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To clarify the relationship between GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) crustal deformation and the preparation of strong earthquakes in the western Chinese Mainland, a series of methods including velocity field, strain rate field, and strain parameter time series are adopted based on the GNSS observation data from the CMONOC (Crustal Movement Observation Network of China). The abnormal characteristics of crustal deformation movement before the M ≥ 5 earthquakes in the area since 1999 are studied. The corresponding variety of the crustal movement before earthquakes is discussed in combination with the seismogenic structure of earthquakes. The abnormalities of the GNSS velocity field, strain field, and strain parameter time series before earthquakes with different magnitudes are proposed. Finally, the anomaly criterion before medium-strong-large earthquakes in the western Chinese Mainland is proposed according to the GNSS and its combination with the characteristics of geological structure. The results can provide a basis for the forecasting of the trend and location of medium-strong-large earthquakes in the western Chinese Mainland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract To clarify the relationship between GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) crustal deformation and the preparation of strong earthquakes in the western Chinese Mainland, a series of methods including velocity field, strain rate field, and strain parameter time series are adopted based on the GNSS observation data from the CMONOC (Crustal Movement Observation Network of China). The abnormal characteristics of crustal deformation movement before the M ≥ 5 earthquakes in the area since 1999 are studied. The corresponding variety of the crustal movement before earthquakes is discussed in combination with the seismogenic structure of earthquakes. The abnormalities of the GNSS velocity field, strain field, and strain parameter time series before earthquakes with different magnitudes are proposed. Finally, the anomaly criterion before medium-strong-large earthquakes in the western Chinese Mainland is proposed according to the GNSS and its combination with the characteristics of geological structure. The results can provide a basis for the forecasting of the trend and location of medium-strong-large earthquakes in the western Chinese Mainland.

Copyright of Journal of Geodesy & Geodynamics (1671-5942) is the property of Editorial Board Journal of Geodesy & Geodynamics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Geodesy & Geodynamics (1671-5942) is the property of Editorial Board Journal of Geodesy & Geodynamics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Based on various velocity fields from Global Positioning System (GPS) data over nearly 20 years in the Sichuan–Yunnan region, this paper calculated the strain rate field and its spatiotemporal characteristics by using an improved least squares collocation method. We evaluated the calculated strain field by extensively discussing the impact of non-tectonic factors on the calculation. Subsequently, we described the present-day strain rate features and their spatiotemporal variations. The results indicate the necessity of considering the influence of non-tectonic factors when calculating the strain rate field by using GPS velocity data. Widespread strain accumulation is observed in the Sichuan–Yunnan region, and significant second strain rate invariant with an average value of 33.1 nanostrain/yr primarily occurs along the eastern boundary faults of the Sichuan–Yunnan rhomboid block, specifically the Xianshuihe–Anninghe–Zemuhe–Xiaojiang fault systems. These fault systems also demarcate the zones with negative and positive dilation strain. According to the spatiotemporal variations of strain rate fields, the northern and southern segments of the Xianshuihe Fault, the Anninghe Fault and its eastern adjacent faults, and the Xiaojiang Fault are undergoing intensifying strain. Consequently, these zones should be paid more attention due to their relatively higher seismic risk in the Sichuan–Yunnan region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Geodesy & Geodynamics (1671-5942) is the property of Editorial Board Journal of Geodesy & Geodynamics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Geodesy & Geodynamics (1671-5942) is the property of Editorial Board Journal of Geodesy & Geodynamics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Against the background of advancing climate change, the manufacturing industry is also facing enormous challenges. In this context, the downsizing of components plays a special role, driven not only by the increasing electrification of powertrain systems, but also with the aim of increasing component power density. This places high demands on component geometry and dimensional accuracy as well as on the required material and subsurface workpiece properties. The latter have a decisive influence on the application behavior and service life of the components and must be individually adapted to the corresponding application, not only in the case of safety-critical components. Changes in the workpiece surface integrity state, such as a changed residual stress profile or the formation of a White Layer caused by dynamic recrystallization, are induced by the thermo-mechanical load spectrum of the machining process on the workpiece side. In order to avoid subsurface damage, numerous, mostly destructive test methods are therefore used to characterize the subsurface workpiece condition. This time-consuming and cost-intensive quality processes may be drastically shortened by using numerical or analytical models to estimate the surface integrity state, thus increasing the cost efficiency of manufacturing processes. In addition, innovative measurement techniques offer the possibility to calibrate and validate models with spatially and temporally highly resolved process state variables and thus to increase their prediction quality. For this reason, a method for analyzing the process-induced strain rate fields during orthogonal machining of hardened AISI 4140 based on Digital Image Correlation (DIC) will be presented in this paper. Furthermore it was used to investigate the penetration depth of the strain rate field as a function of the process parameters. In the future, a physics-based in-process determination of process-induced workpiece surface integrity change can be built on this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on various velocity fields from Global Positioning System (GPS) data over nearly 20 years in the Sichuan–Yunnan region, this paper calculated the strain rate field and its spatiotemporal characteristics by using an improved least squares collocation method. We evaluated the calculated strain field by extensively discussing the impact of non-tectonic factors on the calculation. Subsequently, we described the present-day strain rate features and their spatiotemporal variations. The results indicate the necessity of considering the influence of non-tectonic factors when calculating the strain rate field by using GPS velocity data. Widespread strain accumulation is observed in the Sichuan–Yunnan region, and significant second strain rate invariant with an average value of 33.1 nanostrain/yr primarily occurs along the eastern boundary faults of the Sichuan–Yunnan rhomboid block, specifically the Xianshuihe–Anninghe–Zemuhe–Xiaojiang fault systems. These fault systems also demarcate the zones with negative and positive dilation strain. According to the spatiotemporal variations of strain rate fields, the northern and southern segments of the Xianshuihe Fault, the Anninghe Fault and its eastern adjacent faults, and the Xiaojiang Fault are undergoing intensifying strain. Consequently, these zones should be paid more attention due to their relatively higher seismic risk in the Sichuan–Yunnan region.

In recent years, earthquakes have occurred frequently on the southeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, and the seismic hazard is high. However, because of the remote location of the Ganzi-Yushu fault zone, no high-resolution geodetic measurements of this region have been made. The radar line-of-sight deformation field of the Ganzi-Yushu fault was obtained using seven-track ascending and descending Sentinel-A/B interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data from 2014 to 2020. Using the InSAR and published Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data, we calculated the 3D deformation field in the study area, investigated the segment-specific fault slip rate, and inverted the fault slip distribution pattern using the steepest descent method. We then evaluated the seismic hazard using the strain rate field and slip deficit rate. The main findings of this study include the following. 1) The slip rate of the Ganzi-Yushu fault gradually increases from 2.5 to 6.8 mm/yr from northwest to southeast. 2) A high-resolution strain rate map shows high-value anomalies in the Yushu and Dangjiang areas. 3) Our comprehensive analysis suggests that the seismic hazard of the Dangjiang and Dengke segments with high slip deficits cannot be ignored.

Multiple speckle diffusing wave spectroscopy (MSDWS) can be applied to measure spatially heterogeneous mechanical behavior in soft solids, with high sensitivity to deformation and both spatial and temporal resolution. In this paper, we discuss the mathematical approach behind the quantification of the deformation rate from MSDWS data and provide guidelines for optimizing the selection of experimental parameters in measurements. After validating the method in extensional tests on an elastomer, we provide an example of the potentiality of MSDWS by measuring the spatial distribution of the deformation rate during shear debonding of adhesive tapes. We quantitatively characterize the deformation rate distribution related to shearing and peeling under loading. A highly heterogeneous deformation rate distribution is observed, and time-dependent measurements reveal an increase in deformation localization hundreds of seconds before full debonding. This behavior, previously predicted by theory and simulation, is demonstrated here experimentally for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ganzi-Yushu-Xianshuihe fault (GYXSF), a large strike-slip fault located on the east side of the Tibetan Plateau, has seen high seismic activity in recent years. However, despite the earthquake risk posed by this fault, there is a lack of high-resolution geodetic survey results regarding the current slip rate. We have used 4-track ascending and 5-track descending Sentinel-A/B SAR Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data from 2014 to 2020, to obtain the current slip rate of the entire GYXSF within the radar’s line of sight (LOS), with high resolution. Both InSAR and published Global Positioning System (GPS) data were integrated to calculate a high-resolution three-dimensional deformation field and strain rate field of the GYXSF. We have also used the screw dislocation model to calculate current slip rates in the fault-parallel direction at 20 km intervals. The key findings of our study are as follows. (1) The current slip rate of the GYXSF is segmental: the slip rate of the Ganzi-Yushu fault (GYF) gradually increases from ∼1 to ∼6 mm/yr from the north-west to the southeast, while the slip rate of the Xianshuihe fault (XSF) increases from ∼8.5 to ∼12 mm/yr from the north-west to the southeast. (2) There are non-negligible post-earthquake deformations along the GYXSF, and our best fitting results show that an approximately 100 km long section of the GYF has undergone post-seismic after-slip in the 4–10 years since the 2010 Yushu M 6.9 earthquake, with a maximum creep of ∼2.2 mm/yr (3) The strain rate is dispersed in the GYF region but concentrated on the fault in the XSF region. There is also a measurable strain rate on secondary faults north of the GYXSF, implying the seismic hazard of these secondary faults cannot be ignored. (4) The continuous deformation and block-like models are the best models to explain the observations and deformation characteristics of the GYF and XSF, respectively.

Here, we show the present-day tectonic stress field and regional GPS velocity and strain rate fields in Hubei Province, central China. Our results are calculated based on the digital observation data from 01 January 2010, to 31 December 2017, by using the seis-CAP, P-wave first motion, and grid search methods and the software GAMIT/GLOBK10.4. The results show that the P axis azimuths of focal mechanism solutions, the principal compressional stress field, and the regional velocity and strain rate fields are conformably compressional in a NW–SE direction. The regional stress shape ratio R values are relatively low, and the faults are dominantly compressive-shear or compresso-shear faults. The average velocity modulus value for the GPS observation stations in western Hubei is 6.1 mm/a, which is higher than that in eastern Hubei (5.4 mm/a). The average velocity modulus value in the Jianghan Basin interior is relatively low (4.4 mm/a), while that in the northwestern Jianghan Basin is higher (7.6 mm/a). The strain rate field is characterized by NW–SE compression accompanied by NE–SW tension. The results suggest that the present-day crustal movement in Hubei Province is mainly controlled by collisions with the Indian Plate in the west and the Philippine Plate in the east and the consequent crustal shortening induced by western Hubei wedging into the Jianghan Basin. Further, the resistance by the thrust-and-fold belt in eastern Hubei contributes to the principal compressional movement in the study area. The T axis azimuth of focal mechanism solutions is consistent with the principal extensional stress field direction. In the central and northern Jianghan Basin, the R values are relatively high, the faults are mainly transtensional, and the crustal deformation is mainly extensional, which may be affected by the denudation, thinning and rapid rebound of the Dabie Orogen, resulting in tectonic extrusion and flow in the Jianghan Basin to both the NE and SW sides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Differential crustal deformation might have occurred across the Cona-Oiga rift. • Steep channels and rugged topography present to the east of the rift due to extensive crustal shortening. • River reorganization takes place in the plateau interior, shaping river profiles. The Cona-Oiga rift (COR) is the easternmost member of a series of ∼N-S trending Cenozoic rifts in the southern Tibetan Plateau. The Yarlung River flows from west to east, across the COR and exhibits diverse river morphology along strike. We analyze tributary fluvial longitudinal profiles in the Yarlung drainage and the published strain rate field on both sides of the rift in order to gain knowledge about its development and crustal deformation patterns within the plateau interior. Tributaries on the western side of the rift have relatively low normalized steepness index (k sn). Concave curves in χ-elevation plots and cross-divide contrasts in χ, mean relief, and mean gradient, indicate ongoing river reorganization in this region. In contrast, high topographic relief and steep stream channels developed on the eastern side. In addition, spatial variations in negative dilatational strain rates indicate diverse crustal shortening and regional uplift across the COR. We suggest that the Cona-Oiga rift plays an important role in accommodating deformation associated with the continuing indentation of the eastern Himalayan syntaxis. Tectonic forcing might be the dominant factor controlling landscape evolution across the COR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using Global Positioning System(GPS) data to analyze the earthquake preparation characteristics of the Kunlun Ms8.1 and the Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquakes, we review the main research developments of earthquake forecasting and the mechanisms of earthquake preparation using crustal deformation data from recent periods, and discuss the similarities and differences in the scientific approaches adopted by the Chinese and foreign scholars. We then analyze the deformation characteristics of earthquake preparation, with respect to slip and dip-slip faults. Our results show that, in order to understand the relationship between crustal deformation and earthquake preparation, research focus should be expanded from fault-scale to larger scale regions. Furthermore, the dynamic deformation characteristics associated with earthquake preparation must be considered as a multi-scale, spatial-temporal process, in order to obtain the necessary criteria for strong earthquake forecasts.

The strain rate in Sichuan and its surrounding areas, and the activity rate and strain rate in two block boundary fault zones were calculated according to the block movement parameters estimated using the station speed obtained from regional GPS station observation data in these areas for 2009–2011 and GPS continuous station data for 2011–2013. The movement field characteristics in these areas were analyzed with the Sichuan Basin as the reference. Results show that the principal strain rate and maximum shear strain rate of the Bayan Har block were the largest, followed by those of the Sichuan–Yunnan block and Sichuan Basin. The deep normal strain rate in the Longmenshan fault zone was compressive and large over the study period. The normal strain rate in the Xianshuihe fault zone was tensile.

In this study, we analyze the regional GPS data of Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) observed from 2009–2013 using the BERNESE GPS software, and then the preliminary results of horizontal velocity field and strain rate field are presented, which could reflect the overall deformation features in the Chinese mainland from 2009–2013. Besides, the velocity error and the probable factors that could influence the estimate of long-term deformation are also discussed.

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data from 6 Envisat ASAR descending tracks; spanning the 2003⁻2010 period; was used to measure interseismic strain accumulation across the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Mean line-of-sight (LOS) ratemaps are computed by stacking atmospheric-corrected and orbital-corrected interferograms. The ratemaps from one track with different atmospheric-corrected results or two parallel; partially overlapping tracks; show a consistent pattern of left-lateral motion across the fault; which demonstrates the MERIS and ECMWF atmospheric correction works satisfactorily for small stain measurement of this region; even with a limited number of interferograms. By combining the measurements of InSAR and GPS; a fine crustal deformation velocity and strain rate field was estimated on discrete points with irregular density depending on the fault location; which revealed that the present-day slip rate on the Haiyuan fault system varies little from west to east. A change (2⁻3 mm/year) in line-of-sight (LOS) deformation rate across the fault is observed from the Jinqianghe segment to its eastern end. Inversion from the cross-fault InSAR profiles gave a shallow locking depth of 3⁻6 km on the main rupture of the 1920 earthquake. We therefore infer that the middle-lower part of the seismogenic layer on the 1920 rupture is not yet fully locked since the 1920 large earthquake. Benefit from high spatial resolution InSAR data; a low strain accumulation zone with high strain rates on its two ends was detected; which corresponds to the creeping segment; i.e., the Laohushan fault segment. Contrary to the previous knowledge of squeezing structure; an abnormal tension zone is disclosed from the direction map of principal stress; which is consistent with the recent geological study. The distribution of principal stress also showed that the expanding frontier of the northeastern plateau has crossed the Liupan Shan fault zone; even arrived at the northeast area of the Xiaoguan Shan. This result agrees with the deep seismic reflection profile.

We used GPS velocities from approximately 700 stations in western China to study the crustal deformation before the Wenchuan M S 8.0 earthquake. The processing methods included analyses of the strain rate field, inversion of fault locking and the GPS velocity profiles. The GPS strain rate in the E-W direction in the Qinghai-Tibet block shows that extensional deformation was dominant in the western region of the block (west of 92.5° E), while compressive deformation predominated in the eastern region of the block (from 92.5° E to 100° E). On a regional scale, the hypocentral region of the Wenchuan earthquake was located at the edge of an intense compression deformation zone of about 1.9 × 10 −8 /a in an east-west direction. The characteristic deformation in the seismogenic fault was compressive with a dextral component. The compression deformation rate was greater in the fault's western region than in its eastern region, and the strain accumulation was very slow on the fault scale. The results of a fault locking inversion show that the locking fraction and slip deficit was greater in the middle-northern section of the seismogenic fault than in the southern section. The GPS velocity profile before the Wenchuan earthquake shows that the compression deformation was smaller than the dextral deformation, which is asymmetrical with respect to the distribution of co-seismic displacement. These deformation characteristics should provide some clues to the Wenchuan earthquake which occurred in the later period of the earthquake cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Localization that occurs at the end of the tensile test of a ductile 316L stainless steel has been followed in detail by in-plane Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry (ESPI). A global description of the whole strain-rate field with an analytical function and physical descriptors such as band width, band inclination and maximum strain rate is proposed. The description with two straight bands of constant amplitude along the width of the specimens is valid from the beginning of the diffuse necking to the fracture of the specimens. It allows distinguishing between two localization scenarii which occur for specimens with a different width to thickness ratio, one with a fracture inclined along the width and the other with a fracture inclined in the thickness. For the former, the two bands keep a constant angle while for the latter, the two bands rotate progressively until they become perpendicular to the tensile direction. The bandwidth can be defined and monitored during the whole necking evolution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In Oxley’s machining theory, efforts have been made to address work hardening and thermal softening effects and allow the material to flow continuously through an opened-up deformation zone. However, the strain, strain rate and temperature were calculated based on the average values. The distributions of these processing parameters, which are essential to describe the continuous flow, were not taken into account. In particular, the hodograph was adopted from the single shear plane model, in which the velocity field allowing for the continuous deformation was not described, and the issue of velocity discontinuity has not been resolved. In the current work, based on the detailed analysis on the boundary conditions of the velocity and shear strain rate fields, the thick ‘equidistant parallel-sided’ shear zone model was revisited. A more realistic nonlinear shear strain rate distribution has been proposed under the frame of non-equidistant primary shear zone configuration, so that all the boundary conditions can be satisfied. The obtained results have been compared with those obtained using the original Oxley analysis and the experimentally measured values. Although there was no significant difference in the force prediction, a clear improvement in the prediction of the deformation zone thickness was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper we first estimate the strain rate field with 1202 GPS vectors from 1999 to 2005 in the Chinese continent. Then we propose a method to make error analysis of the strain rates computed from GPS vectors based on the Monte Carlo technique. In general, the orientations of compressive principal strain rates are in agreement with those of present tectonic stresses. The strain rates in the paper confirm the tectonic features of Tibetan Plateau such as NE–W compression and shortening, E–W extension, and normal faulting along near N–S faults. At the same time, the eastward extrusion in the east part of Tibet can also be seen from the strain rate field. In the error analysis, independent computation of strain rates is repeated for a large number of times, both the absolute and relative errors as well as the mean value of strain rates are obtained through statistical theory. The error result shows that the errors of strain rates may be associated with the uncertainties of GPS measurement and the distribution of GPS stations in space. The magnitude of the strain rate error is in the range of 3–8×10−9/yr across China in general. However, we found that the relative errors are much larger in East China than those in the west of China. In addition, the relative errors of maximum shear strain rates are smaller than those of surface dilation rates. Also, we found that there may be some correlations between maximum shear strain rates and seismic activities. Where the maximum shear strain rates are higher, there the earthquakes occur more frequently. The computed GPS strain rates reveal the distributed nature of deformation across the whole Chinese continent, and can represent the main present-day tectonic features. The strain rate and its error in the paper may provide important constraints to geodynamical modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new method is proposed to estimate arbitrary velocity fields from a time series of images acquired by a single camera. This approach, here focused on a single spatial plus a time dimension, is specialized to the decomposition of the velocity field over rectangular shaped (finite-element) bilinear shape functions. It is therefore assumed that the velocity field is essentially aligned along one direction. The use of a time sequence over which the velocity is assumed to have a smooth temporal change allows one to use elements whose spatial extension is much smaller than in traditional digital image correlation based on successive image pairs. This method is first qualified by using synthetic numerical test cases, and then applied to a dynamic tensile test performed on a tantalum specimen. Improvements with respect to classical digital image correlation techniques are observed in terms of spatial resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Appling studies, the strain rate in China has been computed from using different methods, resulting in quite different estimates of the strain rate the geo-statistics from GPS velocity field of Chinese continent, we obtain the velocity value at each little regularly spaced grid point, by kriging interpolation and the component of strain rate for each volume element, using a method similar to the derivation of shape functions in the finite element algorithm. Therefore the distribution of the strain rate field in whole for the Chinese continent is presented. The result shows that the orientations of principal strain rates are consistent with those of the P and T axes of focal mechanisms. The distribution of maximum shear strain rate clearly delineates some major active fault zones surrounding the Tibetan Plateau. The maximum shear strain rate is comparable with that obtained from analysis of seismic moment release. In part of the Tibetan Plateau containing normal faults and pull-apart grabens, we obtain an extensional state of strain. The absolute value of the strain rate in West China is approximately 5 times larger than that of East China, and the pattern of the strain rate field in most of the Chinese continent is controlled by the India/Eurasia collision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of turbulent channel flows up to Reτ=1270 are performed to investigate an elliptic feature and strain rate field on cross sections of coherent fine scale eddies (CFSEs) in wall turbulence. From DNS results, the CFSEs are educed and the strain rate field around the eddy is analyzed statistically. The principal strain rates (i.e. eigenvalues of the strain rate tensor) at the CFSE centers are scaled by the Kolmogorov length ηand velocity uk. The most expected maximum (stretching) and minimum (compressing) eigenvalues at the CFSE centers are independent of the Reynolds number in each y+ region (i. e. near-wall, logarithmic and wake regions). The elliptic feature of the CFSE is observed in the distribution of phase-averaged azimuthal velocity on a plane perpendicular to the rotating axis of the CFSE (ω c ). Except near the wall, phase-averaged maximum (γ*/γ) and minimum (α*/ac *) eigenvalues show maxima on the major axis around the CFSE and minima on the minor axis near the CFSE center. This results in high energy dissipation rate around the CFSE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a new Bayesian approach to estimate continuous crustal strain-rate fields from spatially discrete displacement-rate data, based on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations, under the prior constraint on spatial flatness of the strain-rate fields. The optimal values of the hyperparameters in the model of strain-rate fields are determined by using Akaike's Bayesian Information Criterion. A methodological merit of this approach is that, by introducing a two-layer Delaunay tessellation technique, the time-consuming computation of strain rates can be omitted through the model estimation process. We apply the Bayesian approach to GNSS displacement-rate data in Mainland China to obtain a unique GNSS velocity field for sub-regions with different tectonic backgrounds. We also examine the correlation between the estimated strain-rate fields and seismic activity by using the Molchan Error Diagram. The results show that the rate of maximum shear strain is positively correlated with the occurrence of earthquakes, indicating the strain rate can be used to augment probabilistic earthquake models for background seismicity forecasting. • Verified by the Molchan error diagram, strain-rate is useful for augmenting long-term earthquake forecasts • We estimate the continuous crustal strain-rate fields from ANSS displacement data in a Bayesian framework and reduce the problem to an algebraic equation. • By introducing a two-layer Delaunay tessellation technique, the calculation of strain rates can be omitted in the model estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data from 6 Envisat ASAR descending tracks; spanning the 2003–2010 period; was used to measure interseismic strain accumulation across the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Mean line-of-sight (LOS) ratemaps are computed by stacking atmospheric-corrected and orbital-corrected interferograms. The ratemaps from one track with different atmospheric-corrected results or two parallel; partially overlapping tracks; show a consistent pattern of left-lateral motion across the fault; which demonstrates the MERIS and ECMWF atmospheric correction works satisfactorily for small stain measurement of this region; even with a limited number of interferograms. By combining the measurements of InSAR and GPS; a fine crustal deformation velocity and strain rate field was estimated on discrete points with irregular density depending on the fault location; which revealed that the present-day slip rate on the Haiyuan fault system varies little from west to east. A change (2–3 mm/year) in line-of-sight (LOS) deformation rate across the fault is observed from the Jinqianghe segment to its eastern end. Inversion from the cross-fault InSAR profiles gave a shallow locking depth of 3–6 km on the main rupture of the 1920 earthquake. We therefore infer that the middle-lower part of the seismogenic layer on the 1920 rupture is not yet fully locked since the 1920 large earthquake. Benefit from high spatial resolution InSAR data; a low strain accumulation zone with high strain rates on its two ends was detected; which corresponds to the creeping segment; i.e., the Laohushan fault segment. Contrary to the previous knowledge of squeezing structure; an abnormal tension zone is disclosed from the direction map of principal stress; which is consistent with the recent geological study. The distribution of principal stress also showed that the expanding frontier of the northeastern plateau has crossed the Liupan Shan fault zone; even arrived at the northeast area of the Xiaoguan Shan. This result agrees with the deep seismic reflection profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]