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In this paper, we analyze the general directional features of regional tectonic stress field in Jiashi, Xinjiang and adjacent regions from the data of focal mechanism solutions, borehole breakouts and fault slip. The direction of maximum horizontal principal stress given by these three sorts of stress data differs slightly, which indicates there is a NS-trending horizontal compression in the tectonic stress field in the region of interest. We also invert and analyze the temporal and spatial changes of recent tectonic stress field in the research region by using 137 focal mechanism solutions. The inverted results show that the maximum principal stress σ 1 in Jiashi and adjacent regions is NNW-SSE with an azimuth of 162°. In the period from 1997 to 2003 before the occurrence of Jiashi-Bachu earthquake, the directions of the maximum principal stress σ 1 and the minimum principal stress σ 3 in Jiashi seismic source zone changed clockwise with respect to the tectonic stress field in the regions around. The maximum principal stress σ 1 adjusted to the direction of NNE-SSW with an azimuth of 25°. Under the control of this tectonic stress field, a series of earthquakes happened, including the Jiashi strong earthquake swarm in 1997. Then, the tectonic stress field in the Jiashi seismic source zone might adjust again. And the tectonic stress field controlling the Jiashi-Bachu earthquake in 2003 was in accordance with the regions around. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A seismic observation array for strong motions was deployed to estimate seismic source, propagation path and local site effects in Tangshan, China. We compared site response from the S-wave inversion and those from other techniques, such as traditional direct spectral ratios of S waves and receiver-function of S waves. From the inversion, we found that S-wave quality factor, i.e. Q S-value, is approximately satisfied with the relation of Q S=67 f 1.1 in the range of frequency from 0.5 Hz to 32 Hz and that the source spectra follow the ω −2 model of seismic source for low frequencies less than about 12 Hz. From the comparison of site responses estimated by the different methods for each soil site, we found that all the methods can extract the same predominant peaks from the responses, the amplifications from direct S-wave spectral ratios are well correlated with those from the S-wave inversion within a factor of 2 to 3, while the correlation between the amplifications from S-wave receiver-function and those from the S-wave inversion is not good, especially for high frequencies more than 8 Hz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a simplified media model of Gonghe area, the precursor characteristics of Gonghe M7.0 earthquake in 1990 are simulated in this paper by using the constitutive relationship of binary medium (solid and water). The results show that the simulated state distribution and extension variation of media are identical with the spatial and temporal distribution of reliable anomalies before Gonghe earthquake. The study also suggests that the development of the Gonghe earthquake has experienced a series of processes such as elastic deformation of large scale, early nonelastic dilatation, strain softening and elastic recovery in the neighbour region of Xining, nonelastic dilatation of high dense block near seismic source and earthquake occurrence. Therefore, it can be concluded that this earthquake development is neither a simple process for fissures developing and linking up with one another, nor a process of nonelastic volume expansion and water flowing into medium around seismic source, contrary, it is a complicated medium state changing process, and the style of such changing depends on geological structure environment of seismic source and its neighbour region. It is considered that different earthquakes are accompanied by different geological conditions, the spatial and temporal behavior of their precursors are certainly different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have proposed an alternative seismic hazard modeling by using distributed seismicites. The distributed seismicity model does not need delineation of seismic source zones, and simplify the methodology of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis. Based on the devastating earthquake catalogue, we established three seismicity model, derived the distribution of a-value in northern China by using Gaussian smoothing function, and calculated peak ground acceleration distributions for this area with 2%, 5% and 10% probability of exceedance in a 50-year period by using three attenuation models, respectively. In general, the peak ground motion distribution patterns are consistent with current seismic hazard map of China, but in some specific seismic zones which include Shanxi Province and Shijiazhuang areas, our results indicated a little bit higher peak ground motions and zonation characters which are in agreement with seismicity distribution patterns in these areas. The hazard curves have been developed for Beijing, Tianjin, Taiyuan, Tangshan, and Ji’nan, the metropolitan cities in the northern China. The results showed that Tangshan, Taiyuan, Beijing has a higher seismic hazard than that of other cities mentioned above. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on schematically formulation of the vibrations induced by moving trains, this paper analyses the waveforms along the Datong-Qinhuangdao railroad in Northern China recorded in the suburban Huairou district of Beijing on March 8, 2003. It is illustrated that vibrations induced by train, except traditional recognized noises and interference effects, could be used as a seismic source to detect crustal structures with its advantage of abundant frequency spectrum, repeatability and no additional harm to the environment. It will bring lights to the traditional exploration seismology with the further studies of signal processing and interpretation methods, and related models and new observing systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper introduces the method of high-density seismic imaging exploration, discusses its features different from conventional shallow seismic reflection wave technique, and illustrates the application effect of the method using three samples of engineering geological explorations on land and in water — exploration of underground cavity, location survey of sunk ship and investigation of channel silt depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper briefly summarizes the works in the processing of strong ground motion data, the factors affecting strong ground motion, the modeling of strong ground motion and the calculating of broad-band response spectrum which have been done recent years by engineering seismologists and seismologists of China. In addition, we think back to the international cooperation in strong ground motion of the recent years and make some expectations for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatio-temporal characteristics of acoustic emission (AE) during the deformation of rock samples with compressional and extensional en-echelon faults have been studied. The results show that the pre-existing structure can significantly influence the patterns of AE spatial distribution. With increasing of differential stress, AE events firstly cluster around the two ends of pre-existing faults inside the jog and then along the line joining the two ends. The biggish AE events often occur around one end repeatedly. The image of AE clusters indicates the direction and the area of the fracture propagation. The direction of the macroscopic fracture in extensional and compressional jogs is perpendicular and parallel to the direction of axial stress, respectively. The weakening process before the fracturing of jog area is remarkable, and one of the typical precursors for the instability is that the cumulative frequency of AE events increases exponentially. After the fracturing of the jog the frequency and releasing strain energy of AE events decrease gradually. During the friction period, there is no precursory increasing of AE activity before the big stick-slip events. The change of b value in jog shows a typical change of “decreasing tendentiously → returning quickly” before the instability. The decrease of b value occurs in the process of stress increasing and sometime goes down to the weakening stage, and the quick increase b values appears in a short time just before the instability. The comparative analysis shows that the difference in b value due to the different structures is larger than b value variation caused by increase of the differential stress. For the same sample, the temporal sequence of AE is strongly affected by the mechanical state, and the high loading velocity corresponds to the high release rate of strain energy and low b value. Due to its lower failure strength, the broken area is sensitive to small changes in differential stress. Therefore, it offers a potential explanation for the phenomena of “precursory window or sensitive point” and “separation of seismic source and precursors”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the assumption that seismic source is simplified as linear rupture fault with finite length, this paper qualitatively studies the seismic source effects on space correlation of strong ground motion. Based on expanding expression of Fourier spectrum of strong ground motion with space coordinate variables, this paper also gives a expression of describing correlation of strong ground motion field. According to far-field condition, the theoretical formula of the expression can be obtained. Furthermore, this paper presents a theoretical formula of estimation the radius of strong ground motion field, which depends on expansion condition of Fourier spectrum of strong ground motion, with space coordinate variables. At last, taking one earthquake as an example, this paper gives three-dimension patterns of radius of the field with epicenter distance and azimuth as well as frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the roles of low velocity and high conductivity body inside the crust in the process of strong earthquake preparation are approached by using theoretical analysis method based on the comprehensive researches on the fine structure of strong seismic source in the North China. The following results are obtained. The low-velocity and high-conductivity body plays the promoting role for the action of deep-seated structure in the medium stage of earthquake preparation, except that its existence is advantageous to the stress concentrating in the overlying brittle layer during the process of earthquake preparation. And it plays the triggering role for the occurrence of strong earthquake in the later stage of earthquake preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the precursory data of the 1976 Tangshan earthquake ( M = 7.8), and combining with the research results of rock fracture, seismic source, tectonics, seismic precursors, dynamic condition and crust structure, the seismogenic process of Tangshan earthquake has been numerically simulated by using the model of water-saturated porous medium with a rhombic hard inclusion. First, a system of seismogenic dynamics equations of solid-liquid two-phase medium has been set up under considering rock inelastic dilation, strain-softening and pore-water permeation. Then, the finite difference method to solve the equation system in incremental form has been presented. Finally, the seismogenic process of Tangshan earthquake and the temporal-spatial characteristics of its precursors have been numerically simulated when the hard inclusion includes a soft fault belt. The numerically simulating result shows that the development of Tangshan earthquake mainly undergoes following processes: elastic accumulation, early inelastic cubic dilation, accelerative softening (failure and creep) of fault first time, inelastic dilation twice in Tianjin—Ninghe area, accelerative softening of fault twice and instability. Corresponding to the fault accelerative softening, elastic recovery and inelastic dilation twice in some parts of seismogenic medium. By comparing with the data of precursory observation, ones can find the preceding simulating result explains the varied characters of practical data better. Meanwhile, the numerical simulation further displays the temporal-spatial change law and complex patterns of the field of Tangshan earthquake development as well. It makes a base study for the physical mechanism of change of the seismic precursory field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the spatial orientation and slip direction of the fault plane solutions, we present the expression of corresponding mechanical axis tensor in geographic coordinate system, and then put forward a method for calculating average mechanical axis tensor and its eigenvalues, which involves solving the corresponding eigenequation. The method for deducing mean stress field from T, B, and P axes parameters of a number of focal mechanism solutions has been verified by inverting data of mean stress fields in Fuyun region and in Tangshan region with fitting method of slip direction, and both results are consistent. To study regional average stress field, we need to choose a population of focal mechanism solutions of earthquakes in the massifs where there are significant tectonic structures. According to the focal mechanism solutions of 256 moderate-strong earthquakes occurred in 13 seismic zones of Sichuan-Yunnan region, the quantitative analysis results of stress tensor in each seismic zone have been given. The algorithm of such method is simple and convenient, which makes the method for analyzing tectonic stress field with large amount of focal mechanism solution data become quantified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slip distribution of the 1979 Imperial Valley, 1989 Loma Prieta, 1992 Landers, 1994 Northridge, and 1995 Kobe earthquake shows a piece-wise Gutenberg-Richter’s law. For small slips, the b-value is near to 1; while for large slips, the b-value is larger than 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic static stress triggering model is tested using Harvard centroid moment tensor (CMT) solution catalogue of 1976–2000 and concept of “earthquake doublet”. Result shows that seismic static stress triggering effect does exist in the view of global earthquakes, but the effect is very weak. Dividing the earthquakes into thrust focal mechanism, normal focal mechanism, strike-slip focal mechanism, we find that non-strike-slip focal mechanism earthquakes have significant triggering effect, whereas, the triggering effect in strike-slip focal mechanism earthquakes is not obvious. Divided the subsequent events delay time of “earthquake doublet” into 5 classes of t≥1, t<1, t≥10, t<10, 1≤ t≤10 ( t is in unit of d), then seismic static stress triggering effect does not change with delay time in short time period after earthquakes. The research on seismic static stress triggering in different regions of the world indicates that triggering effect is significant in subduction belts. Seismic static stress triggering model is tested by using “earthquake doublets” in China and its adjacent region. The result indicates that seismic static stress triggering effect cannot be observed easily in China and its adjacent region due to the seismic focal mechanism type (most of the earthquakes are strike-slip earthquakes). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parameters of hypocentral location are important fundamental data for the study of seismology and the earth interior physics; among them, the focal depth is a very important one but can hardly be measured with higher precision. With the increase of seismic stations in number, the heightening of observation quality and the improvement of determination method, such a situation has been changed much. In this paper, the results of hypocentral location and re-location by 7 small-aperture digital seismic station networks at Tangshan, Zhangbei and Huailai of Hebei Province, Datong of Shanxi Province and Jianchuan, Luquan and Yao’an of Yunnan Province are used. Using these results together with those of focal depth inversion by far-field data of some individual large shocks in corresponding areas and those re-determined by the Linfen telemetered seismic network of Shanxi Province, a comparison with the results of focal depth determination in the past earthquake catalogues is made. It is found out that the focal depths determined by the small-aperture seismic networks are basically distributed in the range from the earth surface to ten-odd kilometers underground. In contrast, the focal depths determined in the past are mostly distributed at the depth range from the earth surface to 30 km underground. Besides, there is a difference of 50% to 100% between the average values of the two cases, which is quite an obvious one. From the result of analysis, it is considered that the results determined by the small-aperture seismic networks may be closer to the reality of focal depths distribution. That is to say, earthquakes in the above-mentioned areas should be distributed in the shallow part of the crust. The causes that lead to the above situation are discussed preliminarily, and some suggestions and measures for improving the precision of focal depth determination are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface streaming potential anomalies (SSPA) for a buried symmetrical pressure source in homogeneous and anisotropic layered half space are calculated separately in this paper. The results show that the maximum of SSPA calculated using the two models are reasonable and are about several hundred mV. The range in which SSPA can be detected on the earth’s surface varies with the intensity of medium anisotropy. Anisotropic crack is introduced to calculate the magnitude of SSPA, so theoretically the contradiction between observation data and theoretical results is interpreted more reasonably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationships between energy, amplitude and frequency of earthquake are correlative with the property of the seismic source. And the grade of the correlativity can be used as an index to distinguish the types of strong earthquakes. Primarily the strong earthquake can be divided into three types of main-after earthquakes, double-main earthquakes and swarm of strong earthquake. There are similarity and a certain repeatability at the quantificational indexes of hypocenter property between the same type of strong earthquakes, which supply basis for the forecast of subsequent strong shocks. The reference indexes of after strong shock forecast which are valuable for the applications of the method of type-divided forecast come from the analysis about more than fifty strong shock wide-band (BPZ wave) recording data of CDSN from 1988 to 1997. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of data of long period Rayleigh surface wave, we select 43 two-station paths which cover the eastern China thoroughly. By using the improved method of multi-filtration, we obtain the group velocity and amplitude spectrum, and then get attenuation factor for each paths. We employ Talentola inversion method to get local attenuation factor, and further invert the three-dimension Q β image under the crust and upper mantle in the eastern Chinese continent. The Q β image shows the following basic characters. There is correlation between the seismic activity and Q β structure under the crust and upper mantle in North China region. The Yangtze block begins to collide with and subduct to the North China block from the southern border of the Qinling in the southern Shaanxi. In the large part of Yangtze quasi-platform appear an obvious high Q β area at 88 km deep. In the east of Sichuan depression platform, the juncture of Sichun and Guizhou, and the Jiangnan block near the juncture of Guizhou and Hunan, the lateral variation of Q β in the crust is little, and there is a high- Q β layer no thinner than 40 km in the top mantle. In the Dian-Qian fold and fracture region between Yunnan and Guizhou, the vertical variation of Q β at the region of the crust and upper mantle is little, there is a low- Q β layer in the top mantle, about 40 km thick, low- Q β layer of the upper mantle begins to appear at about 95 km deep. In the east of Yangtze quasi-platform and the central and eastern part of the South China fold system, the Moho is smooth, the lateral variation of Q β in the crust is also little, low- Q β layer of the upper mantle begins to appear at about 85 km deep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method calculating relative shear stress values in seismic source areas using data of seismic wave is used in this paper which is introduced by Pei-Shan CHEN, based on a rupture model studying seismic rupture process from theory of fracture mechanics. The shear stress values τ 0 in mid-small earthquakes occurred in 1986–June of 1997 in Yunnan and its adjacent areas are used to trace the variation process of ambient shear stress field before and after three strong earthquakes in Yunnan and China-Myanmar border areas. The results show that there exists a background of high values in ambient shear stress field. In the development process of a strong earthquake, the ambient shear stress field in and nearby its potential source area increases obviously, for a long time, experiences a process of multiple down — up — down — up. The pattern of dynamic variation of ambient shear stress field has reflected the multi-source fields of seismogenesis in and nearby Yunnan. There exist multi-increased areas of ambient shear stress fields synchronously in southwest, northwest, west and east of Yunnan, and three strong earthquakes of magnitude about 7 occurred in the most obviously increased areas of ambient shear stress fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Source extent parameters of the 1988 Lancang earthquake ( M s=7.6) were estimated by computing the second-central moment of displacement pulses of far field long period SH waves. We inverted the source duration T, the fault length L and the directivity parameter D by the least squares, and obtained that T=11.77 s, D=15.05 km·s, and L=70.94 km. We also find that this event is a symmetrically bilateral rupture and fault segments in two opposite rupture directions have the same value of 35 km in length. Combining analysis of aftershock distribution, the results would imply that there is an area in the joint part of the rupture area of two main shocks, which is not broken yet during the main shocks. Due to the dislocation accompanied during the main shocks, the strain would be rearranged. The joint part has enough strength to accumulate enough strain energy to excite a larger aftershock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]