地震地质 ›› 2023, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (6): 1286-1308.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2023.06.003

• 研究论文 • 上一篇    下一篇

2022年门源 MS6.9 地震前断层活动及应力状态的数值模拟

李媛1,2)(), 杨周胜3),*(), 庞亚瑾2), 梁洪宝2), 刘峡2)   

  1. 1) 中国地震局地质研究所, 地震动力学国家重点实验室, 北京 100029
    2) 中国地震局第一监测中心, 天津 300180
    3) 云南省地震局, 昆明 650000
  • 收稿日期:2022-11-19 修回日期:2023-08-25 出版日期:2023-12-20 发布日期:2024-01-16
  • 通讯作者: 杨周胜, 男, 1967年生, 副研究员, 主要从事地震监测研究, E-mail: yeayzs@sohu.com。<
  • 作者简介:

    李媛, 女, 1988年生, 现为中国地震局地质研究所固体地球物理学专业在读博士研究生, 工程师, 主要从事地壳形变机理和跨断层数据分析以及动力学数值模拟等研究, E-mail:

  • 基金资助:
    中国地震局第一监测中心课题(FMCJ202302); 2023年震情跟踪任务(2023010217); 国家自然科学基金(FMC2022015)

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF FAULT ACTIVITY AND STRESS STATE BEFORE MS6.9 MENYUAN EARTHQUAKE

LI Yuan1,2)(), YANG Zhou-sheng3),*(), PANG Ya-jin2), LIANG Hong-bao2), LIU Xia2)   

  1. 1) State Key Laboratory Earthquake Dynamics, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100029, China
    2) The First Monitoring and Application Center, China Earthquake Administration, Tianjin 300180, China
    3) Yunnan Earthquake Agency, Kunming 650000, China
  • Received:2022-11-19 Revised:2023-08-25 Online:2023-12-20 Published:2024-01-16

摘要:

2022年1月8日门源 MS6.9 地震是继1986年和2016年2次门源 MS6.4 地震后, 冷龙岭断裂西段再次发生的MS>6强震。为探讨此次门源 MS6.9 地震前近震区的断层运动、 应力状态和强震多发的孕震环境, 文中以地震前1991—2015期和2017—2021期GPS速度场作为边界约束, 通过建立精细的三维黏弹性有限元动力学模型, 计算分析了祁连山构造区在长期的构造运动环境下应力积累的基本格局, 区域内断层的长期滑动速率、 应力累积速率, 以及这些量值在门源 MS6.9 地震前约5a的变化特征。1991—2015期的计算结果显示: 门源 MS6.9 近震区长期受到NE-SW向挤压和NW-SE向拉张的应力场作用, 最大剪应力积累比周围区域快, 应力积累整体上以促进NWW向断层的挤压和走滑运动为主; 与周围断层段相比, 受几何拐折形态影响, 冷龙岭断裂西段的滑动速率偏低, 断层剪切应力的累积速率较高, 发震断层上运动的亏损与应力的快速积累有利于孕育走滑型地震。2017—2021期相对于1991—2015期的增量结果显示, 在临近地震约5a的时段内, 冷龙岭断裂西段走滑速率进一步减小, 断层的剪应力累积速率显著增高, 利于促进走滑型地震的发生。冷龙岭断裂西段具有较强的动力学背景和有利的强震发生条件, 未来依然存在发生强震的危险。

关键词: 门源MS6.9地震, 冷龙岭断裂, 有限元模拟, 断层运动, 应力

Abstract:

The Menyuan MS6.9 earthquake occurred on January 8, 2022, which is the third strong MS>6 earthquake on the western part of the Lenglongling fault following two Menyuan MS6.4 earthquakes that took place in 1986 and 2016. In order to explore the fault deformation and stress states of different timescales before the MS6.9 Menyuan earthquake and the dynamic environment of frequent strong earthquakes in the area nearby the epicenter, with GPS velocities of 1991—2015 and 2017—2021 as boundary constraints, a fine three-dimensional viscoelastic finite element model was established. The model included the impacts of tectonic units, the layered structure of the crust-mantle, the inhomogeneity of the medium, the interactions of many different faults, and the shape of the faults. It also refined the key faults in the region and their geometric characteristics. The basic pattern of stress accumulation in the Qilian Mountain tectonic region under the long-term tectonic movement environment, the long-term slip rate and stress accumulation rate of faults and their change characteristics during the five years before the Menyuan MS6.9 earthquake are calculated and analyzed. Combining the results of the source mechanism solution and cross-fault level observation, the following conclusions are obtained:

(1)According to the simulation results for a longer period of 1991—2015, the stress field in the study area gradually rotates clockwise, with NNE-SSW extrusion and NWW-SEE tension to NE-SW extrusion and NW-SE tension from west to east. The direction of the principal compressive stress is mostly perpendicular to the fault strike. The region near the epicenter of the Menyuan MS6.9 earthquake has been subjected to long-term NE-SW extrusion and NW-SE tensional stress. The maximum shear stress accumulates faster than the surrounding area. The above stress accumulation characteristics overall promote NW-oriented shear and NE-oriented extrusion movement of faults, which contribute to the generation and occurrence of strike-slip and thrust earthquakes on the NWW-oriented Lenglongling Fault.

(2)The simulation results show that most NWW-orientated faults exhibit a left-lateral strike-slip and thrust nature. In contrast, NNW-orientated faults display a right-lateral strike-slip and extrusion nature. The fault’s stress nature corresponds with its movement nature. Spatially, the overall trend of fault movement in the study area is that the extrusion rate gradually decreases from west to east, and the slip rate gradually increases from west to east. This indicates that the Qilianshan tectonic belt plays a significant role in transforming and adjusting the tectonic deformation of the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.

(3)The fault movement and its stress distribution show significant segmentation, indicating the crucial role of fault geometry in fault movement. The western segment of the Lenglongling Fault has a geometric inflection pattern, causing stress accumulation variability and uncoordinated movement between different segments. Compared to the surrounding fault segments, this fault segment has a higher rate of stress accumulation yet experiences hindered movement in space which causes a lower slip rate. fault zones that exhibit motion deficits and rapid energy accumulation are more susceptible to earthquakes.

(4)Compared to the period between 1991 and 2015, the simulation outcomes obtained during 2017—2021 demonstrated noticeable differences and irregularities in the distribution of motion and stress increment fields along the fault, which were segmental in nature. Within~5 years before the Menyuan MS6.9 earthquake, the strike-slip rate at the western segment of the Lenglongling fault is further reduced, the accumulation rate of shear stress was significantly increased; the extrusion rate was significantly weakened, and the rate of positive stress accumulation was slowed down. These recent changes in fault motion and stress are conducive to promoting left-lateral slip-strike earthquakes on this fault segment.

(5)From a hydrostatic perspective, the above studies demonstrate that the epicenter region had accumulated high stress for a long time before the earthquake, and as the earthquake approached, the positive stress on the seismic fault surface increased slowly, and the friction increased synchronously, leading to the weakening and deficit of movement on the local fault segment.

In conclusion, the western segment of the Lenglongling fault has a strong stress background and favorable conditions for the occurrence of strong earthquakes, and the risk of strong earthquakes is still predicted to exist in the future.

Key words: Menyuan MS6.9 earthquake, Lenglongling fault, finite element simulation, fault movement, stress