Spatio-temporal rupture process of the 2008 great Wenchuan earthquake

Focal mechanism and dynamic rupture process of the Wenchaun M _s8.0 earthquake in Sichuan province on 12 May 2008 were obtained by inverting long period seismic data from the Global Seismic Network (GSN), and characteristics of the co-seismic displacement field near the fault were quantitatively analyzed based on the inverted results to investigate the mechanism causing disaster. A finite fault model with given focal mechanism and vertical components of the long period P-waves from 21 stations with evenly azimuthal coverage were adopted in the inversion. From the inverted results as well as aftershock distribution, the causative fault of the great Wenchuan earthquake was confirmed to be a fault of strike 225°/dip 39°/rake 120°, indicating that the earthquake was mainly a thrust event with right-lateral strike-slip component. The released scalar seismic moment was estimated to be about 9.4×10²⁰-2.0×10²¹ Nm, yielding moment magnitude of M _w7.9–8.1. The great Wenchuan earthquake occurred on a fault more than 300 km long, and had a complicated rupture process of about 90 s duration time. The slip distribution was highly inhomogeneous with the average slip of about 2.4 m. Four slip-patches broke the ground surface. Two of them were underneath the regions of Wenchuan-Yingxiu and Beichuan, respectively, with the first being around the hypocenter (rupture initiation point), where the largest slip was about 7.3 m, and the second being underneath Beichuan and extending to Pingwu, where the largest slip was about 5.6 m. The other two slip-patches had smaller sizes, one having the maximum slip of 1.8 m and lying underneath the north of Kangding, and the other having the maximum slip of 0.7 m and lying underneath the northeast of Qingchuan. Average and maximum stress drops over the whole fault plane were estimated to be 18 MPa and 53 MPa, respectively. In addition, the co-seismic displacement field near the fault was analyzed. The results indicate that the features of the co-seismic displacement field were coincident with those of the intensity distribution in the meizoseismal area, implying that the large-scale, large-amplitude and surface-broken thrust dislocation should be responsible for the serious disaster in the near fault area. Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2004CB418404-4) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40574025 and 40874026)     

Coseismic slip in the 1964 Prince William Sound earthquake: A new geodetic inversion

The 1964 Prince William Sound earthquake (March 28, 1964;M _w =9.2) caused crustal deformation over an area of approximately 140,000 km² in south central Alaska. In this study geodetic and geologic measurements of this surface deformation were inverted for the slip distribution on the 1964 rupture surface. Previous seismologic, geologic, and geodetic studies of this region were used to constrain the geometry of the fault surface. In the Kodiak Island region, 28 rectangular planes (50 by 50 km each) oriented 218°N, with a dip varying from 8^o nearest the Aleutian trench to 9^o below Kodiak Island, define the rupture surface. In the Prince William Sound region 39 planes with variable dimensions (40 by 50 km near the trench, 64 by 50 km inland) and orientation (218°N in the west and 270°N in the east) were used to approximate the complex faulting. Prior information was introduced to constrain offshore dip-slip values, the strike-slip component, and slip variation between adjacent planes. Our results suggest a variable dip-slip component with local slip maximums occurring near Montague Island (up to 30 m), further to the east near Kayak Island (up to 14 m), and trenchward of the northeast segment of Kodiak Island (up to 17m). A single fault plane dipping 30°NW, corresponding to the Patton Bay fault, with a slip value of 8 m modeled the localized but large uplift on Montague Island. The moment calculated on the basis of our geodetically derived slip model of 5.0×10²⁹ dyne cm is 30% less than the seismic moment of 7.5×10²⁹ dyne cm calculated from long-period surface waves (Kanamori, 1970) but is close to the seismic moment of 5.9×10²⁹ dyne cm obtained byKikuchi andFukao (1987).     

The 1986 Kermadec earthquake and its relation to plate segmentation

To evaluate the tectonic significance of the October 20, 1986 Kermadec earthquake (M _w =7.7), we performed a comprehensive analysis of source parameters using surface waves, body waves, and relocated aftershocks. Amplitude and phase spectra from up to 93 Rayleigh waves were inverted for centroid time, depth, and moment tensor in a two-step algorithm. In some of the inversions, the time function was parameterized to include information from the body-wave time function. The resulting source parameters were stable with respect to variations in the velocity and attenuation models assumed, the parameterization of the time function, and the set of Rayleigh waves included. The surface wave focal mechanism derived (=275°, =61°, =156°) is an oblique-compressional mechanism that is not easy to interpret in terms of subduction tectonics. A seismic moment of 4.5×10²⁰ N-m, a centroid depth of 45±5 km, and a centroid time of 13±3 s were obtained. Directivity was not resolvable from the surface waves. The short source duration is in significant contrast to many large earthquakes.We performed a simultaneous inversion ofP andSH body waves for focal mechanism and time function. The focal mechanism agreed roughly with the surface wave mechanism. Multiple focal mechanisms remain a possibility, but could not be resolved. The body waves indicate a short duration of slip (15 to 20 s), with secondary moment release 60s later. Seismically radiated energy was computed from the body-wave source spectrum. The stress drop computed from the seismic energy is about 30 bars. Sixty aftershocks that occurred within three months of the mainshock were relocated using the method of Joint Hypocentral Determination (JHD). Most of the aftershocks have underthrusting focal mechanisms and appear to represent triggered slip on the main thrust interface. The depth, relatively high stress drop, short duration of slip, and paucity of true aftershocks are consistent with intraplate faulting within the downgoing plate. Although it is not clear on which nodal plane slip occurred, several factors favor the roughly E-W trending plane. The event occurred near a major segmentation in the downgoing plate at depth, near a bend in the trench, and near a right-lateral offset of the volcanic are by 80 km along an E-W direction. Also, all events in the region from 1977 to 1991 with CMT focal mechanisms similar to that of the Mainshock occurred near the mainshock epicenter, rather than forming an elongate zone parallel to the trench as did the aftershock activity. We interpret this event as part of the process of segmentation or tearing of the subducting slab. This segmentation appears to be related to the subduction of the Louisville Ridge, which may act as an obstacle to subduction through its buoyancy.     

Doppler effect of the rupture process of the great MW7.9 Wenchuan earthquake

In this study we performed a classical spectrum analysis of seismic waveforms recorded at far field stations of the great M_W7.9 Wenchuan earthquake to observe the shifts of the corner frequency with azimuth due to the Doppler effect. Our results show that this damaging great earthquake had a dominating rupture propagation direction of 64.0°. The equivalent radius of the fault rupture surface was estimated to be 33 km, yielding the rupture area of about 3 500 km². Thus the length of the rupture fault surface is about 230 km if the depth (or width) extent is 15 km. The computer program developed in this study can quickly provide the information about the source of a future large (damaging) earthquake, which could be very useful for predicting aftershocks and planning the rescue operations.

     

2010年2月27日智利地震破裂过程快速反演

运用地震破裂过程快速反演方法,在2010年2月27日智利地震发生后,采用全球地震台网(GSN)的宽频带地震资料,反演了这次地震的破裂过程,在震后约3.5小时得到了这次地震破裂过程的反演结果.结果表明,这次智利地震的破裂过程具有如下基本特征:①矩震级为MW8.6;②地震破裂持续时间约为150s;③包括4个滑动量集中分布区域,最大滑动量约为8m,最大滑动速率约为0.8m/s;④这次地震总体上是一次不对称的双侧破裂事件,破裂从破裂起始点(震源)开始,同时向南北两个方向扩展,但以向北扩展的破裂为主.     

2009年3月19日汤加地震破裂过程快速反演

2009年3月19日汤加MS7.9地震发生后,我们迅速利用地震破裂过程快速反演技术反演了全球地震台网(GSN)的宽频带波形资料,获得了这次地震的破裂过程．随后,收集了更多的资料重新进行了反演,反演结果的主要特征与快速反演结果基本一致．这次地震的震级为MW7.8,破裂持续时间约为70s,断层面上主要有3个滑动量较大的区域．      

2009年10月7日瓦努阿图地震破裂过程快速反演

运用地震破裂过程快速反演方法,在2009年10月7日瓦努阿图地震发生后,采用全球地震台网(GSN)的宽频带地震资料,快速反演了这次地震的破裂过程,在震后3小时内得出了这次地震破裂过程的反演结果.结果表明,这次瓦努阿图地震的破裂过程具有如下基本特征:①矩震级约为MW7.8;②地震主要破裂持续时间约为80s;③滑动量在断层面上的分布比较简单,整个地震破裂只包含一个滑动量较大的区域;④这次地震的破裂模式接近圆盘破裂,其中心位于震源处.     

Coupling of tectonic loading and earthquake fault slips at subduction zones

Because of the viscoelastic behaviour of the earth, accumulation of elastic strain energy by tectonic loading and release of such energy by earthquake fault slips at subduction zones may take place on different spatial scales. If the lithospheric plate is acted upon by distant tectonic forces, strain accumulation must occur in a broad region. However, an earthquake releases strain only in a region comparable to the size of the rupture area. A two-dimensional finite-element model of a subduction zone with viscoelastic rheology has been used to investigate the coupling of tectonic loading and earthquake fault slips. A fault lock-and-unlock technique is employed so that the amount of fault slip in an earthquake is not prescribed, but determined by the accumulated stress. The amount of earthquake fault slip as a fraction of the total relative plate motion depends on the relative sizes of the earthquake rupture area and the region of tectonic strain accumulation, as well as the rheology of the rock material. The larger the region of strain accumulation is compared to the earthquake rupture, the smaller is the earthquake fault slip. The reason for the limited earthquake fault slip is that the elastic shear stress in the asthenosphere induced by the earthquake resists the elastic rebound of the overlying plate. Since rapid permanent plate shortening is not observed at subduction zones, there must be either strain release over a large region or strain accumulation over a small region over earthquake cycles. The former can be achieved only by significant aseismic fault slip between large subduction earthquakes. The most likely mechanism for the latter is the accumulation of elastic strain around isolated locked asperities of the fault, which requires significant aseismic fault slip between asperities.     

2010年1月12日海地地震破裂过程快速反演

运用地震破裂过程快速反演方法,在2010年1月12日海地地震发生后,采用全球地震台网(GSN)的宽频带地震资料,反演了这次地震的破裂过程,得到了这次地震破裂过程的反演结果.结果表明,这次海地地震的破裂过程具有如下基本特征:①矩震级约为MW7.1;②地震主要破裂持续时间约为22s;③包括3个滑动量集中分布区域,最大滑动量约为4.9m,最大滑动速率约为3.3m/s;④这次地震基本上是一次双侧破裂事件,破裂从震中同时向东西两个方向延伸.     

汶川M_W7.9地震起始破裂断层几何结构

本文收集使用紫坪铺水库台网记录到的汶川地震主震P波波形资料,利用P波反投影叠加法获取了2008年5月12日汶川M_W7.9地震起始破裂的时空演化过程.通过分析本次大地震起始破裂阶段(0～1s)破裂点在三维空间内的分布特征,确定了本次大地震起始破裂位置及起始破裂断层几何结构模型.得到以下结果:汶川地震起始破裂点位于31.013±0.002°N、103.392±0.002°E,震源深度为8.2±0.4km,发震时刻为2008年5月12日14∶27∶58.80±0.4.汶川地震起始破裂的最佳断层面走向为NE48°,倾向NW35°,起始阶段破裂的深度范围为地下7.5～9km.     

2009年9月29日萨摩亚群岛地区地震破裂过程快速反演

运用地震破裂过程快速反演方法,在2009年9月29日萨摩亚群岛地区地震发生后,采用全球地震台网(GSN)的宽频带地震资料,快速反演了这次地震的破裂过程,并于震后3.5小时内得出了这次地震破裂过程的反演结果.结果表明,这次萨摩亚群岛地区地震的破裂过程具有如下基本特征:①矩震级约为MW8.0;②地震主要破裂持续时间约为138s;③滑动量在断层面上的分布比较复杂,整个地震破裂包含至少2个滑动量较大的区域;④这次地震基本上是一次单侧破裂事件,破裂主要朝向西北方向.     

震源动力学破裂过程数值模拟研究

首先阐述了震源动力学过程研究的重要意义, 在此基础上, 研究了复杂的断层几何形态及介质模型对动力学破裂过程的影响, 并对常用的有限元方法、 离散元方法、 有限差分方法和边界积分方程方法等进行了相应介绍. 讨论了这些数值模拟方法各自的优缺点, 建议在方法的选择上应视具体问题及计算的精度而定. 最后对动力学数值模拟的关键部分, 滑动摩擦准则进行了论述. 常用的滑动摩擦准则有滑动弱化准则、 速率弱化准则和速率-状态依赖摩擦准则. 在单纯考虑某个地震的动力学破裂传播过程时, 滑动弱化准则较为常用, 其中滑动弱化距离的选取至关重要. 但若考虑整个地震循环, 速率-状态依赖摩擦准则更为合适.      

Fast and robust inversion of earthquake source rupture process and its application to earthquake emergency response

Fast inversion of source rupture process for significant earthquake is introduced and applied to earthquake emergency response. We retrieve and use the apparent source time functions (ASTFs) to stabilize the rupture process inversion, aiming to get the rupture process results correctly and quickly. The applications to 22 significant earthquakes occurred between January 2009 and July 2011 show an average inversion time consumed of about four hours, suggesting a high efficiency of this method, which much improves the inversion speed of the rupture process and is helpful in earthquake disaster mitigation and relief.     

2011年M_W9.0东日本大地震动力学破裂过程的数值模拟

力学上,地震可以看作在应力场作用下由于断层带介质的突然损伤或软化导致的断层带失稳事件.本文基于这个地震动力学模型,利用一种可以模拟断层大位错的有限元方法,研究了2011年MW9.0东日本大地震(Tohoku-Oki)的动力学破裂过程.比较了无障碍体和具有不同刚度障碍体的断层带模型产生的断层位移、位错和应力降.主要结果表明,障碍体的存在并不明显地改变障碍体区域的初始构造应力场.对有障碍体情形,准静态结果显示断层上盘最大逆冲位移和最大剪切位错分别为51m和58m,均发生在海底表面海沟处,与无障碍体的结果(最大剪切位错约55m)相比差别不大;下盘最大倾向位移(-10m)并不与上盘最大值出现在同一位置,而是在障碍体处.障碍体处剪应力降(约11 MPa)大于周围非障碍体区域.障碍体处正应力降的最大值约为3 MPa.模拟结果似乎不支持海山是导致本次地震异乎寻常大位错的原因,而倾向于断层带剪切刚度在地震过程中极度损伤或软化.     

2009年8月10日安达曼地震破裂过程快速反演

运用地震破裂过程快速反演方法,在2009年8月10日安达曼地震发生后,采用全球地震台网（GSN）的宽频带地震资料,快速反演了这次地震的破裂过程,在地震发生约４小时后得出了这次地震的破裂过程反演结果．结果表明,这次安达曼地震的破裂过程具有如下基本特征:① 矩震级约为MW7.6;② 地震主要破裂持续时间约为65s;③ 滑动量在断层面上的分布比较简单,整个地震破裂主要包含一个滑动量较大的区域;④ 这次地震基本上是一次双侧破裂事件,同时破裂有明显地向地面扩展的趋势      

Fast inversion of rupture process of the 14 April 2010 Yushu,Qinghai, earthquake

Four results of the rupture process of 14 April 2010 Yushu, Qinghai, earthquake, obtained by inverting the broadband seismic data of Global Seismographic Network (GSN) based on the inversion method of earthquake rupture process, were compared and discussed. It is found that the Yushu earthquake has several basic characteristics as follows: ① There exist two principal sub-events which correspond to two slip-concentrated patches being located near the hypocenter and to the southeast of the epicenter. The rupture of the slip-concentrated patch to the southeast of the epicenter broke though the ground surface; ② The peak slip and peak slip-rate are about 2.1 m and 1.1 m/s, respectively, indicating that the Yushu earthquake is an event with large slip-rate on the fault plane; ③ Overall the Yushu earthquake is a unilateral rupture event with the rupture mainly propagating southeastward. The strong focusing of the seismic energy in the southeast of the epicenter due to the "seismic Doppler effect" reasonably accounts for the tremendous damage in the Yushu city.     

Stick-slip and strain waves in the physics of earthquake rupture: experiments and models

The study of stick-slip is directly connected with the formulation of the consistent concept of seismicity migration and explanation of the nature of strain waves observed at the contacts of blocks and plates. We propose a phenomenological model to describe the initiation of stick-slip at the rough contact of blocks of rocks. The model contains the leading factors of stick-slip process (friction, roughness of contact surfaces, and asperity). The model reproduces the universal profile of slip velocity and displacement, velocity of dynamic rupture observed in experiments. The stick-slip motion at a rough surface of a fault is shown to be a nonlinear process and can be described by the generalized sine-Gordon equation. The results of calculations and a comparison with experimental data testify to the existence of waves of a new type — solitary waves of sliding. The analogies are found between the strain waves generated due to stick-slip at the contact of the blocks of rocks, strain waves in the crustal faults, and those within the lithosphere.     

The great Sumatra–Andaman earthquakes — Imaging the boundary between the ruptures of the great 2004 and 2005 earthquakes

Segmentation along convergent margins controls earthquake magnitude and location, but the physical causes of segment boundaries, and their impact on earthquake rupture dynamics, are still poorly understood. One aspect of the 2004 and 2005 great Sumatra–Andaman earthquakes is their abrupt termination along a common boundary. This has led to speculation on the nature of the boundary, its origin and why it was not breached.

For the first time the boundary has been imaged and, with newly acquired marine geophysical data, we demonstrate that a ridge on the subducting Indo-Australian oceanic crust may exert a control on margin segmentation. This suggests a lower plate influence on margin structure, particularly its segmentation. The ridge is masked by the sedimentary cover in the trench. Its most likely trend is NNE–SSW. It is interpreted as a fracture zone on the subducting oceanic plate. A ramp or tear along the eastern flank of the subducting fracture zone beneath Simeulue Island may be considered as an intensification factor in terms of rupture propagation barrier.     

2010年4月14日青海玉树地震破裂过程快速反演

基于远震资料的破裂过程反演方法,通过反演2010年4月14日玉树地震的全球宽频带地震垂直向P波波形记录,先后4次反演得到了玉树地震的破裂过程,并比较和讨论了这4次结果.结果表明,玉树地震的破裂过程具有如下基本特征:①地震主要由两次子事件组成,分别对应于震中附近以及震中东南方向上的两块滑动量集中的破裂区域,其中与第2次子事件对应的震中东南方向上滑动集中的区域破裂贯穿至地表;②最大滑动量和最大滑动速率分别为2.1m和1.1m/s,断层滑动速率较大;③玉树地震总体上是一次单侧破裂事件,破裂从初始破裂点(即仪器测定的震源位置)开始,主要向震中东南方向扩展,由"地震多普勒效应"导致在震中东南方向上产生强烈能量聚焦,是玉树城区遭受严重破坏在震源方面的主要原因.     

Investigation of rupture process of the 1999 M =5.4 Xiuyan, Liaoning, earthquake sequence

Conclusions The sequence of the November 29, 1999 Xiuyan, Liaoning, earthquake withM _S=5.4 is relocated, and its rupture process is analyzed. Results are as follows: The rupture extended mainly before the January 12, 2000,M _S=5.1 earthquake. There are two phases of rupture extending: The first phase was before the November 29, 1999,M _S=5.4 earthquake, epicenters were situated within a small region with a dimension of about 5 km, and the focal depth increased. It shows that the rupture mainly extended from shallow part to deep in the vertical direction. The second phase was between theM _S=5.4 earthquake and theM _S=5.1 earthquake, earthquakes migrated along southeast, the focal depth decreased. It indicates that the rupture extended along southeast and from deep to shallow part. Foundation item: The Project of “Mechanism and Prediction of the Strong Continental Earthquake” (95-13-05-04). Contribution No. 01FE2017, Institute of Geophysics, China Seismological Bureau.