Rapid determination of source parameters of the M6.2 Jishishan earthquake in Gansu Province and its application in emergency response

Abstract

In this study, we swiftly determined the focal parameters (focal mechanism, seismic imaging process, magnitude) of the Jishishan earthquake, leveraging a solved fault model to promptly assess the intensity field and casualties. The investigation began by retrieving the source mechanism through the P-wave initial motion and W-phase method. This enabled us to chart the spatial and temporal distribution of energy release in the source area via the back-projection technique. Following this, we estimated the earthquake’s intensity field by merging the source inversion findings with the ground motion prediction equation. This analysis facilitated the evaluation of earthquake casualties, utilizing the theoretical intensity field and a casualty assessment model.Our findings indicate that the fault type is a thrust fault, characterized by a unilateral rupture in the direction of NW, with a rupture length spanning approximately 10-15 km and a duration ranging between 8-10 seconds. The earthquake’s magnitude varied from M 5.9 to M 6.2. The demarcated high-intensity areas, as per our intensity assessment, align closely with the actual survey results. Furthermore, the predicted total casualties and identified critical rescue zones closely match the real-world casualty figures. These insights offer crucial technical support for governmental emergency command and rescue operations.