Table of Content

20 April 2017, Volume 39 Issue 2

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SEISMO-GEOLOGICAL SIGNATURES FOR IDENTIFYING M≥7.0 EARTHQUAKE RISK AREAS AND THEIR PREMILIMARY APPLICATION IN MAINLAND CHINA

XU Xi-wei, WU Xi-yan, YU Gui-hua, TAN Xi-bin, LI Kang

2017, 39(2):  219-275.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2017.02.001

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High-magnitude earthquake refers to an earthquake that can produce obvious surface ruptures along its seismogenic fault and its magnitude M is at least equal to 7.0. Prediction and identification of locations, where the high-magnitude earthquakes will occur in potential, is one of the scientific goals of the studies on long-term faulting behavior of active faults and paleo-earthquakes, and is also the key problem of earthquake prediction and forecast. The study of the geological and seismological signatures for identifying M≥7.0 earthquake risk areas and their application is an important part of seismic prediction researches. It can not only promote the development of earthquake science, especially the progress of earthquake monitoring and forecasting, but also be positive for earthquake disaster prevention and effective mitigation of possible earthquake disaster losses. It is also one of the earthquake science problems which the governments, societies and the scientific communities are very concerned about and need to be addressed.
Large or great earthquakes, such as the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake(M8.0), the 2010 Yushu earthquake(M7.1), the 2013 Lushan earthquake(M7.0)and the 2015 Gorkha earthquake(M_W7.8), have unceasingly struck the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its surrounding areas, which have been attracting attention of a large number of geoscientists both at home and abroad. Owing to good coverage of the seismic networks and GPS sations, a lot of high-quality publications in seismicity, crustal velocity structure, faulting beihavior have been pressed, which gives us a good chance to summarize some common features of these earthquakes. In this paper, seismogenic structural model of these earthquakes, faulting behavior of seismogenic faults, crustal mechanical property, recent straining environment and pre-earthquake seismicity are first analyzed, and then, five kinds of common features for the sismogenic faults where those earthquakes occurred. Those five kinds of commom features are, in fact, the geological and seismological signatures for identifying M≥7.0 earthquake risk areas. The reliability of the obtained sigatures is also discussed in brief. At last, based on the results of 1:50000 active fault mapping, and published seismic tomography and fault-locking studies, an experimental identification of the risk areas for the future large/great earthquakes in the North China and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is conducted to test the scientificity and applicability of these obtained sigantures.

GEOMORPHIC FEATURES OF EASTERN HIMALAYAN SYNTAXIS AND ITS TECTONIC IMPLICATIONS

XIE Chao, ZHOU Ben-gang, LI Zheng-fang

2017, 39(2):  276-286.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2017.02.002

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The eastern Himalayan syntaxis is located on the leading edge of Indian-Eurasian plate collision, and the uplift rate of Namche Barwa area is higher than that of the peripheral zones, which is considered as the core position of the eastern Himalayan syntaxis(Uplift Center).It is indicated according to the recent regional earthquake observation results that, the seismic activity is poor in the area of Namche Barwa, but with strong seismic activity in its southeast region. In order to study the current geodynamical characteristics of the eastern Himalayan syntaxis, the elevation frequency distribution and hypsometry curve of Namche Barwa area, its northwest and southeast as well as the northeast Assam area is analyzed using DEM data. It is shown according to the result that, the Namche Barwa area is in the mature stage of erosion and the regional tectonic uplift and denudation are in the highly balanced status. Influenced by plateau-climate weather effect, the denudation of this area is relatively poor, which indicates that the uplift of the Namche Barwa area is relatively slow at present. The geomorphology in the northwest and southeast as well as in northeast Assam is in young evolutionary phase, belonging to erosive infancy, and the geomorphology of northeast Assam is closer to the early stage of infancy. The geomorphic evolution stage on northwest side reflects that the regional erosion is poor and it still belongs to plateau-climate area; Influenced by south subtropical monsoons, there is rich rainfall in the area from southeast Namche Barwa to Assam area, and this area still belongs to erosive infancy, even the geomorphic development degree of northeast Assam is lower as it suffers from strong erosion effect, which means that the tectonic uplift in east Namche Barwa is very intensive, and the northeast Assam has the highest uplift rate. It is considered according to the research that, under the mode that India Plate moves towards the north at present, the core position of the eastern Himalayan syntaxis(Uplift Center)moves towards the southeast, and the new core position may be located in northeast Assam, where there is intensive regional tectonic uplift with high potential of great earthquake.

NEW EVIDENCES FOR LATE QUATERNARY ACTIVITY IN THE SOUTHERN SEGMENT OF THE YISHU-TANGTOU FAULT, THE TAN-LU FAULT ZONE, AND ITS TECTONIC IMPLICATION

CAO Jun, XU Han-gang, RAN Yong-kang, LIANG Ming-jian, LEI Sheng-xue, ZHANG Peng, LI Li-mei, GU Qin-ping, ZHAO Qi-guang

2017, 39(2):  287-303.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2017.02.003

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The Tan-Lu Fault Zone(TLFZ), a well-known lithosphere fault zone in eastern China, is a boundary tectonic belt of the secondary block within the North China plate, and its seismic risk has always been a focus problem. Previous studies were primarily conducted on the eastern graben faults of the Yishu segment where there are historical earthquake records, but the faults in western graben have seldom been involved. So, there has been no agreement about the activity of the western graben fault from the previous studies. This paper focuses on the activity of the two buried faults in the western graben along the southern segment of Yishu through combination of shallow seismic reflection profile and composite drilling section exploration.
Shallow seismic reflection profile reveals that the Tangwu-Gegou Fault(F₄)only affects the top surface of Suqian Formation, therefore, the fault may be an early Quaternary fault. The Yishui-Tangtou Fault(F₃)has displaced the upper Pleistocene series in the shallow seismic reflection profile, suggesting that the fault may be a late Pleistocene active fault. Drilling was implemented in Caiji Town and Lingcheng Town along the Yishui-Tangtou Fault(F₃)respectively, and the result shows that the latest activity time of Yishui-Tangtou Fault(F₃)is between(91.2±4.4)ka and(97.0±4.8)ka, therefore, the fault belongs to late Pleistocene active fault.
Combined with the latest research on the activity of other faults along TLFZ, both faults in eastern and western graben were active during the late Pleistocene in the southern segment of the Yishu fault zone, however, only the fault in eastern graben was active in the Holocene. This phenomenon is the tectonic response to the subduction of the Pacific and Philippine Sea Plate and collision between India and Asian Plate. The two late Quaternary active faults in the Yishu segment of TLFZ are deep faults and present different forms on the surface and in near surface according to studies of deep seismic reflection profile, seismic wave function and seismic relocation. Considering the tectonic structure of the southern segment of Yishu fault zone, the relationship between deep and shallow structures, and the impact of 1668 Tancheng earthquake(M=8(1/2)), the seismogenic ability of moderate-strong earthquake along the Yishui-Tangtou Fault(F₃)can't be ignored.

GEOMORPHOLOGY OF THE GYARING CO FAULT ZONAL DRAINAGE SYSTEM AND ITS STRUCTURAL IMPLICATIONS

WANG Duo, YIN Gong-ming, HAN Fei, LIU Chun-ru, MAO Ze-bin

2017, 39(2):  304-322.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2017.02.004

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Strike-slip faults and normal faults are dominant active tectonics in the interior of Tibetan plateau and control a series of basins and lakes showing extension since the Late Cenozoic, by contrast with the thrust faulting along the orogenic belts bordering the plateau. The late Neotectonic movement of those faults is key information to understand the deformation mechanism for Tibetan plateau. The Gyaring Co Fault is a major active right-lateral strike-slip fault striking~300° for a distance of~240km in central Tibet, in south of Bangong-Nujiang suture zone. The Gyaring Co Fault merges with the north-trending Xainza-Dinggye rift near the southern shore of Gyaring Co. From NW to SE, Dongguo Co, Gemang Co-Zhangnai Co, Zigui Co-Gyaring Co form the Gyaring Co fault zonal drainage basin. Some scholars have noticed that the formation of lakes and basins may be related to strike-slip faults and rift, but there is no analysis on the Gyaring Co fault zonal drainage basin and its response to regional tectonics. In recent years, a variety of quantitative geomorphic parameters have been widely used in the neotectonic systems to analyze the characteristics of the basin and its response mechanism to the tectonic movement. In this paper, we applied ASTER GDEM data on the ArcGIS platform, extracted the Gyaring Co fault zonal drainage basin based on Google Earth images (Landsat and GeoEye) and field work. We acquired basic geomorphic parameters of 153 sub-basin (such as grade, relief, average slope, area) and Hypsometric Index (HI) value and curve. Statistical results have indicated significant differences in scale(area and river network grade)in north and south sides of the fault. Southern drainage basins' relief, slope, HI value are higher than the northern basins, and the overall shape of hypsometric curve of northern basins are convex compared with southern concavity. Along the strike of the Gyaring Co Fault, average slope, and HI value are showing generally increasing trending and hypsometric curve become convex from west to east. By comparing and analyzing the lithology and rainfall conditions, we found that they have little influence on the basic parameters and HI value of drainage basins. Therefore, the changes of basin topographic differences between northern and southern side of fault and profile reveal the Gyaring Co Fault has experienced differential uplift since the late Cenozoic, southern side has greater uplift compared to the north side, and the uplift increased from NW to SE, thus indicate that normal faulting of the Gyaring Co Fault may enhanced by the Xainza-Dinggye rift. The early uplift of the Gangdise-Nyainqentanglha Mountain in late Cenozoic might provide northward inclined pre-existing geomorphic surfaces and the later further rapid uplift on the Gangdise-Nyaingentanglha Mountain and Xainza-Dinggye rift might contribute to the asymmetrical development of the Gyaring Co fault zonal drainage basin.

HOLOCENE LEFT-LATERAL SLIP RATE OF THE LENGLONGLING FAULT, NORTHEASTERN MARGIN OF THE TIBETAN PLATEAU

GUO Peng, HAN Zhu-jun, JIANG Wen-liang, MAO Ze-bin

2017, 39(2):  323-341.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2017.02.005

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The Lenglongling Fault(LLLF) is a major active left-lateral strike-slip fault along the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau. Fault slip rate is of great significance for researching the dynamics of tectonic deformation in NE Tibetan plateau and understanding the activity and seismic risk of the fault. However, slip rate of the LLLF, which remains controversial, is limited within~3~24mm/a, a relatively broad range. Taking Niutougou site(37.440 2°N, 102.094 0°E)and Chailong site(37.447 3°N, 102.063 0°E) in the upstream of Talihua gully in Menyuan County, Qinghai Province as the research objects, where faulted landform is typical, we analyzed the displacement evolution model and measured the slip amounts by back-slip of the faulted landform using high-resolution DEM from Terrestrial LiDAR and high-precision satellite images of Google Earth, and by collecting and testing samples from stratigraphic pit excavated in the faulted landform surface and stripping fresh stratigraphic section, we determined the abandonment age of the surface. Holocene slip rate obtained from Niutougou site and Chailong site is(6.4±0.7)mm/a and(6.6±0.3)mm/a, respectively, which have a good consistency. Taking into account the error range of the slip rate, the left-lateral slip rate of the LLLF is(6.6±0.8)mm/a since Holocene, which is between the previons results from geological method, also within the slip rate range of 4.2~8mm/a from InSAR, but slightly larger than that from GPS((4.0±1.0)mm/a). Late Quaternary slip rate of Qilian-Haiyuan fault zone, which displays an arc-shape distribution, turns to be the largest in LLLF region. The most intensive uplift in the LLLF region of the NE Tibetan plateau confirms the important role of the LLLF in accommodating the eastward component of movement of Tibetan plateau relative to the Gobi-Ala Shan block from one side.

PISHAN M_S6.5 EARTHQUAKE OF XINJIANG: A FOLD EARTHQUAKE EVENT IN THE WEST KUNLUN PIEDMONT

WU Chuan-yong, LI Jin, LIU Jian-ming, HU Wei-hua, WU Guo-dong, CHANG Xiang-de, YAO Yuan, XIANG Zhi-yong

2017, 39(2):  342-355.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2017.02.006

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The Pishan M_S6.5 earthquake occurred in the west Kunlun piedmont area. According to the surface deformation data obtained by the Pishan M_S6.5 earthquake emergency field investigation team, combined with the positioning accuracy of spatial distribution of aftershocks information, the focal mechanism solutions and deep oil profile data, we think the Pishan M_S6.5 earthquake is a typical thrust faulting event, and the seismogenic structure is the Pishan reverse fault-anticline, which did not produced obvious surface fault zone on the surface. In the vicinity of the core of the Pishan anticline, we found some tensional ground fissures whose strikes are all basically consistent with the anticline. We propose that the surface deformation is caused by the folding and uplift of the anticline. The Pishan earthquake is a typical folding earthquake. The tectonic deformation of the west Kunlun piedmont is dominated by the thickening and shortening of the upper crust which is the typical thin-skinned nappe tectonic. The Pishan earthquake occurred in the frontal tectonic belt, the root fault of the nappe structure has not been broken, and we should pay attention to the seismic risk of the Tekilik Fault.

THE SEISMOGENIC ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS OF LUDIAN M_S6.5 EARTHQUAKE USING GRAVITY DATA

TAN Hong-bo, SHEN Chong-yang, XUAN Song-bai, WU Gui-ju, YANG Guang-liang, WANG Jian

2017, 39(2):  356-373.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2017.02.007

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The main rupture of Ludian M_S6.5 earthquake is directed to the northwest, which occurred in the east of Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault zone. The epicenter is in the transitional zone of the Sichuan-Yunnan block and the South China block, where there are many slip and nappe structures. Some controversy still remains on the earthquake tectonic environment. So, Bouguer gravity anomalies calculated by EGM2008 were broken down into 1-5 ranks using the way of Discrete Wavelet Transform(DWT), then we get the lateral heterogeneity in different depths of the crust. The distribution characteristics of Bouguer gravity anomaly are analyzed using measured gravity profile data. We also get its normalized full gradient(NFG)picture, and study the differences between different depths in crust. The results show that: (1)the characteristic of Buoguer gravity anomaly in southwest to northeast is high-low-high between the Lianfeng Fault(LFF)and Zhaotong-Ludian Fault(ZLF). The mainshock and aftershocks are distributed in the middle of the low-value zone, which means that the east moving materials of Qinghai-Tibet plateau broke through the southern section of Lianfeng Fault(LFF), moving along the Baogunao-Xiaohe zone(low-value belt)to the southeast, stopped by the Zhaotong-Ludian Fault(ZLF), and then earthquake occurred.(2)The third-order discrete wavelet transform(DWT)details show that: there is a good consistency between the negative gravity anomaly in upper crust and the distribution of major faults, which reflects that the rupture caused by the movements of the faults in crust has reduced gravity anomaly. There is a NW-trending negative anomaly belt near the epicenter, which may has some relationship to the southward development of the Daliangshan Fault(DLSF). So we speculate that the southward movement of Daliangshan Fault is the main direct force source of Ludian earthquake.(3)In the picture of the fourth-order DWT details, there is an obvious positive gravity anomaly under the epicenter of Ludian earthquake, which confirms the presence of a high-density body in the middle crust. While the fifth-order DWT details show that: A positive anomaly belt is below the epicenter too, which may be caused by mantle material intruding to the lower crust. Tensile force in crust caused by mantle uplift and extrusion-torsion force caused by Indian plate push are the main force source in the tensile and strike slip movement of the Ludian earthquake.(4)The normalized total gradient of Bouguer gravity anomalies of Huili-Ludian-Zhaotong profile shows that: there is obvious ‘deformation’ in the Xiaojiang fault zone which dips to the east and controls the local crust movement. There is a local ‘constant body’ at the bottom of the epicenter. The stable constant body in density has limiting effects to the earthquake rupture, which is the reason that the earthquake rupture' scale in strike and in depth are limited.(5)The ability of earthquake preparation in Zhaotong-Ludian Fault is lower than the Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault zone, and the maximum earthquake capacity in this area should be around magnitude 7.

A RESTUDY OF THE SEISMOGENIC FAULTS OF THE 2014 LUDIAN M_S6.5 EARTHQUAKE SEQUENCE

WEI Qiang, XU Li-sheng, LI Chun-lai, FANG Li-hua, FU Hong

2017, 39(2):  374-389.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2017.02.008

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Differently from the existing studies, about 210 days of the original seismic recordings since the Ludian M_S6.5 earthquake are collected from almost all of the nearby stations, and a velocity model and a non-linear location technique are specially selected, in order to relocate the sources of the earthquake sequences. What is more, the same model as used in determining the absolute locations is adopted as the DD technique is used to determine their relative locations. Then the strikes and dips of the seismogenic faults are estimated by linearly fitting the source locations, and finally a new explanation is proposed for the sequence formation. It is shown that the sequence may be divided into 4 sub-areas spatially, each of which corresponds to a nearly vertical fault with but different dimensions and striking azimuths, and that two of them are relatively larger and linked with each other, being the main faults of the sequence, and two others are relatively smaller and separated away from the main faults. These 4 faults, together with the local existing faults, form a radiating-shaped structure reflecting the complicated tectonics, which is very likely to be related with the density variation in lower crust.

CHARACTERISTICS OF FOCAL MECHANISMS AND STRESS FIELD OF YUNNAN AREA

SUN Ye-jun, ZHAO Xiao-yan, HUANG Yun, YANG Hao, LI Feng

2017, 39(2):  390-407.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2017.02.009

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Using the seismic waveform data recorded by regional seismic network of Yunnan and Sichuan and the method of CAP, we calculate and obtain the focal mechanism of 268 earthquakes with the magnitude of M_L≥4.0 occurring in Yunnan during Jan. 1999 to Aug. 2014; then, we analyze the types and the regional feature of the focal mechanism of earthquakes in Yunnan, on the basis of the focal mechanism of 109 earthquakes analyzed by Harvard University. Based on the data of the above focal mechanism solutions, we adopt the method of damped regional-scale stress inversion to calculate the best-fitting tectonic stress tensor of every grid in Yunnan; and adopt the method of maximum principal stress to calculate the direction of maximum horizontal principal stress in Yunnan. The result shows that: (1)the strike-slip type is the most principal type of the earthquake focus in the study area and the second is the normal faulting type; while, the reverse-fault type is relatively small. The spatial distribution of focal mechanism is obvious. This reflects that the dynamic source and acting force are different in different parts of the study area. (2)The direction of the stress field in Yunnan shows a certain spatial continuity. Maximum horizontal principal compressive stress is mainly clockwise from north to south and counterclockwise from the west to the east. The direction of stress field shows inhomogeneity in space. There exist two stress conversion zones respectively in EW and NS direction. The inversion result of stress field shows that the stress field in Yunnan is complex and the principal stress direction changes greatly; and there are obvious differences in different regions.

SURFACE TRACKS AND SLIP RATE OF THE FAULT ALONG THE SOUTHERN MARGIN OF THE WUWEI BASIN IN THE LATE QUATERNARY

AI Sheng, ZHANG Bo, FAN Chun, WANG Yang

2017, 39(2):  408-422.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2017.02.010

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The fault along the southern margin of the Wuwei Basin, located in the eastern Hexi Corridor, NW China, plays an important role in the thrust fault system in the northern Qilian Mountains. The activities of this fault resulted in the generation of the Gulang earthquake(M_S8.0) in 1927. Based on remote sensing image interpretation, geological and geomorphic observations in the field and ¹⁴C geochronological dating results, we conducted a detailed research on the geometry and kinematics of the fault. According to the discontinuous geometric distribution and variable strike directions, we divide this fault into 5 segments: Kangningqiao Fault(F₁), Nanyinghe Fault(F₂), Shangguchengcun-Zhangliugou Fault(F₃), Tajiazhuang Fault(F₄)and Yanjiazhuang Fault(F₅). Results indicate that this fault, with a total of 60km long trace at the surface, has been active since the late Pleistocene. It behaves predominantly as a thrust fault and is accompanied with a locally sinistral strike-slip component along the Nanyinghe Fault(F₂). Intensive activities of this fault in Holocene have caused extensive occurrence of dislocated landforms along its strike. Some measured displacements of the dislocated geologic or geomorphic units, combined with the ¹⁴C dating results, yield a vertical slip rate of (0.44±0.08)mm/a on this fault in Holocene, and a sinistral strike-slip rate of (1.43±0.08)mm/a on the Nanyinhhe Fault (F₂) in late Pleistocene.

PRELIMINARY VOLCANIC HAZARD ZONATION IN JINLONGDINGZI VOLCANO, LONGANG VOLCANO AREA, JILIN PROVINCE, CHINA

ZHAO Bo, ZHANG Tao, XU De-bin, BAI Zhi-da

2017, 39(2):  423-435.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2017.02.011

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Longgang volcano cluster is 150km away from the Tianchi volcano, located in Jingyu and Huinan Counties, Jilin Province, China. It had a long active history and produced hundreds of volcanoes. The latest and largest eruption occurred between 1 500 and 1 600 years ago by Jinlongdingzi(JLDZ)volcano which had several eruptions in the history. This paper discusses the volcanic hazard types, and using the numerical simulations of lava flow obtained with the Volcflow model, proposes the hazard zonation of JLDZ volcano area. JLDZ volcano eruption type is sub-plinian, which produced a great mass of tephra fallout, covering an area of 260km². The major types of volcanic hazards in JLDZ area are lava flow, tephra fallout and spatter deposits. Volcflow is developed by Kelfoun for the simulation of volcanic flows. The result of Volcflow shows that the flows are on the both sides of the previous lava flows which are low-lying areas now. According to the physical parameters of historical eruption and Volcflow, we propose the preliminary volcanic hazard zonation in JLDZ area. The air fall deposits are the most dangerous product in JLDZ. The highly dangerous region of spatter deposits is limited to a radius of about 2km around the volcano. The high risk area of tephra fallout is between 2km to 9km around the volcano, and between 9km to 14km is the moderate risk area. Out of 14km, it is the low risk area. Lava flow is controlled by topography. From Jinchuan Town to Houhe Village near the volcano is the low-lying area. If the volcano erupts, these areas will be in danger.