APPLICATION OF DEM GENERATION TECHNOLOGY FROM HIGH RESOLUTION SATELLITE IMAGE IN QUANTITATIVE ACTIVE TECTONICS STUDY: A CASE STUDY OF FAULT SCARPS IN THE SOUTHERN MARGIN OF KUMISHI BASIN

Traditional method to generate Digital Elevation Model (DEM)through topographic map and topographic measurement has weak points such as low efficiency, long operating time and small range. The emergence of DEM-generation technology from high resolution satellite image provides a new method for rapid acquisition of large terrain and geomorphic data, which greatly improves the efficiency of data acquisition. This method costs lower compared with LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), has large coverage compared with SfM (Structure from Motion). However, there is still lack of report on whether the accuracy of DEM generated from stereo-imagery satisfies the quantitative research of active tectonics. This research is based on LPS (Leica Photogrammetry Suit)software platform, using Worldview-2 panchromatic stereo-imagery as data source, selecting Kumishi Basin in eastern Tianshan Mountains with little vegetation as study area. We generated 0.5m resolution DEM of 5-km swath along the newly discovered rupture zone at the south of Kumishi Basin, measured the height of fault scarps on different levels of alluvial fans based on the DEM, then compared with the scarp height measured by differential GPS survey in the field to analyze the accuracy of the extracted DEM. The results show that the elevation difference between the topographic profiles derived from the extracted DEM and surveyed by differential GPS ranges from -2.82 to 4.87m. The shape of the fault scarp can be finely depicted and the deviation is 0.30m after elevation correction. The accuracy of measuring the height of fault scarps can reach 0.22m, which meets the need of high-precision quantitative research of active tectonics. It provides great convenience for rapidly obtaining fine geometry, profiles morphology, vertical dislocations of fault and important reference for sites selection for trench excavation, slip rate, and samples. This method has broad prospects in the study of active tectonics.     

DEEP TECTONIC STRESS CHANGE BASED ON LONG-TERM APPARENT RESISTIVITY TIME SERIES: A CASE STUDY FROM NORTH SECTION OF YISHU FAULT ZONE

Almost all the destructive earthquakes, so called tectonic earthquake, are produced by tectonic movement. The tectonic movement will cause resistivity changes in the earth. It's valuable for strong earthquake forecast to study the relationship between the resistivity change and tectonic movement. According to magnetotelluric sounding method, we establish a robust estimate method to calculate the long-term apparent resistivity from seismic station monitoring data. We first use 1D layered earth models to test the sensitivity of this method. Then we process the continually observed long term electromagnetic data in 4 years (from 2011 to 2014) from Anqiu seismic station which is very close to the north section of Yishu fault zone. The apparent resistivity curves and the apparent resistivity time series for different frequencies are obtained. The time series show the resistivity increase in the selected 4 years, which is in good agreement with the GPS baseline data. This also satisfies the results from rock mechanics experiments on deep rocks (upper mantle) that the resistivity will increase with improved stress in a high temperature and pressure environment. The method is valuable for studying electromagnetic precursor of strong earthquakes and strong earthquake prediction.     

From subsurface to surface: a multidisciplinary approach to decoding uplift histories in tectonically-active karst landscapes

We present an integrated study of subsurface and surficial karst landforms to unravel the uplift history of karst landscape in a tectonically-active area. To this end, we apply a multidisciplinary approach by combining cave geomorphology and Th/U dating of speleothems with remote sensing plus geophysical imaging of surface landforms. We use as an example Mt. Menikio in northern Greece where four caves share well-defined epiphreatic/shallow phreatic characteristics that are related to the distribution of surface and buried doline fields and provide evidence for three distinct water table stillstands (e.g. expressed as cave levels) now lying at ~130 m, ~800 m and ~1600 m a.m.s.l. Our dating constraints delimit the age of the lower water table stillstand prior to 77 ka ago and imply a maximum rate of relative base level drop of 0.45 mma^-1, which is consistent with relative tectonic uplift rate estimates along currently active normal faults. We interpret the elevation of the higher water table stillstands to reflect earlier phases of uplift related to the regional tectonic events associated with the development of the North Anatolian Fault and the Northern Aegean area. Our analysis shows that the combined study of epiphreatic/shallow phreatic caves and surficial karst landforms together, is a robust way to investigate the uplift history of a karst landscape in a tectonically-active setting. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geomorphic assessment of active tectonics in the Acambay graben,Mexican Volcanic Belt

Spatial variations of Quaternary deformation and tectonic activity of faults along the Acambay graben are assessed using geomorphic and morphometric approaches. The Acambay graben is an east–west trending structure of apparent Quaternary age, located in the central part of the Mexican Volcanic Belt, which gives rise to pronounced scarps over a distance of about 80 km. Continuing tectonic activity in the Acambay graben is confirmed by recent well documented seismic episodes. The intensity of active tectonics has been interpreted through a detailed geomorphic study of the fault-generated mountain fronts and fluvial systems. The combined geomorphic and morphometric data provide evidence for relative variations in tectonic activity among the Acambay graben faults. Geomorphic indices suggest a relatively high degree of tectonic activity along the Venta de Bravo and the Acambay–Tixmadeje faults, followed, in order of decreasing activity, by the Pastores, Temascalcingo and Tepuxtepec faults. Spatial variations within faults have also been identified, suggesting a higher level of tectonic activity at the tips of the faults. This pattern of variation in the relative degree of tectonic activity is consistent with field evidence and seismic data for the Acambay graben. Geomorphic evaluation of the Acambay graben faults suggests that the Acambay–Tixmadeje and Venta de Bravo faults, and specifically the tips of these faults and a central segment near the town of Venta de Bravo, should be considered as areas of potentially high earthquake risk. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

活动论构造古地理的研究现状、思路与方法*

古地理学是研究地质历史时期地球表面的自然地理的综合性科学,构造古地理学是研究地质历史时期地理单元的构造属性及其演变特征的科学。地球表面的山川、流域与盆地等自然地理单元受岩石圈板块水平运动与深部地幔动力学的联合控制。自然地理单元及其演变是内、外动力长期作用的综合结果。活动论构造古地理思想是在地球系统科学的活动论、演化论、阶段论与转换论观念下的自然延伸。整体、动态、综合分析是活动论构造古地理研究的基本方法;确定构造古地理单元的边界、属性、组成、结构与演变的“五定”原则是工作的具体步骤;搭建数据化、标准化和智能化的古地理重建平台是研究的重要途径。基于活动论构造古地理思想的原型盆地分析,是对原型盆地进行复位、复原与复变,揭示原型盆地的时—空结构;而活动论的源-汇系统分析是在地球系统观指导下的深、浅部结合的全链条、全过程综合研究。活动论构造古地理是研究地表过程和能源、资源矿产分布预测的重要基础。     

Decoding earth's plate tectonic history using sparse geochemical data

Accurately mapping plate boundary types and locations through time is essential for understanding the evolution of the plate-mantle system and the exchange of material between the solid Earth and surface environments.However,the complexity of the Earth system and the cryptic nature of the geological record make it difficult to discriminate tectonic environments through deep time.Here we present a new method for identifying tectonic paleo-environments on Earth through a data mining approach using global geochemical data.We first fingerprint a variety of present-day tectonic environments utilising up to 136 geochemical data attributes in any available combination.A total of 38301 geochemical analyses from basalts aged from 5-0 Ma together with a well-established plate reconstruction model are used to construct a suite of discriminatory models for the first order tectonic environments of subduction and mid-ocean ridge as distinct from intraplate hotspot oceanic environments,identifying 41,35,and 39 key discriminatory geochemical attributes,respectively.After training and validation,our model is applied to a global geochemical database of 1547 basalt samples of unknown tectonic origin aged between 1000-410 Ma,a relatively ill-constrained period of Earth’s evolution following the breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent,producing 56 unique global tectonic environment predictions throughout the Neoproterozoic and Early Paleozoic.Predictions are used to discriminate between three alternative published Rodinia configuration models,identifying the model demonstrating the closest spatio-temporal consistency with the basalt record,and emphasizing the importance of integrating geochemical data into plate reconstructions.Our approach offers an extensible framework for constructing full-plate,deeptime reconstructions capable of assimilating a broad range of geochemical and geological observations,enabling next generation Earth system models.     

Sedimentary Basins: Tectonic Recorders of Sediment Discharge from Drainage Catchments

The sedimentary basin is to geology what the drainage system is to geomorphology, with sediment flux being a unifying link between the two features and disciplines. The global sediment discharge from contents to oceans contributes to major mass recycling associated with plate subduction. Major plate reorganization is accompanied by small fluctuations in continental volumes due to recycling of sediment stored along the sink-like passive margins. In continental sedimentary basins the SEdiment Preservation RAtio (SEPRA) depends upon the tectonic ‘drawdown’ of sediment flux preserved in the subsurface until basin inversion. Major unsteadiness in sediment discharge arises from teconic or climatic causes, the latter prominent in the Quaternary to Holocene record. Contrasting trends in sediment discharge reflect both the nature of climate and vegetation change and source rock lithology. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

江汉洞庭盆地的非对称扩张与潜在地震危险性

本文依据地震地质、地球物理、第四纪地质和构造地貌等资料，参照目前可以接受的应力－荷载模型、热扩散模型和非对称扩张模型，较详细地论述了江汉洞庭盆地（ＪＤＢ）的构造演化历史、主要活动断裂的新构造变形与地震活动的相关特征，尝试性地预测未来强震危险程度，并提出若干抗震防灾的对策，目的在于为ＪＤＢ的长远开发规划、生命线和重要城市的抗震减灾提供基础资料。