Lushan M S7.0 earthquake: A blind reserve-fault event

In the epicenter of the Lushan M _S7.0 earthquake there are several imbricate active reverse faults lying from northwest to southeast, namely the Gengda-Longdong, Yanjing-Wulong, Shuangshi-Dachuan and Dayi faults. Emergency field investigations have indicated that no apparent earthquake surface rupture zones were located along these active faults or their adjacent areas. Only brittle compressive ruptures in the cement-covered pavements can be seen in Shuangshi, Taiping, Longxing and Longmen Townships, and these ruptures show that a local crustal shortening occurred in the region during the earthquake. Combining spatial distribution of the relocated aftershocks and focal mechanism solutions, it is inferred that the Lushan earthquake is classified as a typical blind reverse-fault earthquake, and it is advised that the relevant departments should pay great attention to other historically un-ruptured segments along the Longmenshan thrust belt and throughout its adjacent areas.     

Lushan M S7.0 earthquake: A special earthquake occurs on curved fault

Relocation result shows that the aftershocks of the Lushan M _S7.0 earthquake spatially distribute in a shape like “half bowl”, indicating that the rupture structure of the mainshock is a highly curved surface. Kinematic analysis reveals that a laterally varied dislocation pattern occurs on this curved fault even though a single relative horizontal movement controls slip on this fault. Reverse slip prevails on curved fault. However, significant normal slip is predicted near the edge of north flank. Moreover, the north flank features left-lateral slip while the south flank contrarily features right-lateral slip. The relative scope of aftershock distribution implies inadequate breaking of the curved fault during the mainshock, calling for the attention to potential earthquake risk on the neighboring portions of the coseismic rupture due to significant increase of the coseismic Coulomb stress. Coseismic stress modeling also reveals that it is unnecessary for the stress on ruptured part to be unloaded following the earthquakes on the curved fault. The coseismic stress loading on ruptured elements unveils the specialty of faulting for the Lushan earthquake and we conclude that this specialty is due to the highly curved fault geometry.     

Interseismic and coseismic displacements of the Lushan Ms 7.0 earthquake inferred from leveling measurements

By using precise leveling data observed between 1985 and 2010 across the south section of the Longmenshan fault zone, and eliminating the coseismic displacements caused by the Wenchuan Ms 8.0 earthquake, the interseismic vertical deformation field was obtained. The result shows that the Lushan region, located between the Shuangshi-Dachuan fault （front range of the Long- menshan fault） and the Xinkaidian fault （south section of the Dayi fault）, is situated in the intersection zone of positive and negative vertical deformation gradient zones, indicating that this zone was locked within 25 years before the Lushan earthquake. Based on leveling data across the rupture zone surveyed between 2010 and 2013, and by eliminating the vertical deformation within 3 years before the earthquake, the coseismic vertical displacement was derived. The coseismic vertical displacement for the benchmark DD35, which is closest to the epicenter, is up to 198.4 mm （with respect to MY165A）. The coseismic dis- placement field revealed that the northwest region （hanging wall） moved upwards in comparison with the southeastern region （foot wall）, suggesting that the seismogenic fault mainly underwent thrust faulting. By comparing the coseismic and interseismic vertical deformation fields, it was found that the mechanisms of this earthquake are consistent with the elastic rebound theory; the elastic strain energy （displacement deficit） accumulated before the Lu- shan earthquake was released during this quake.     

Relocation of the mainshock and aftershock sequences of M S7.0 Sichuan Lushan earthquake

The mainshock of April 20, 2013 Sichuan Lushan M _S7.0 earthquake was relocated using a 3-D velocity model. Double difference algorithm was applied to relocate aftershock sequences of Lushan earthquake. The locations of 2405 aftershocks were determined. The location errors in E-W, N-S and U-D direction were 0.30, 0.29 and 0.59 km on average, respectively. The location of the mainshock is 102.983°E, 30.291°N and the focal depth is 17.6 km. The relocation results show that the aftershocks spread approximately 35 km in length and 16 km in width. The dominant distribution of the focal depth ranges from 10 to 20 km. A few earthquakes occurred in the shallow crust. Focal depth profiles show fault planes dip to the northwest, manifested itself as a listric thrust fault. The dip angle is steep in the shallow crust and gentle in the deep crust. Although the epicenters of aftershocks distributed mainly along both sides of the Shuangshi-Dachuan fault, the seismogenic fault may be a blind thrust fault on the eastern side of the Shuangshi-Dachuan fault. Earthquake relocation results reveal that there is a southeastward tilt aftershock belt intersecting with the seismogenic fault with y-shape. We speculate it is a back thrust fault that often appears in a thrust fault system. Lushan earthquake triggered the seismic activity of the back thrust fault.     

The Lushan M S7.0 earthquake and activity of the southern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone

Following the Lushan M _S7.0 earthquake on 20 April 2013, a topic of much concern is whether events of M _S7 or greater could occur again on the southern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone. In providing evidence to answer this question, this work analyzes the tectonic relationship between the Lushan event and the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and the rupture history of the southern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone, through field investigations of active tectonics and paleoearthquake research, and our preliminary conclusions are as follows. The activity of the southern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone is much different to that of its central section, and the late Quaternary activity has propagated forward to the basin in the east. The seismogenic structure of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake is the central-fore-range fault system, whereas that of the 2013 Lushan event is attributed to the fore-range-range-front fault system, rather than the central fault. The southern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone becomes wider towards the south with an increasing number of secondary faults, of which the individual faults exhibit much weaker surface activity. Therefore, this section is not as capable of generating a major earthquake as is the central segment. It is most likely that the 2013 earthquake fills the seismic gap around Lushan on the southern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone.     

Source rupture process of Lushan M S7.0 earthquake, Sichuan, China and its tectonic implications

The source rupture process of the M _S7.0 Lushan earthquake was here evaluated using 40 long-period P waveforms with even azimuth coverage of stations. Results reveal that the rupture process of the Lushan M _S7.0 event to be simpler than that of the Wenchuan earthquake and also showed significant differences between the two rupture processes. The whole rupture process lasted 36 s and most of the moment was released within the first 13 s. The total released moment is 1.9×10¹⁹N m with M _W=6.8. Rupture propagated upwards and bilaterally to both sides from the initial point, resulting in a large slip region of 40 km×30 km, with the maximum slip of 1.8 m, located above the initial point. No surface displacement was estimated around the epicenter, but displacement was observed about 20 km NE and SW directions of the epicenter. Both showed slips of less than 40 cm. The rupture suddenly stopped at 20 km NE of the initial point. This was consistent with the aftershock activity. This phenomenon indicates the existence of significant variation of the medium or tectonic structure, which may prevent the propagation of the rupture and aftershock activity. The earthquake risk of the left segment of Qianshan fault is worthy of attention.     

Deep structure beneath the southwestern section of the Longmenshan fault zone and seimogenetic context of the 4.20 Lushan M S7.0 earthquake

Magnetotelluric measurements were carried out along two profiles across the middle and southwestern sections of the Longmenshan fault zone (LMSf) from 2009 to 2011, after the 2008 Wenchuan M _W7.9 earthquake. The former profile crosses the Wenchuan event epicenter and the latter one crosses 2013 Lushan M _S7.0 event epicenter. The data were analyzed using advanced processing techniques, including phase tensor and two-dimensional inversion methods, in order to obtain reliable 2-D profiles of the electrical structure in the vicinity of the two earthquakes. A comparison of the two profiles indicates both similarities and differences in the deep crustal structure of the LMSf. West of the southwestern section, a crustal high conductivity layer (HCL) is present at about 10 km depth below the Songpan-Garzê block; this is about 10 km shallower than that under the middle section of the LMSf. A high resistivity body (HRB) is observed beneath the southwestern section, extending from the near surface to the top of upper mantle. It has a smaller size than the HRB observed below the middle section. In the middle section, there is a local area of decreased resistivity within the HRB but there is absence of this area. The 2013 Lushan earthquake occurred close to the eastern boundary of HRB and the Shuangshi-Dachuan fault, of which the seismogenic context has both common and different features in comparison with the 2008 Wenchuan event. On a large scale, the 2013 Lushan earthquake is associated with the HCL and deformation in the crust including HCL of the eastern Tibetan Plateau. In order to assess seismic risk, it is important to consider both the stress state and the detailed crustal structure in different parts of the LMSf.     

Preliminary results pertaining to coseismic displacement and preseismic strain accumulation of the Lushan M S7.0 earthquake, as reflected by GPS surveying

This paper presents the coseismic displacement and preseismic deformation fields of the Lushan M _S7.0 earthquake that occurred on April 20, 2013. The results are based on GPS observations along the Longmenshan fault and within its vicinity. The coseismic displacement and preseismic GPS results indicate that in the strain release of this earthquake, the thrust rupture is dominant and the laevorotation movement is secondary. Furthermore, we infer that any possible the rupture does not reach the earth’s surface, and the seismogenic fault is most likely one fault to the east of the Guanxian-Anxian fault. Some detailed results are obtainable. (1) The southern segment of the Longmenshan fault is locked preceding the Lushan earthquake. After the Wenchuan earthquake, the strain accumulation rate in the southeast direction accelerates in the epicenter of the Lushan earthquake, and the angle between the principal compressional strain and the seismogenic fault indicates that a sinistral deformation background in the direction of the seismogenic fault precedes the Lushan earthquake. Therefore, it is evident that the Wenchuan M _S8.0 earthquake accelerated the pregnancy of the Lushan earthquake. (2) The coseismic displacements reflected by GPS data are mainly located in a region that is 230 km (NW direction) × 100 km (SW direction), and coseismic displacements larger than 10 mm lie predominantly in a 100-km region (NW direction). (3) On a large scale, the coseismic displacement shows thrust characteristics, but the associated values are remarkably small in the near field (within 70 km) of the earthquake fault. Meanwhile, the thrust movement in this 70-km region does not correspond with the attenuation characteristics of the strain release, indicating that the rupture of this earthquake does not reach the earth’s surface. (4) The laevorotation movements are remarkable in the 50-km region, which is located in the hanging wall that is close to the earthquake fault, and the corresponding values in this case correlate with the attenuation characteristics of the strain release.     

四川芦山Ms 7.0级地震前卫星线性云异常现象

 对四川芦山地震前1个月内的FY-2卫星云图与红外亮温数据分析发现,震前3d即4月17日的06:30—09:30,在青藏高原东部出现延展达数百千米的两条线性云,两者延伸交叉处正是芦山地震的震中位置。通过与汶川Ms 8.0级地震前数小时出现的线性云异常进行比较,认为龙门山断裂带强震前屡次出现的“无中生有”线性云异常现象,可能与青藏高原东部地下未知的隐伏构造及油气赋存有关,具有一定的临震指示性,应该作为该地区地震遥感监测的重点。今后,在全球综合地球观测系统(GEOSS)大数据的支持下,考虑孕震过程中的地球系统多圈层作用与耦合效应,将开展遥感多参数异常时空特征及其关联性分析,为解开该地区的线性云异常之谜提供科学依据。     

“4·20”芦山地震与“5·12”汶川地震发震断裂初析

2013年4月20日8时2分在四川省雅安市芦山县发生的7.0级地震,是继"5.12"汶川地震之后相隔约5年发生的又一次强震。作者在收集了遥感、DEM、地面地质及芦山震区人工地震剖面基础上,对网上公布的芦山地震震中数据、地震机制解、余震分布数据和地震的地表破裂情况进行了分析,初步推断引发芦山地震的断裂是盆地内西南侧地腹隐伏断裂或新生断裂。将芦山地震与汶川地震进行了综合对比,认为2次地震均属构造地震,从构造动力学角度分析均与印度板块向北挤压碰撞有关;但2次地震发震断裂和发震构造单元特征是不同的,应属2次独立地震。     

四川芦山Ms 7.0级地震导致周边断层的应力变化

 2013年4月20日,四川雅安市芦山县发生M_s 7.0级强烈地震,造成重大的人员伤亡和经济损失。地震造成的区域库仑应力变化、对周围断层的影响及后续地震带发展趋势是应该关注的问题。利用USGS震源机制解,根据地震静态触发原理,基于弹性位错理论和分层地壳模型,计算得出芦山地震引起同震库仑应力变化从断层的1.0MPa量级减小到200km外的0.1kPa,研究认为在地震之后大部分区域的应力得到释放,鲜水河断裂道孚—康定段和玉龙希断裂南段危险性增加。     

四川芦山Mw 6.6级地震发震构造

2013年4月20日四川芦山Mw 6.6级地震发生在龙门山构造带南段,未见典型的同震地表破裂。作者在对震后400余个地震破坏宏观调查点重新厘定的基础上,参考四川数字强震台网的近场峰值加速度(PGA)记录,绘制的本次地震等震线图的极震区地震烈度为Ⅸ度,略呈长轴为NE向的扁椭圆状,不具明显的方向性。进一步综合3 323个早期余震重新定位结果、石油地震勘探剖面和震源机制解等,判定本次地震的主要发震构造为控制蒙山东麓的大邑断裂,系龙门山构造带南段NW-SE向缩短所导致的大邑断裂上冲作用的结果;新开店断裂亦在深部产生了同震破裂,造成了断裂上盘震害明显高于下盘的断层上盘效应现象。     

四川芦山Ms 7.0级地震灾情快速评估与反思

 在四川芦山M_s 7.0级地震震后第一时间启动了灾情快速评估,对地震烈度图、受灾人口分布及比例、房屋倒损分布及比例、伤亡人口分布、道路损毁等灾情进行了演进式4次评估。评估过程充分考虑数据的完备性,从数据不完备情况下的初步定性评估到数据较完备情况下的定量评估,并将第4次评估结果与2013年4月23日民政部公布数据相比:受灾人口评估准确度为95%、房屋倒损评估准确度为73.3%。继玉树地震灾情评估之后,再次验证了本项目组开发的地震灾情快速评估体系(模型、方法、软件)的实用性。分析灾情评估过程中存在的问题,本文对其进行了反思并指明了解决办法和工作方向。     

四川芦山Ms 7.0级地震空基联合观测与灾情增强识别

 以四川芦山M_s 7.0级地震后中国科学院遥感与数字地球研究所的有人机航拍为基础,辅以低空无人机平台进行联合观测,建立了空基多平台联合灾情观测模式下的灾情增强识别系统。介绍了空基多平台航测系统的组成及联合灾情观测的技术流程,使用有人机遥感平台与固定翼无人机遥感平台对重灾区芦山县进行航空联合观测。对震后有人机与无人机遥感影像进行综合对比,分析了地震中房屋典型受损的细节、滑坡体空间变化及重要电力线的破坏情况。结果表明,采用空基多平台的灾情监测模式,可显著增强对灾情的识别能力。     

四川芦山Ms 7.0级地震震源机制解初步研究

 震源机制解研究是认识地震发震断层的重要手段,也是理解深部构造应力和地震发震机理的重要依据。2013年4月20日四川芦山发生M_s 7.0级地震,利用近震直达P波初动极性反演了地震机制解,同时利用全球地震台网波形记录,反演了地震机制解和矩心深度。两种方法所得发震断层走向倾角滑动角分别为208°/41°/98°和220°/46°/93°,表明这次地震为一高角度逆冲型地震,远震波形反演得到的矩心深度为12km。     

Significant isostatic imbalance near the seismic gap between the M8.0 Wenchuan and M7.0 Lushan earthquakes

A gravity network with 302 observation points has been established in the western Sichuan Foreland Basin （SFB） to explore Bouguer gravity anomalies （BGAs）. Our observational results reveal that the BGAs are negative as a whole, with a maximum value of -220 mGal （10^-5m s^-2） at the northwest region of the study area. The real Moho depths beneath the SFB revealed by BGA data change smoothly from 39.5 km in the southeast to 43.7 km in the northwest of the monitoring region. However, the isostatic ones deduced from Airy isostatic model and topographical data vary approximately 39.5-42.0 km. The maximum differences of 2.7 km between the real and isostatic Moho depths are found near the seismic gap between the M8.0 Wenchuan and M7.0 Lushan earthquakes, where the crust is in the greatest isostatic imbalance of the monitoring region. Analysis of the isostatic state indicates that the deep dynamic environment near the seismic gap between these two earthquakes indicates an M ≥ 7.0 earthquake in the future. This study indicates that we can use isostasy as a potential approach to study the dynamic process of crustal material movement and to analyze regional potential seismic risks.     

基于Logistic回归模型的芦山震后滑坡易发性评价

地震导致山体结构失衡,物质松动,在降雨条件下,滑坡等次生地质灾害极易发生。以"4.20"芦山地震区为研究对象,基于遥感(RS)和地理信息系统技术(GIS),以坡度、起伏度、土地类型、断层的距离、地震动的峰值加速度为评价因子,采用Logistic回归方法构建评价模型评估了研究区滑坡易发性,并通过受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)检验模型的效果。通过对421个滑坡灾害点的回归分析得出断层的距离、地震动的峰值加速度对滑坡的发生贡献最大,研究区域46.63%的地区滑坡极易发生。ROC曲线的线下面积(AUC)为0.772,验证结果显示评价结果与实际情况吻合。     

“4·20”芦山地震次生地质灾害预测评价

利用汶川地震次生地质敏感性评价模型,以距发震断层的距离、地形坡度、地层岩性、距离水系的距离、海拔高度、PGA为评价因子,对"4.20"芦山地震地质灾害的空间分布进行了快速预测,为野外调查工作提供参考。预测结果显示芦山地震次生地质灾害敏感性高的区域主要是芦山、宝兴、天全、雅安、荥经等县市的山区,并主要集中分布于发震断层附近的芦山县大川镇、宝盛乡、太平镇、双石镇、宝兴县灵关镇、天全县小河乡等区域。     

“4·20”芦山地震的构造破裂与发震断层

通过对"4.20"芦山地震构造破裂及变形特征的分析研究,阐明触发M=7.0级强烈地震的构造因素是NE向大川-双石断裂的逆断兼右旋走滑错动,断层面最大逆断-右旋滑动量达到1.51m。震中位置应在地震断裂通过的双石-太平区段而非震害严重的龙门乡。造成龙门乡震害异常的主要因素是该盆地较厚的第四系强烈的场地效应及建筑物结构强度不足。此次地震是龙门山断裂带地壳构造应力调整、地壳岩体应力-形变过程进入累进性发展阶段的必然结果。地壳破裂扩展方向具有向龙门山中央断裂发展的趋势。     

“4·20”芦山地震冷竹关地震动响应监测数据分析

通过在四川省泸定冷竹关沟两岸斜坡不同部位挖掘平硐并放置强震监测仪器的方法,对"4.20"芦山地震在该峡谷两侧斜坡的地震动响应特征、地形放大效应等进行研究。根据7台地震仪器所记录的芦山主震数据,冷竹关沟右岸1#监测点PGA水平分量为1.64m/s2,竖直分量为0.67m/s2,明显高于其他监测点的PGA值(0.11～0.42m/s2)。参照康定姑咱强震台主震记录,1#监测点PGA放大系数达到6.9,其阿里亚斯强度放大数十倍。谱比分析(HVSR)显示,1#监测点谱比分析的水平分量地形放大系数达到9.0,2#监测点地形放大系数为3.5,左岸4#～7#监测点地形放大系数一般在1.0～3.0。研究表明,强震条件下冷竹关右岸单薄山梁地震动地形放大效应明显强于左岸中高山斜坡,且1#监测点的凸出地形放大效应最大。随着振幅值的放大,强震动能量以数十倍效应剧增,当短时间内积聚的振动能量超过或远远超过岩土体介质的强度时,易形成震裂、崩塌、滑坡及高陡地形的抛射效应。