Study on the Feature of Surface Rupture Zone of the West of Kunlun Mts. Pass Earthquake (Ms8.1) with High Spatial Resolution Satellite Images

Abstract

On November 14, 2001, a MS8.1 earthquake occurred on the west of Kunlun Mts. pass. Using high spatial resolution satellite images the earthquake surface rupture zone can be interpreted. By means of 10m spatial resolution SPOT images the main rupture zone can be revealed distinctly, meanwhile, 1m spatial resolution IKONOS images show the fine structures and kinematical characteristics of the surface rupture of the earthquake. The results show that the rupture is about 350km long on the east side of Buka Daban Feng peak and its strike is about 100 degrees. In some section, the rupture consisted of 3 subsidiary faults. The surface rupture zone is mostly located in the valleys on the piedmont diluvial platform or on its back edge along the southern foot of Kunlun Mts. and re-ruptured the pre-existing fault. The water systems, which flow across the fault, are left-laterally wrenched and the average slip rate is 13.4~16.8mm/a. These evidences indicate that the eastern Kunlun fault is an AA class active fault. The maximum left-lateral offset is about 7.8m and the maximum width of rupture zone is about 1250m. The macro-epicenter lies in 93°17'E, 35°47'N, near the surface rupture zone of Yuxi Feng peak.