The most significant feature of active faults on remote sensing images is fault lineament. How to identify and extract fault lineament is an important content of active fault research. The rapid development of remote sensing technology has provided people with extremely rich remote sensing data, and has also created the problem of how to choose suitable data for fault interpretation. In the traditional fault interpretation, people pay more attention to high-resolution optical images and high-resolution DEM, but optical remote sensing images are greatly affected by factors such as weather condition, vegetation and human impacts, and the time and economic costs for obtaining high-resolution DEM are relatively high. Due to the low resolution, the medium-resolution DEM(such as Aster GDEM, SRTM1, SRTM3, etc.)is generally used to automatically extract structural lineament, and then analyze the overall regional structural features, but it is rarely used to visually interpret active faults. ALOS-PALSAR DEM is generated from SAR images acquired by the phased array L-band synthetic aperture radar mission sensor of the Japanese ALOS satellite. It is currently a free DEM with the highest resolution(resolution of 12.5m)and the widest coverage. Based on ALOS-PALSAR DEM and ArcGIS 10.4 software, this paper generates a hillshade map and visually interprets the fault lineaments in the West Qinling Mountains. When generating a hillshade map, we set the light azimuths to be oblique or orthogonal to the overall trend of the linear structures, the light azimuths to be consistent with the slope direction of the hillslope, and the light dips to be a medium incident angle. Based on the hillshade map generated from ALOS-PALSAR DEM, this paper summarizes the typical performance and interpretation markers of fault lineaments on the hillshade map(generated by DEM), and visually interprets the V-shaped fault system in West Qinling Mountains where the research on fault geometry is limited based on the interpretation markers. The results of the research are as follows: First, this study discovers a number of fault lineament zones, including the fault lineament located between the Lintan-Dangchang Fault and the Guanggaishan-Dieshan Fault, the NE-directed fault lineament zone between the Lixian-Luojiapu Fault and the Liangdang-Jiangluo Fault, and the arc-shaped dense fault lineament zones distributed south of the Hanan-Daoqizi Fault and the Wudu-Kangxian Fault; Second, this study completes the geometric distribution images of the known active faults, such as the western and eastern sections of the Lintan-Dangchang Fault, the western and eastern sections of the Liangdang-Jiangluo Fault; Third, fault lineaments in the West Qinling Mountains exhibit a “V” shape, with two groups of fault lineaments trending NW and NE, whose tectonic transformation mainly consists of two kinds: mutual cutting and arc transition. The Lintan-Dangchang Fault cuts the Lixian-Luojiapu Fault, the Lintan-Dangchang Fault and the Guanggaishan-Dieshan Fault are connected with the Liangdang-Jiangluo Fault in arc shape, and the Tazang Fault is connected with the Hanan-Daoqizi Fault in arc shape. The research results show that ALOS-PALSAR DEM has an outstanding capability to display fault lineaments due to its topographic attributes and strong surface penetration. In circumstances when the surface is artificially modified strongly, the spectrum of ground objects is complex and the vegetation is dense, the ALOS-PALSAR DEM can display fault lineament that cannot be displayed on optical remote sensing images, indicating that the medium-resolution DEM is an effective supplement to high-resolution optical remote sensing images in the fault lineament interpretation. The research results are of great significance for improving the geometric image of the V-shaped fault system in the West Qinling Mountains. It is also the basis for further research on fault geometry, kinematics, regional geodynamics and seismic hazard.

On the basis of summarizing the circulation characteristics and mechanism of earthquakes with magnitude 7 or above in continental China, the spatial-temporal migration characteristics, mechanism and future development trend of earthquakes with magnitude above 7 in Tibetan block area are analyzed comprehensively. The results show that there are temporal clustering and spatial zoning of regional strong earthquakes and large earthquakes in continental China, and they show the characteristics of migration and circulation in time and space. In the past 100a, there are four major earthquake cluster areas that have migrated from west to east and from south to north, i.e. 1)Himalayan seismic belt and Tianshan-Baikal seismic belt; 2)Mid-north to north-south seismic belt in Tibetan block area; 3)North-south seismic belt-periphery of Assam cape; and 4)North China and Sichuan-Yunnan area. The cluster time of each area is about 20a, and a complete cycle time is about 80a. The temporal and spatial images of the migration and circulation of strong earthquakes are consistent with the motion velocity field images obtained through GPS observations in continental China. The mechanism is related to the latest tectonic activity in continental China, which is mainly affected by the continuous compression of the Indian plate to the north on the Eurasian plate, the rotation of the Tibetan plateau around the eastern Himalayan syntaxis, and the additional stress field caused by the change of the earth's rotation speed.
    Since 1900AD, the Tibetan block area has experienced three periods of high tides of earthquake activity clusters(also known as earthquake series), among which the Haiyuan-Gulang earthquake series from 1920 to 1937 mainly occurred around the active block boundary structural belt on the periphery of the Tibetan block region, with the largest earthquake occurring on the large active fault zone in the northeastern boundary belt. The Chayu-Dangxiong earthquake series from 1947 to 1976 mainly occurred around the large-scale boundary active faults of Qiangtang block, Bayankala block and eastern Himalayan syntaxis within the Tibetan block area. In the 1995-present Kunlun-Wenchuan earthquake series, 8 earthquakes with M_S7.0 or above have occurred on the boundary fault zones of the Bayankala block. Therefore, the Bayankala block has become the main area of large earthquake activity on the Tibetan plateau in the past 20a. The clustering characteristic of this kind of seismic activity shows that in a certain period of time, strong earthquake activity can occur on the boundary fault zone of the same block or closely related blocks driven by a unified dynamic mechanism, reflecting the overall movement characteristics of the block. The migration images of the main active areas of the three earthquake series reflect the current tectonic deformation process of the Tibetan block region, where the tectonic activity is gradually converging inward from the boundary tectonic belt around the block, and the compression uplift and extrusion to the south and east occurs in the plateau. This mechanism of gradual migration and repeated activities from the periphery to the middle can be explained by coupled block movement and continuous deformation model, which conforms to the dynamic model of the active tectonic block hypothesis.
    A comprehensive analysis shows that the Kunlun-Wenchuan earthquake series, which has lasted for more than 20a, is likely to come to an end. In the next 20a, the main active area of the major earthquakes with magnitude 7 on the continental China may migrate to the peripheral boundary zone of the Tibetan block. The focus is on the eastern boundary structural zone, i.e. the generalized north-south seismic belt. At the same time, attention should be paid to the earthquake-prone favorable regions such as the seismic empty sections of the major active faults in the northern Qaidam block boundary zone and other regions. For the northern region of the Tibetan block, the areas where the earthquakes of magnitude 7 or above are most likely to occur in the future will be the boundary structural zones of Qaidam active tectonic block, including Qilian-Haiyuan fault zone, the northern margin fault zone of western Qinling, the eastern Kunlun fault zone and the Altyn Tagh fault zone, etc., as well as the empty zones or empty fault segments with long elapse time of paleo-earthquake or no large historical earthquake rupture in their structural transformation zones. In future work, in-depth research on the seismogenic tectonic environment in the above areas should be strengthened, including fracture geometry, physical properties of media, fracture activity behavior, earthquake recurrence rule, strain accumulation degree, etc., and then targeted strengthening tracking monitoring and earthquake disaster prevention should be carried out.

The western Qinling-Songpan tectonic node is located at the intersection of three major tectonic units of Tibetan plateau, the South China Block and the Ordos Block, and is at the forefront of the northeastern margin of Tibetan plateau. It has unique geological and dynamic characteristics from the surface to the deep underground. Based on the model for ductile flow in the lower crust, the geomorphological form is used to estimate the viscosity of the lower crust, and how the rheological process of the deep lithosphere acts on the upper crust deformation and structural geomorphology. And combined with GPS velocity field data, the current crustal deformation is analyzed to further study the regional dispersive deformation process. The results show that the viscosity of the north and northeast of the Zoige-Hongyuan Basin is smaller than that of the east and southeast. Therefore, the lower crust flow has a tendency of flowing to the northeastern low viscosity zone. We believe that when the lower crust flows from the central plain of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to the rigid Sichuan Basin with a higher viscosity of the lower crust, it cannot flow into the basin, and part of the lower crust flow accumulate here, causing the upper crust to rise, and the uplifting led to the formation of the Longmen Mountains and a series of NNE-striking faults as well. When the lower crust flows to the northeast direction with a low viscosity, the brittle upper crust is driven together. Because of the remote effects from the Ordos Basin and the Longxi Basin, the mountains in this region are built slowly and the stepped arc-shaped topography of the current 3 000-meter contour line and the 2 000-meter contour line are developed. At the same time, a series of NWW-trending left-lateral strike-slip faults are developed. This explains the seismogenic tectonic model of the western Qinling-Songpan tectonic node as from NWW-trending left-lateral strike-slip faulting to the NNE-trending right-lateral strike-slip faulting and both having a thrust component. The current crustal movement direction revealed by the GPS velocity field is consistent with the direction of historical crust evolution of the lower crust revealed by the viscosity, implying that there is a good coupling relationship between the lower crust and upper crust. The results provide a basis for studying the development of fault systems with different strikes and properties, the formation of orogenic belts, the macroscopic geomorphological evolution characteristics, and the rheological and uplift dynamics of the lithosphere in the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau.
In addition, our research differs from the previous studies in the spatial and temporal scale. Previous studies included either the entire Qinghai-Tibet Plateau or only the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. However, our analysis on the contours and topographical differences in the topography of the western Qinling-Songpan tectonic knot reveals that the study area is controlled by the lower crust flow. Our results are confirmed by various observations such as seismology, magnetotellurics and geophysical exploration. Moreover, the previous studies did not point out enough that the elevation contours are elliptical, and the elliptical geomorphology further illustrates that the formation and evolution of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has rheological characteristics and also conforms to the continuous deformation mode. Meanwhile, in terms of time scale, the evolution time of the study area is divided into three types of simulation time according to geochronology. And the GPS velocity field is introduced to observe the present-day crustal deformation.

The Yabrai range-front fault is a normal fault,which is about 120km long,trends N60°E and distributes along the southeast margin of the Alashan block. In this paper,we focus on the geomorphology and kinematics of the Yabrai range-front fault,and discuss the implications of the fault for the regional tectonics.
This fault consists of three segments and the most active one is located in the southwest,which has a length of about 35km. The about 1～2m-high scarp,stretching almost the full segment,might be the result of the latest earthquake event. Fresh free surface indicates that the elapsed time of the last event should not be long.
The middle segment is about 31km in length. The results suggest that just a single fault is developed along the piedmont of the Yabrai Shan,and there is no evidence of recent activity on this fault. In contrast to the simple geometric structure of the middle segment,the northeast segment consists of several faults. The scarps of the most recent earthquake event,which are clear but discontinuous,are about 0.5～1.5m high and some are up to 2m. Although the scarps along the southwest and northeast segments of the fault are similar,it is difficult to suggest they are caused by the same earthquake without precise dating.
The seismic reflection profile suggests that the Yabrai range-front fault came into being as a normal fault in Cretaceous,when the Tibetan plateau did not emerge at that time. Therefore,we conclude that the Yabrai range-front fault is not the consequence of the Indo-Asian collision. But this region plays a great role in constraining the tectonic evolution of the Alashan block and therefore,the Tibetan plateau.

The 14 April 2010 M_W 6.9 Yushu earthquake ruptured the northwestern segment of the Ganzi-Yushu Fault in Qinghai,China.Accurate estimation of the secular slip rate across the fault would help understand tectonic structure of the fault and its seismogenic process.GPS data obtained from 1999 to 2007around the Ganzi-Yushu Fault spanning 89°～103°E,28°～39°N make such estimation possible.After removing GPS stations whose displacements were affected by fault locking effects and/or deformation of other faults,we decompose the remaining GPS station velocities into strike-parallel and strike-normal components and examine the data along profiles across corresponding fault segments.The slip rates of the Fenghuoshan,Ganzi-Yushu,and northwestern segment of the Xianshuihe Faults are estimated as 6.1±1.9,6.6±1.5,and 10.2±0.7mm/a,respectively.These results agree with geological estimates of the fault slip rates,which show progressive increase from northwest to southeast across segments of the Ganzi-Yushu-Xianshuihe Fault zone,implying variation in transferring and absorbing patterns of deformation in different regions in and around the Tibetan plateau.Estimation of present-day slip rates along segments of the Ganzi-Yushu Fault would provide valuable data for future research on seismo-tectonics of the fault and tectonic evolution of the Tibetan plateau.

According to the new investigation in the northern Hexi corridor,remains of two surface rupture zones are discovered on the southern margin fault of Helishan.One rupture has the length of about 7km and the other about 10km.The two surface rupture zones might be produced by the nearest earthquake event.On the surface rupture zones,there are continuous scarp and free face caused by rupture.The scarp is about 1～1.5m high and on some site is up to 2m nearly.According to the OSL result,the nearest T₁ terrace and higher flood plain forming 3000a BP are dislocated by the fault.All above reveal that the rupture age should be later than that of T₁ terrace.But in the historical data and earthquake catalogue,we didn't find related information about the fault and surface rupture in this area.The 180 AD M 8 Biaoshi earthquake and 756 AD M 7 Zhangye-Jiuquan earthquake are documented in historical data.It is inferred by textual research that the two earthquakes are related with the northern marginal fault of Yumushan in the south of basin.Due to lack of reliable evidence,there still exist many arguments on this inferred conclusion.So we hold that the two surface rupture zones were produced by one of the two large earthquakes or another unrecorded historical event.The research on the activity and surface rupture of this fault can offer valuable information for the tectonic study and strong earthquake risk estimate of this region in the future.

This paper makes a comprehensive analysis of the recent progress of the seismic active fault prospecting in Lanzhou city. Based on the satellite and aerial photos interpretation,geological and geomorphic investigation,geochemistry prospecting,shallow seismic investigation,resistivity imaging,drilling,especially large-scale trenching along the 7 active fault zones in Lanzhou city,we have achieved very important progress and gained new knowledge about the recent activity of main active faults and deformation features in Lanzhou Basin. The main conclusions are summarized bellow: (1) The Jinchengguan Fault is a thrust fault,constituting the northern boundary of the Lanzhou Tertiary Basin. It is revealed by geophysical prospecting and drilling that the newest strata offset by the Jinchengguan Fault are the early-Pleistocene sandstone and conglomerate,and that the overlying second and third terraces of the Yellow River remain intact. So,it's an early and middle Pleistocene active fault.(2) The Liujiabu Fault and Shengouqiao Fault constitute the northern and western boundaries of the Qilihe Subsidence,respectively. Revealed by geophysical prospecting,drilling and large trenching,they are not faults but lithologic boundaries of different rocks between Pliocene and early Pleistocene.(3) The Leitanhe Fault is the eastern boundary of Qilihe Subsidence,a boundary fault separating the Tertiary Lanzhou Basin into the east and west basins. According to the geophysical prospecting and drilling,the Leitanhe Fault is a thrust fault and its newest activity age is early and middle Pleistocene. It is not active since late Quaternary and does not cut the third terrace of the Yellow River.(4) The Siergou Fault is the southwestern boundary of Lanzhou Basin,a thrust fault too. It's an early and middle Pleistocene active fault and does not offset the forth terrace of Yellow River. While the Xijincun Fault is much nearer to the south margin of Lanzhou Basin and forms the southern boundary of the Tertiary Lanzhou Basin. It's an early Pleistocene fault.(5) The northern margin of Maxianshan Mountains fault is a major seismic fault on the southern margin of Lanzhou Basin,and its movement is characterized by segmentation. The east segment,the Neiguanying sub-fault,is a late Pleistocene fault. The middle segment,the Maxianshan and Qidaoliang faults,are active during late Pleistocene and early Holocene. The west segment,the Wusushan sub fault,is active during late Pleistocene and Holocene,and it's also the seismic fault of the M7 Lanzhou earthquake.On the whole,we correct the previous recognitions about the activity times of 4 faults,i.e. the Jinchengguan Fault,Leitanhe Fault,Siergou Fault and Xijicun Fault. They are all early and middle Pleistocene instead of late Pleistocene active faults. Especially,we find that the Liujiabu Fault and Shengouqiao Fault directly across Lanzhou city are not late Pleistocene or Holocene active faults but lithologic boundaries between Pliocene mudstone and early Pleistocene conglomerate. The results are very important for the urban planning and engineering construction,and will produce obvious economical and social benefits.

According to the results of 1/10,000 stripped geologic mapping of the northwest segment of the Maxianshan north marginal fault and historical accounts of past events,we discuss in this paper the range of the magistoseismic area,seismogenic fault,pattern and combination feature of the surface ruptures of the 1125 A.D.Lanzhou M7 earthquake.The results show that the magistoseismic area of this earthquake is located in Lanzhou City and its southwest,and the epicenter can be located at the Xianshuigou area.The seismogenic fault of this earthquake is the Xianshuigou-Maquangou sub-segment on the northwest segment of the Maxianshan north marginal fault.This earthquake has produced a surface rupture zone of about 7km long and 300～1000m wide,extending along the seismogenic fault.The surface ruptures consist of earthquake fractures,fault scarps,seismic fissures,seismic landslides,and seismic pits.The surface rupture zone can be sub-divided into 2 sub-segments:the Maidiwan-Xianshuigou sub-segment in the southwest and the Damajiatan-Maquangou sub-segment in the northwest.Among them,the Maidiwan-Xianshuigou sub-segment consists of two parallel surface ruptures,while the Damajiatan-Maquangou sub-segment comprises a single surface rupture.Basing on large scale mapping,it is determined that the left-lateral displacement produced by this event is 2.4～2.5m,and the vertical offset is 0.45～0.92m.Regionally,the Maxianshan north marginal fault is located at the junction of the northern margin of the Qinghai-Xizang plateau and the northern segment of the North-south tectonic belt,which have been strongly active since neotectonic period.A rhombic block confined by major faults of different strikes is developed in this region,and we call it the Gansu-Ningxia rhombic block.The 1125 A.D.Lanzhou M7 earthquake just occurred on the western edge of the rhombic block,i.e.the Wuwei-Zhuanlanghe-Maxianshan Fault zone.The strong uplift and northeastward pushing of the active Qinghai-Xizang block may cause the stress relief on the boundary faults of the Gansu-Ningxia rhombic block,and hence the occurrence of several strong earthquakes.

Tianshui area locates at the northeastern margin of Qinghai-Tibetan plateau and the middle segment of the north margin of western Qinling tectonic zone.In history,several strong destructive earthquakes happened in the area.Because of the very long history and that the historical records are not quite clear,it is very difficult to study them in nowadays,and most of them became historical knotty problems.The Tianshui earthquake in 734 AD is one of the large earthquakes.On March 23,734 AD,a large earthquake happened in Qinzhou of Tang Dynasty,now the vicinity of Tianshui City,causing serious seismic disasters as "the earth ruptured and closed again,nearly all the houses damaged,about 4000 people dead,hills changed into valleys,and towns covered by landslip,and so on".According to the detail textual research of the historical earthquake records,the meizoseismal area of the 734 AD Tianshui earthquake is in the Qinzhou and Maiji area,now,the Qincheng,Beidao and Maijishan area of Tianshui City.The epicenter intensity is about Ⅹ,the magnitude is about M 7 1/2.The direction of long axis of isoseismal line is NW,consistent with the strike of the eastern segment of Wushan-Gangu Fault of the northern margin of western Qinling active fault zone.The meizoseismal area is just in the step-over zone between the left-lateral strike-slip faults,i.e.the Tianshui-Baoji Fault and the Gangu-Wushan Fault,an area prone to strong earthquake.Comprehensive analysis indicates that the causative structure of the 734 M 7 1/2 Tianshui earthquake is the east segment of the Gangu-Wushan Fault of the northern margin of western Qinling active fault zone.

The Maxianshan north marginal fault belongs tectonically to the Kunlun-Qilian-Qinling Caledo～nian-Variscan orogenic belt.The northwest segment of the fault locates within the Mesozoic Lanzhou basin,consisting of Xianshuigou-Maquangou,Xinchenggou and Qingshizui sub-segments.The Xianshuigou-Maquangou sub-segment is 7km in length,and comprises two sub-parallel faults,having a general strike of 290°～300°,dipping NE or SW at an angle of 60° or more.The faults dissect mainly the Cretaceous system,and locally act as the boundary of the Cretaceous system with the Ordovician and Jurassic systems.Upwards,the faults cut through the late Pleistocene loess or the gravel bed of gully terrace,appearing as fault scarp or fault escarpment.This sub-segment was the active segment of the whole fault during late Pleistocene to Holocene periods.The faulting of this sub-segment was dominated by left-lateral strike-slipping.The left-lateral displacement along this sub-segment since late Holocene is 5～8m,and the displacement rate is 0.5～1.72mm/yr.The Xinchenggou sub-segment is about 1.6km long,striking 325°and dipping southwest at the angle of greater than 60°.This sub-segment can be assigned to reverse fault,dissecting the Cretaceous system,and is covered with the gravel bed of the third level terrace of the Yellow River and the late Pleistocene loess.This sub-segment,therefore,has no longer been active since late Pleistocene.The Qingshizui sub-segment is about 2.5km long,striking 280°～310°and dipping northeast at angles of 58°～80°,and can be assigned to normal fault.The fault dissects mainly the Cretaceous system,and locally becomes the boundary between the Cretaceous and Ordovician systems.The fault is also covered with the gravel bed of the third level terrace of the Yellow River and the late Pleistocene loess.This may indicate that this sub-segment has ceased its activity since late Pleistocene.Macroscopically,the middle and eastern segments of the Maxianshan north marginal fault,together with the Zhuanglanghe Fault have made up a right-stepped en echelon zone.The faulting process of the former during late Pleistocene-Holocene was dominated by left-lateral strike-slipping,while that of the later by right-lateral strike-slipping,so a compressional step-over was formed between the two faults.Therefore,the Xianshuigou-Maquangou sub-segment can be assigned to shear fault within the compressional step-over,and hence the latest activity of this sub-segment is later than that of the middle and eastern segments of the Maxianshan north marginal fault.