Active deformation of Chinese Mainland from GPS measurement and numerical simulation

Abstract

Using discontinue deformation analysis(DDA) method we analyzed the characters of the crustal deformation of Chinese mainland in this study form the velocity field revealed by 308 GPS stations. The result shows that the current N-S compression rate and W-E extension rate of the south Tibetan plateau are 1.40×10−8/a and 1.81×10−8/a, and that of Tiansan block are 2.59×10−8/a and 0.62×10−8/a. The Altyn Tagh is a left-lateral strike slip fault with a current slip rate of 8–12 mm/a, and the clockwise rotating rate of Tarim and Gansun-Qinghai block are −8.7 and −8.1 nrad/a, respectively, with respect to the Eurasia plate. According to the boundary condition of Chinese mainland respect to the Eurasia obtained from the DDA model, a two-dimension discontinuous finite element method(DFEM) model was built. Using this model, we evaluated the relationships between the slipping of Altyn Tagh and the crustal deformation and dynamics of Chinese mainland, and found that the slip of Altyn Tagh has influence on compression of Tibetan plateau, rotating of Tarim basin and Gansun-Qinghai block, the region absorbing the energy generated by the collision of Indio Plate and Eurasia plate, the ability and method of energy transferring toward east and the deformation of both Ordos block and North-China block. Further more, the slip of Altyn-Qiliansan Tagh strongly effects the stress field in most part of north-south seismic belt. The crustal deformation and tectonic activities of Chinese mainland west is mainly caused by the block boundary stress generated by the movement of India Plate, and it also influences some area of the east mainland through slipping along Altyn-Qiliansan Tagh. In some Part of east China and south east of China, the small-scale mantle convection and the effect of denudating can not be ignored.