Seismoacoustic Coupled Signals from the 11 July 2020 Ms 5.1 Tangshan, China, Earthquake

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Ms 5.1 Tangshan earthquake that occurred on 11 July 2020 was recorded by the infrasound array DQS at a source-to-receiver distance of 196 km and an azimuth of 278°. Relatively high-apparent velocity, celerity of epicenter infrasound, and propagation modeling indicate a stratospheric arrival. The backprojection of the epicentral infrasound detection delineates a northeast direction-extended infrasound radiation region with a long axis of about 57 km and a short axis of about 28 km, which is in good agreement with the fault rupture direction. The robustness of the infrasound radiation source location is also tested. The consistency between the spatial distribution of the radiation source and the epicenter confirms that the extended radiating zone around the epicenter excited infrasound signals lasting 2.5 min at a distance of 196 km. A comparison between the backprojected sound pressure level and peak surface pressure derived from measured seismic ground motions shows some disagreement, which may involve propagation path and/or topography around the epicenter. Therefore, these factors should be taken into account when locating the sources of infrasound and estimating the distribution of ground motion. This study shows the ability of infrasound arrays to detect, locate, and research moderate earthquakes and help reconstruct the seismoacoustic coupling in the source region and fault rupture. Moreover, the complexity of the infrasound radiation source and seismoacoustic coupling mechanism is recognized. It is expected that infrasonic observations of moderate earthquakes will increase with the number of infrasound arrays deployed worldwide. Our study is also helpful to the scientific design and optimal layout of infrasound monitoring systems, which will allow for the detection of earthquakes in addition to explosive sources.