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Journal: |
Science in China: Earth Science 2010 No.11
clicks:879 |
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Title:
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Author:
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XU Yi1, LI ZhiWei1, HUANG RunQiu2, LIU JianHua1 & LIU JinSong1 |
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Adress: |
Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources Research, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100029, China; |
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Abstract:
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Pn-wave velocity and anisotropy beneath the western Sichuan and adjacent region are inverted by a tomography method using arrival data from earthquakes recorded by the Sichuan Earthquake Network. It is followed by an analysis of the uppermost mantle structure of the Longmen Mountain region and the deep tectonics of the Ms8.0 earthquake in Wenchuan. Our results reveal a prominent velocity contrast across the Longmenshan fault: low velocities in the Songpan-Ganzi mountain range and high velocities in the Sichuan basin. They indicate that the Songpan-Ganzi mountain range is underlain by a weak uppermost mantle, which is easy to create ductile flow, whereas the Sichuan basin has a mechanically strong uppermost mantle. These features reflect a difference of the lithospheric mantle beneath tectonically active mountain range and stable basin. The boundary between the high and low velocities is coincident with the Longmenshan fault. Bordered by Wenchuan, the northern part of the boundary is parallel to the fault belt and aftershock distribution, but the southern part of the boundary deviates from the fault belt and is bent toward the Sichuan basin. The Ms8.0 earthquake in Wenchuan is located at the flexural part between them, where a strong heterogeneity is shown in the velocity variation across and parallel to the boundary. This area is reasonably believed as a potential location for regional stress accumulation and release in the Longmen Mountain region, reflecting a prominent character in the deep structure around Wenchuan. Pn-wave anisotropy reveals the mantle flow that is consistent with the eastward movement of the Tibetan Plateau. This process provided deep dynamic sourse for tectonic deformation in the Longmen Mountain region and for the occurrence of the Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake, but it is clearly affected by the strong lithosphere of the Sichuan basin. There is no correlation between the Pn-wave anisotropy and the Longmenshan fault, hence, this fault system is only restricted within the crust. However, the mantle flow beneath the southeastern Tibetan Plateau shows a clockwise rotation along the Xianshuihe fault. We infer that these two fault systems may be controlled by different deep dynamics
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Comment: |
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