REGIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF STRESS STATE OF MAIN SEISMIC ACTIVE FAULTS IN MID‐NORTHERN PART OF SICHUAN‐YUNNAN BLOCK

Abstract

AbstractWe restore the seismic source spectrums of 1012 earthquakes (2.0 ≤ ML ≤ 5.0) in the mid‐northern part of Sichuan‐Yunnan seismic block between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2015, then calculate the source parameters (e.g., seismic moments M0, focal scale r and stress drop Δσ) and fit the calibration relationship between these parameters. Based on the regional seismic tectonic background, the distribution of active faults and seismicity, the study area is divided into four statistical units. For each unit the stress distribution characteristics, change of stress drop with location, correlation between the stress‐strain loading and the dynamic process of regional deformation, are discussed respectively. The results show that seismic moments M0 are consistent with the magnitude‐moment relation that lgM0 = 0.92ML + 10.46. The relationship between stress drop and magnitude is consistent with the result gained by Nuttli that intraplate earthquake follows the ISD model, with a statistical relationship lgΔσ = 0.31 lgM0 – 3.92.Seismic source stress drop results show the following, (1) The stress at the end of the Jinshajiang fault is low, the overall sliding rate of the fault unit is high, and strong earthquake activity is very rare. In the fault belt consisting of three secondary faults, stress‐strain loading deceases gradually from northwest to southeast along Litang fault, the northwest section which is relatively locked is more likely to accumulate strain than southeast section. (2) Stress drop of Xianshuihe fault zone is divided by Kangding, the southern section is low and northern section is high. Southern section (Kangding‐Shimian) is difficult to accumulate higher strain in the short term, but in northern section (Garzê‐Kangding), moderate and strong earthquakes have not filled the gaps of seismic moment release, there is still a high stress accumulation in partial section. (3) High stress‐drop events were concentrated on Anninghe‐Zemuhe fault zone, strain accumulation of this unit is strong, and stress level is the highest, earthquake risk is high. (4) On Lijiang‐Xiaojinhe fault zone, stress drop characteristics of different magnitude earthquakes are not the same, which is related to complex tectonic setting, the specific reasons still need to be discussed deeply. Stress background in the Muli area is low and may be affected by the local tectonic environment. The study also shows that, (1) Stress drops display a systematic change with different faults and locations, high stress‐drop events occur mostly in the fault intersection area. Faults without locking condition and mainly creeping are mainly characterized by low stress drop. (2) Contrasting to what is commonly thought that “strike‐slip faults are not easy to accumulate stress”, Xianshuihe fault zone and Anninghe‐Zemuhe fault zone all exhibit high stress levels, which may be due to that the magnitude and intensity of medium‐strong earthquakes are not enough to release the accumulated energy. On the other hand, in the complex dynamics of regional deformation, when the tectonic force blocking fault movement and its contribution to accumulation of stress plays a key role, the earthquake of same magnitude will release higher stress drop.