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Journal: Earthquake Science  2009 No.2  Share to Sinaweibo  Share to QQweibo  Share to Facebook  Share to Twitter    clicks:798   
Title:
The seismicity and tectonic stress field characteristics of the Longmenshan fault zone before the Wenchuan M_S8.0 earthquake
Author: Zhiwei Zhang; Wanzheng Cheng; Xiang Ruan; Peng Wu
Adress: Lanzhou Institute of Seismology, China Earthquake Administration, Lanzhou 730000, China
Abstract: The seismicity of Longmenshan fault zone and its vicinities before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan MS8.0 earthquake is studied.Based on the digital seismic waveform data observed from regional seismic networks and mobile stations, the focal mechanism solutions are determined.Our analysis results show that the seismicities of Longmenshan fault zone before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake were in stable state.No obvious phenomena of seismic activity intensifying appeared.According to focal mechanism solutions of some small earthquakes before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, the direction of principal compressive stress P-axis is WNW-ESE.The two hypocenter fault planes are NE-striking and NW-striking.The plane of NE direction is among N50o?70oE, the dip angles of fault planes are 60o?70o and it is very steep.The faultings of most earthquakes are dominantly characterized by dip-slip reverse and small part of faultings present strike-slip.The azimuths of principal compressive stress, the strikes of source fault planes and the dislocation types calculated from some small earthquakes before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake are in accordance with that of the main shock.The average stress field of micro-rupture along the Longmenshan fault zone before the great earthquake is also consistent with that calculated from main shock.Zipingpu dam is located in the east side 20 km from the initial rupture area of the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.The activity increment of small earthquakes in the Zipingpu dam is in the period of water discharging.The source parameter results of the small earthquakes which occurred near the initial rupture area of the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake indicate that the focal depths are 5 to 14 km and the source parameters are identical with that of earthquake. 
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