Study on S wave splitting in Dayao earthquake sequence with M=6.2 and M=6.1 in Yunnan in 2003

Abstract

The polarization direction of fast wave and the delay time between fast and slow wave were measured for two earthquake sequences occurred continuously on 21 July (M=6.2) and 16 October (M=6.1) in Dayao, Yunnan in 2003 using cross-correlation coefficient method, after determining the high-resolution hypocentral locations of the earthquake sequences using the double-difference earthquake location algorithm. The results indicated that ① The phenomena of S wave splitting are obvious in the two earthquake sequences, and the average polarization directions of fast wave in most stations are almost consistent with regional maximum horizontal compressive stress direction except the station Santai. There are bimodal fast directions in the polarization directions at station Santai and the mean polarization direction is N80°E, indicating an inconsistent phenomenon referred to regional maximum horizontal compressive stress direction. ② There is no apparent relation between delay time and focal depth in the sequences, but the polarization direction show different character in different delay time range. ③ The comparison of S wave splitting results in the two earthquake sequences show that the polarization direction in M=6.2 earthquake sequence is more scattered and its average fast direction is 20° larger than that of M=6.1 sequence, and the delay times between two sequences show a little difference. ④ The spatial variation in S wave splitting polarization direction may be due to the stress disturbance imposed by the M=6.2 and the M=6.1 mainshocks on regional background stress field.