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

Abstract

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 Longmenshan 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 displacement 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 Lushan earthquake was released during this quake.