata as the trench exposed. Based on analysis of historical records of earthquakes, we suggest that the epicenter of the 1327 Tianquan earthquake should be located near Tianquan and associated with the Shuangshi-Dachuan Fault. Furthermore, we compared the ranges of felt earthquakes(the 2013 M7 Lushan earthquake and the 1970 M_S6.2 Dayi earthquake)and suggest that the magnitude of the 1327 Tianquan earthquake is more possible between 6½ and 7. The southern segment of the Longmen Shan fault zone behaves as a thrust fault system consisting of several sub-paralleled faults and its deep structure shows multiple layers of decollement, which might disperse strain accumulation effectively and make the thrust system propagate forward into the foreland basin, creating a new decollement on a gypsum-salt bed. The soft bed is thick and does not facilitate to constrain fault deformation and accumulate strain, which produces a weak surface tectonic expression and seismic activity along the southern segment, this is quite different from that of the middle and northern segments of the Longmen Shan fault zone.

The distribution of earthquake rupture zone plays a very important role in determining location of epicenter and magnitude of historical earthquake. There is still argument about the seismogenic structure of the 1842 M7 Balikun earthquake and the 1914 M7 1/2 Balikun earthquake in the historical records in eastern Tienshan. Through field geological survey, we confirm that there exist 3 rupture zones in Eastern Tienshan. These rupture zones, Tazibulake rupture zone on the Jian Quanzi-Luo Baoquan Fault, north of Shanshan, Xiong Kuer rupture zone on the south Balikun Basin Fault and Yanchi rupture zone on the south Yiwu Basin Fault, are closely related to 2 historical earthquakes. Based on historical literature and current geological evidence analysis, we infer that Xiong Kuer rupture zone was produced by 1842 M7 earthquake and Yanchi rupture zone by 1914 M7 1/2 earthquake, while Tazibukale rupture zone may represent another unrecorded historical event. South Balikun Basin Fault disturbs Quaternary stratigraphy which has a ¹⁴C age of 3110±30 B.P in the south of Balikun County, ~100km to the east of Xiong Kuer rupture zone, therefore we can't preclude the possibility that Xiong Kuer rupture zone extends to the south of Balikun County. This region overlaps with the meizoseismal area based on the literature document, together with the fact that the impact of 1842 earthquake is no less than 1914 earthquake, we believe that the magnitude of 1842 earthquake is no less than that of the 1914 earthquake.

Hetao fault-depression zone, the largest one of 4 fault-depression zones around the Ordos block, is characterized by intense tectonic activities. According to historical records, 2 large earthquakes, occurring in 849AD and 7BC respectively, were recognized to be located at this zone. However, there is still some dispute about the seismogenic structure of the 849AD earthquake, and there is no tangible geological evidence to support the view that the 7BC event occurred in Hetao fault-depression. In this paper, based on the image interpretation(from Google Earth), field investigation, trench excavation, and ¹⁴C and single grain OSL dating, we analyzed the tectonic landform and paleoseismic events on the Daqingshan piedmont fault, Wulashan piedmont fault and Langshan piedmont fault in the Hetao fault-depression zone. Furthermore, a comparative study of the latest rupture events on the 3 active faults was carried out. In order to lower the uncertainty of paleoseismic event dating, several effective measures, such as sampling according to the stratigraphic sequence, collecting multi samples in important strata, were adopted. Combining the previous achievements, the seismogenic structures of the 849AD earthquake and the 7BC earthquake were discussed. The results support that the Daqingshan piedmont fault is the seismogenic structure of the 849AD earthquake, and the latest surface rupture event of the Langshan piedmont fault may be related to the 7BC earthquake.

The Anninghe and Zemuhe Fault systems show characteristics of a left-lateral strike-slip movement since late Quaternary and they are located along the eastern boundary of the Sichuan-Yunnan Fault block in the southeastern region of the Tibetan plateau. The N-S striking Anninghe Fault is divided into the northern and southern segment around Mianning. The northern segment has an average recurrence interval of large earthquakes of about 500～700 years and a left-lateral slip rate of 4mm/a since Holocene. However paleoseismic behavior along the southern segment has been less focused. We excavated several trenches at Yuehua along the southern segment and used multiple radiocarbon dating to constrain the average recurrence interval of large earthquakes of this segment, which is about 600～800 years. The Zemuhe Fault has an average recurrence interval of paleoearthquakes of about 2300 years with a left-lateral slip rate of 2.4～3.6mm/a since Holocene. Comparing with the fault behavior between the Anninghe Fault and Zemuhe Fault, we find that the recurrence interval of the Anninghe Fault is shorter than that of the Zemuhe Fault and has a relatively larger left-lateral slip rate, indicating an inconsistent paleoseismic behavior. We suggest this inconsistence may be related to different strikes of the two faults, the uplift of the Luoji Shan and the distribution of the N-S trending strike-slip fault system on the south of the Anninghe Fault.

Normal faults, developed within extensional environment, are widely found in North China. Given the varieties in surface ruptures of different earthquakes and their depositional environment, some issues are needed to be paid much attention to in exposing the actual and complete history of paleoseismic events occurring along normal faults. In this paper, based on the existing knowledge about surface rupture characteristics of large earthquakes and indicators of normal fault, combining the cases study in China and the factors of geological, geomorphologic and climatic environment, some key techniques and methods in paleoseismic study on normal faults in mainland China are recommended as follows: (1)Choosing appropriate trenching sites according to local conditions. In the area where the faulted surface deposits are mainly alluvial-fluvial materials of piedmont or river and lake sediments, the trenching sites should try to meet following conditions: the geomorphy can reveal multiple fault events with not too large single displacement, the erosion(or denudation)of external force and the accumulation processes maintain relative balance, the sediments are medium-fine grained, and the samples for dating are easy to be collected. The sites where the faulted sediments are mainly composed of loess or secondary loess or sandy loam should be avoided to excavate trenches for paleoseismic study, however, if it cannot be avoided, the areas with weaker erosion and accumulation near small gullies are the choices to be considered, because these areas may have different deposits from upstream of the gullies, and some supplemental information such as tectonic landform are needed to substantiate the paleoseismic analysis.(2)Recording and analyzing the trench profiles in detail in the field. For the deposits(e.g. loess)with no stratification, the key observation point is the slight change in the color, grain and orientation, which may indicate the stratigraphic boundary. Indicating the scarp-derived deposits units such as colluvial wedge is the key to analyzing paleoseismic events, and the indicated elements conclude the messy configuration and nodules in the collapse facies, and the soil developed in the upper of the erosion facies. When the scarp-derived deposits are difficult to distinguish from normal strata, we should, by "brushing", "jabbing" or "microscopic analysis", try to analyze the color, grain, non-loess materials(e.g. small gravel, plant roots, etc.)and the enrichment degree of calcareous materials(e.g. calcium-mod, calcium-nodule, calcium-dot, calcium-filament, etc.), to identify the stratigraphic boundary.(3)Synthetically analyzing and checking the paleoseismic results combining other information. The appearances of the scarp-derived deposits revealed by trench are often obscure, so supplemental information from geomorphology and multiple trenches are necessary. Some techniques and methods, such as progressive constraining method of paleoseismic events, fault displacement constraining method, correlating method between multiple trenches, inversion and reconstruction of fault events, etc., are helpful for judging whether the paleoseismic results are actual and complete.

An M_S 7.0 earthquake attacked southern segment of the Longmenshan Fault zone on 20 April 2013, in Lushan County, Sichuan Province, southwest of China. The seismic intensity of the meizoseismal area of the Lushan event is Ⅰ Ⅹ(the Chinese Seismic Intensity Scale). The meizoseismal area strikes NE, and is approximately 24km long and 11km wide. In the post-earthquake emergency scientific survey, some members found a series of co-seismic surface rupture signs at Longmen Township, one of the most damaged areas by this quake, north of Lushan County. The reported typical surface rupture signs include intensive shear-fissures along the channel at Zhanghuo Group, rotation of bricks near a white tower at Wanghuo Group, and lots of extensive cracks. On the basis of analyzing such surface rupture signs, Han et al., (2013)deduced that there might be a blind fault along Lushan County and Longmen Township(named the Lushan-Longmen presumed blind fault), and this fault probably was the seismogenic fault. Therefore, to confirm whether there is a potential seismogenic fault along Lushan and Longmen is very important not only to research of seismogenic fault for this earthquake but also to the reconstruction in the disaster-hit areas. Through surface ruptures surveying and trench excavating, we conclude that: there are no co-seismic surface ruptures at Longmen. Meanwhile, artificial seismic prospecting outcome, which shows nonexistence of the Lushan-Longmen presumed blind fault at least 800m below the ground surface, also supports our idea. Consequently, the reported shear-fissures and extensive cracks are not produced by the seismogenic fault, but most likely by ground shaking during the earthquake.

In general,the displacement produced by a magnitude 6～7 earthquake is relatively small,even does not reach the surface,so it is difficult to be preserved in geological records. On the other hand,the seismogenic fault of such earthquakes is easy to be considered incorrectly as a non-active fault since Holocene,consequently overlooking the real seismic hazard in the future. To solve this problem,we propose a type of faults that are capable of generating M6～7 earthquakes,but with weak surface activity and cannot produce conspicuous surface displacement. To recognize such faults from geological records,which have no visible evidence of activity since middle-late Pleistocene,is the key to intermediate-and long-term earthquake prediction. The specific procedures of the technology are as follows: First,we determine the seismotectonic setting of the tectonic system in which the target fault lies. Second,we establish the relation between the target fault and other active faults in the same tectonic system,which have records of historical earthquakes or paleoearthquakes. Then we compare varied seismogenic units in the same-order structure,same tectonic system,and varied stages in the same tectonic process. The case studies demonstrate that this is an effective method for intermediate-and long-term earthquake prediction. The cases studied include the Puduhe-Xishan Fault in Kunming City,Hanzhong Basin in the north section of the Longmen Shan Fault zone,Dachuan-Shuangshi Fault in the south section of the Longmen Shan Fault zone,and the Guguan-Guoshun Fault of the Longxian-Baoji Fault zone. These faults all show weak activities on the surface and have potential for earthquakes with estimated magnitude 6.5～7.0.In addition,by estimation using this method,the Taoyuan-Guichuan Fault of the Longxian-Baoji Fault zone has a seismic risk of M6.0～6.5 earthquake,and the Longxian-Qima-Mazhao Fault is capable of producing an earthquake about M7.5.

Lingqiu Basin is located in the northeast of the Shanxi graben system,where a M_S 7.0 earthquake occurred in 1626.The achievement of active fault research in this basin could contribute not only to the study of the seismogenic structure of the earthquake in 1626,but also to the research of the types of large earthquakes in Shanxi graben system. Much work has been conducted here,laying the foundation for the active fault study in this area. However,the spatial distribution and activity of several major faults,and the seismogenic structure of the earthquake in 1626 are still in discussion. This paper analyzes the geomorphologic characteristics in the whole basin via interpreting SPOT5 images,SRTM3 and fieldwork,and acquires some new knowledge of the major faults in combination with trenching. The activity of the main segment of the piedmont fault of Taibaiwei Mountains is limited to the late Pleistocene; The NEE-striking Shuijian-Luoshuihe Fault has obvious geomorphic features to the west of Lingqiu County,and the geomorphic feature of the fault is not remarkable to the east of the county. Its latest event left a 1m-high fault scarp on the surface. The NW-striking Huashanhe Fault behaves as a hinge fault. In the northern basin,the fault dips west,producing a height difference of about 10m in terrace T1 of the Huashanhe River. In the southern basin,the fault dips east. Profiles and geomorphic features show the south segment of the fault is an active strike-slip fault with a high angle. Thus,we consider the earthquake in 1626 resulted from the conjugated action of the NEE-striking Shuijian-Luoshuihe Fault and the NW-striking Huashanhe Fault.

The M_S8.0 Wenchuan earthquake is a rare earthquake of fold-reverse fault type in mainland China. The rupture zone of Wenchuan earthquake is an indispensable case which can be used to study the surface co-seismic deformation of reverse fault and discuss the paleoseismic records. Based on the geologic and geomorphic features along the rupture zone of Wenchuan earthquake,we choose the Pingtong,Dengjia and Liulong three sites which were deformed only in the Wenchuan earthquake to analyze the characteristics of co-seismic deformation. And we combine with paleoseismic studies in the Yingxiu and the Guixi areas to discuss some key techniques in the paleoseismic study of the fold-reverse fault type. The conclusion shows surface deformation types include fault dislocation,bending dislocation and fold deformation. The cut-cover relationship of colluvial wedge,fault and strata is the feasible evidence of the fault dislocation type. But the indicator for bending dislocation and fold deformation types emphasizes the unconformity on the hanging wall,growth strata on the footwall and sudden change of maker strata position between the hanging wall and footwall. The multiple relationship of fault scarp height is related to paleoseismic times in some degree,but it is not wise to decide the paleoseismic times simply by a direct division of the height of fault scarp by the co-seismic displacements. In addition,there are two important paleoseismic indicators for identifying paleoseismic event on low-angle thrust,that is,the sudden change of displacements in maker strata and the cut-cover relationship of thin-long colluvial wedge,fault and strata. A good paleoseismic study needs to consider many factors and use more evidences with consideration of local conditions to support or supplement the analysis.

The main purpose of paleoseismic study is to distinguish or reveal deformation evidence of large earthquakes recorded by geologic and geomorphic features,and obtain corresponding seismic parameters such as timing,recurrence behavior,and coseismic displacement of large earthquakes. To achieve the aforementioned scientific aim,whether a trenching site preserves evidence of a complete paleoseismic sequence since late Quaternary and contains multiple measurable samples or not,and whether it can accurately identify paleoseismic events and collect well-constrained samples on events or not,all of these problems are directly responsible for reliabilities on assessment of future large earthquake hazard. Due to special displacement styles on strike-slip faults,good trenching sites are not widespread. Through comprehensive analysis on characteristics of coseismic surface ruptures and influencing factors on several trenching cases,we suggest micro-landforms such as depressions,basins,troughs,sag ponds,successive-offset channels,continuous scarp-derived deposit and multiple geomorphic surfaces are likely to be good trenching sites for paleoseismic studies on strike-slip faults. Multiple trenching or three-dimensional trenching should be the primary layout on strike-slip faults. Offsets of micro-landform across a fault,young stratigraphic units overlying on faulted units,locally distributed scarp-derived colluvial deposits,filled fissures,abrupt increases or decreases in displacement of different stratigraphic units on a fault,warping in different degrees,and multiple periodic paleo-sag ponds accumulation,all of these deformation evidences are good indicators for identifying paleoseismic events. To narrow uncertainties of paleoseismic studies,we should base on an organized research process and make a technical proposal and sophisticatedly conduct trenching work. Conclusions need to be repeatedly checked and widespread discussed,and also we should pay much attention on details and use more evidence to support or supplement analysis.

To carry out the project "Study on paleo-tsunami in east and southeast seashore area of China" supported by China Ministry of Science and Technology,we made a study tour to Japan in April,2007.In this visit,we investigated roughly the tsunami deposits in Ishinomaki Plain,Miyaki County,Japan,where a huge earthquake of M_W 9.0 occurred at March 11,2011.This earthquake caused a great tsunami along the northeast coast of Honsyu Island,Japan,bringing lots of death and huge economic loss.To understand the tsunami history in this area and the methods of investigating tsunami deposits,it is necessary to introduce briefly our investigation in Ishinomaki Plain,Miyaki County,Japan.Our investigation results demonstrated three tsunami events occurred in this area. The latest one occurred before 915 AD,when the Towada volcano erupted and the tephra from this eruption covered almost all of the Northeast Japan,corresponding to the 869 AD Jogan earthquake tsunami.

The M_S 7.1 Yushu,Qinghai earthquake on April 14th,2010 generated a surface rupture zone about 65km long.The west of Ganda Village,D1,and Guo Qing Yi Rong Song Duo,D2,are the two most representative places of surface rupture characteristics of the M_S 7.1 earthquake in Yushu,Qinghai Province.Survey results on co-seismic surface rupture characteristics at the two locations show that:(1)Surface rupture extends along the remains of late Quaternary activities on the pre-existing fault,and at the west of Ganda Village,the surface rupture is composed of tensile shear fcractures arranged en echelon,with mole tracks.Most part of the surface rupture is distributed along the paleoseismology trench,and through measuring an offset wall,we get the offset of 1.4m.(2)At Guo Qing Yi Rong Song Duo,the surface rupture zone consists of a series of right-step en echelon sub-cracks with a spacing about 30m each other,and the sub-crack is formed by the right step cracks,with a spacing of 3～5m.The mole track-tension crack and crack belt compose the single rupture,which are along the slope wash in front of the mountain.The surface rupture across the river valley appears as compressional ridge and sag pond in the valley.The offset of a fence is measured to be 1.4m.(3)The surface rupture shows left-lateral strike-slip characteristics,with no significant vertical component.The surface rupture mode shows a typical strike slip character.The surface rupture distributed along the pre-existing offset landforms reflects that the Ganzi-Yushu Fault,which is an active fault of Late Quaternary,is the seismogenic fault of this earthquake.The fault has the character of in situ recurrence of large earthquakes.

Paleoseismic studies conducted along the surface rupture of the Wenchuan earthquake(M_S 8.0)of 12th May 2008 provide important information regarding earthquake reoccurrence intervals and slip rates of the Longmen Shan Fault zone.The Leigu trench was excavated along the middle segment of the surface rupture of the Yingxiu-Beichuan Fault zone.Based on the syntectonic sedimentary structure,two earthquake events,including the Wenchuan event,were identified at this site.This study utilizes Optically Stimulated Luminescence(OSL)dating of samples collected from the Leigu trench section,using SMAR(Sensitivity-corrected Multiple Aliquot Regenerative-dose)protocols.AMS¹⁴C dating was also carried out on charcoal from the same sediments.OSL ages are generally consistent with the calibrated AMS¹⁴C ages(cal a BP)for the same units.The penultimate earthquake event similar to Wenchuan earthquake scale in this region occurred(2.1?0.2)ka to(1.1?0.2)ka.

A reasonable and authentic estimate of surface rupture shortening amount of reverse fault is essential to a thorough understanding of the co-seismic surface deformation parameters,while we have no effective or feasible methods to deal with it,presently.The paper attempts to analyze and calculate horizontal shortening amounts of reverse fault with trench excavation basing on the investigations of the surface ruptures of the M_S 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake.On this condition,we conclude three genesis models of fault scarp,namely,faulting,flexuring,and superposition of faulting and flexuring.The paper proposes several calculation methods about horizontal shortening amounts of reverse fault based on these fault scarp models,and also gives detailed mathematic proof and constraint factors when considering complicated phenomena.Moreover,combined with these models,we discuss how to correctly apply and interpret the reverse surface rupture information revealed by trench.Finally,we demonstrate the calculation process and results of the reverse fault's horizontal shortening amounts in the trench close to the Central School of Bailu and the trench at Quanxin village of Hanwang,which are(2.83?0.3)m and(0.61?0.11)m,respectively.

With the occurrence of the 12May 2008 Wenchuan,Sichuan,China earthquake,two high-relief surface ruptures were formed on the Yingxiu-Shikan segment of the range-front fault and the Bailu-Hanwang segment of central fault along the Longmenshan Fault zone,and around the faults almost all buildings were razed.Furthermore,surface ruptures on the central fault broke through the accustomed activity segmentation boundary and extended to the northern segment by about 60km.Aftershocks also have a trend of migrating to the northern segment from the middle segment of Longmenshan Fault zone.It would be interesting to know as what kinds of effects this giant earthquake has on the earth's surface along the northern segment of Longmenshan Fault zone,and whether there have been earthquakes occurring since late Quaternary? In order to accumulate more reliable and detailed data and have a primary understanding to solve these questions and for post-quake reconstruction,we made a detailed geological and geomorphologic survey of the co-seismic earth's surface transformation and the late Quaternary Fault activity along the northern segment of the range-front fault on the basis of researches by predecessors.And then we excavated trenches at two relatively heavily-damaged and suspicious sites with legible linear shadows on image to investigate whether there exists active fault or fold.Our observation suggests that the northern segment is quite distinct in geology and geomorphology,and the coseismic earth's surface transformation is different from that in the middle segment of front-range fault and there is no clear trace to indicate that it is a late Quaternary active fault.So the late Quaternary active segment of range-front fault may terminate nearby the south of the Yong'an town.Our observation also suggests that the so-called active fault scarp as argued by some researchers near the Yong'an village is in fact an eroded river bank.

In the historical rocords,there have been no comparable earthquakes with the May 12 Wenchuan earthquake in Chengdu and Longmenshan mountain region.Then,whether the ancient earthquake traces with comparable magnitude in the geological records can be found has become an important scientific issue.The authors and other members of Wenchuan earthquake geological investigation team did fieldwork in the earthquake region for more than one month.Four trenches and one geologic section were excavated along the middle segment of surface faulting of both the central fault and the mountain front fault.And geomorphologic surfaces of deformation were measured.In this paper,we discuss the fact that there is prehistory large earthquake along the seismogenic fault of Wenchuan earthquake from analyzing the accumulated deformation of old and young fault scarps or geomorphologic surfaces,trenching,and comparing the activities of related faults and so on.The result shows that whether at Xiaoyudong,Leigu located on the central fault or Bailu,Hanwang on the mountain front fault,or at other places along the surface faulting of the the Wenchuan earthquake,the height of the fault scarp on the second terrace has a multiple relation with that on the first terrace after the Wenchuan earthquake.The 4 trenches reveal that the dislocation of the marker strata of the second terrace on both sides of fault is twice of that of the Wenchuan earthquake,which shows that there was an earthquake event with the same scale of surface deformation of this M_S8.0 Wenchuan earthquake between the formation time of the second terrace in Lomhmenshan area and the May 12 Wenhucan earthquake.

Field investigations show that the M_S8.0 Wenchuan earthquake of 12^th May 2008 ruptured two NW-dipping imbricate reverse faults along the Longmenshan Fault zone at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.This earthquake generated a 240km long surface rupture along the Beichuan-Yingxiu Fault characterized by right-lateral oblique faulting and a 90km long surface rupture along the Guanxian-Jiangyou Fault characterized by dip-slip reverse faulting.Maximum vertical and horizontal dispacements of 6.2m and 4.9m,respectively,were observed along the Beichuan-Yingxiu Fault,whereas a maximum vertical displacement of 3.5m occurred along the Guanxian-jiangyou Fault.This co-seismic surface rupture pattern,involving multiple structures,is among the most complicated of recent great earthquakes.Its surface rupture length is the longest among the co-seismic surface rupture zones for reverse faulting events ever reported.Aftershocks recorded by local network clearly outline the hanging wall of the Beichuan-Yingxiu Fault and indicate that the fault dips about 47? to the west.Industry seismic lines,in addition to surface ruptures and aftershocks,allow us to build a 3D model for the rupture geometry that shows crustal shortening is the dominant process along the Longmen Shan to accommodate long-term deformation.Oblique thrusting accomplished by the earthquake indicates that the east-southeastward extrusion of Tibet Plateau accommodates,in part,the continuing penetration of the Indian plate into the Eurasian plate,and this extrusion is transformed at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau into crustal thickening and shortening along the Longmenshan Fault zone that is responsible for the growth of high topography in the region.

Quantitative study of active tectonics needs to get a series of deformation parameters,and fault displacement is one of the most basic active parameters. Alluvial fan and terrace around active fault zones can record the information of time and strength of fault movement. River terrace as a most common landform contains structural information. It is meaningful for quantitative tectonic movement study to ascertain river terrace. In the article we use photogrammetric software virtuo NT to extract high resolution DEM. Based on DEM,the method and program for terrace analysis are built on the platform of ARCGIS. In the light of the distribution characteristics of slope and height,we generate the slope classification map and height classification map. And by multiplication of the two maps,the terrace landform map is generated. In the Zimakua region of Sichuan province,we applied the method to extract terrace information and got its distribution. We compared the terrace extracted based on DEM with the terrace interpreted in the filed,and the result shows that they have good consistency. The terrace boundaries record the information of fault dislocation. By measuring the dislocation of terrace boundary,we get the average dislocation of secondary fault to be 85.4m,which is in accord with the filed surveys. The results indicate that the method of terrace extraction based on DEM has the properties of high precision, high efficiency,visualization and so on.

The Anninghe Fault is an important active fault along the eastern boundary of Sichuan-Yunnan active tectonic block,and the study of its distribution feature of displacement rates in the late Quaternary is of fundamental importance for understanding the dynamic theory on Chinese continent,boundary dynamic process of the active block and the recurrence interval of large earthquakes. The active Anninghe Fault in late Quaternary has the length of 160km and consists of two segments. Zimakua is an area where the latest neotectonic rupture trajectories are relatively simple and the offset geomorphologic sequences are well developed. Using the methods of detailed geomorphic and geological survey,digital image analysis,total station instrument survey,excavation of trench and dating,the paper makes an analysis on the geomorphologic sequences of the strata and obtains some new results as follows: The terrace(step)T₃ consisting of moraine deposits was formed at about 20ka BP and offset by the Anninghe Fault with a left-lateral displacement of (84±3)m and a vertical displacement of 18m. On the base of the moraine deposits overlies terrace(step)T₂ of mainly alluvial deposits formed at 10～7ka BP with the maximum left-lateral displacement of about 40m,an average of (36±4)m,and a vertical displacement of about 11m. Terrace T1 is composed mainly of the alluvium and partial dammed-pond deposits which were formed during 3～2.2ka BP. The earliest event that offset the T1 happened at 1.7kaBP.Three events have been discovered since 1.7kaBP and the cumulative left-lateral displacement is 10.5m and the vertical displacement 2.3m. So,the left-lateral displacement rates are 6.2mm/a,3.6～4mm/a,3.8～4.2mm/a and the vertical rates are 1.4mm/a,1.1mm/a,0.9mm/a(at least)on average in about 2.6ka,10ka and 20ka,respectively. The proportion of horizontal to vertical displacements is about 4:1. That means the vertical rate on Anninghe Fault is about 25% of horizontal slip rate. The left-lateral slip rate in late Holocene is well consistent with GPS measurement. The change of the left-lateral rates in different stage is also consistent with recurrence interval of paleoearthquakes. It means that there is alternation between strong and weak activities of the Anninghe Fault.

Xishan Fault group is distributed in the transition zone between the fold-reverse fault system along the front of the north Tianshan Mountains to the west and the thrust tectonics of Bogeda to the east.It is a tectonics that thrusts from the basin in the north to the mountains in the south,consisting of 4～5 faults that are more than 10 to about 30km long,showing low angles near surface and converging on the detachment surface at about 11km deep.We discovered that the activity of Xishan Fault group is distinct during late Quaternary by doing field investigation of geology and geomorphology,excavating trenches along faults and analyzing deep structure of the fault group.The faults offset the second and above terraces of Wanjiagou creek and created fault scarps of 0.5～5.4m high on the terraces.And traces of paleoearthquakes can be found easily.The younger two events on F₁,F₂ and F₃ are confined in(22.7±5.2)ka and 40ka BP by OSL samples dating,respectively and the traces of the youngest event on F₄ and the front fault of Xishan are covered by deposits whose ages of OSL samples are about(31.1±3.2)ka and(37.9±3.8)ka BP,respectively.It means that there was grouped faulting in late Quaternary in the Xishan Fault group.F₁,F₂ and F₃ or F₄ and the front fault of Xishan might rupture in a same event on near surface.Event traces on the Xishan Fault group and other reverse faults of low angle show that the deposits along the front of fault scarp,the offset relation between fault and deposit bed,and the abrupt increase and diminution of displacement on difference markers or unconformable surfaces on both sides of fault are important identification marks of paleoearthquakes along surface rupture-type reverse fault.The deposits along the front of fault scarp on reverse faults of low angle are much more different from those on normal fault.For ideal mode,the deposit in front of fault scarp of reverse fault of low angle is characterized with that the original structure of the collapsing thrust sheet front is not broken entirely on the lower part and the sloping deposit on the upper part may exist covering on both sides of the fault.We think that it is very important for reducing uncertainty of paleoearthquake identification to seek for evidences as many as possible and analyze the different influencing factors,such as tectonics,climate,environment and anthropic activities.