Abstract: In this paper, eight events of reservoir-induced earthquakes in China are briefly described and their general characteristics are also summarized. On these grounds, some problems related to the origin of reservoir-induced earthguakes are discussed.It is suggested that the reservoir-induced earthquakes are caused by the water seeping through the surrounding rocks into deep-seated fissures with a suitable initial stress and some favorable conditions of building water pressure. The tectonic stress may serve as art earthquake-generating initial stress, while the gravity of the rock mass may be another general initial stress. The reservoir-induced earthquakes, therefore, result from the dislocation of preexisting faults or fissures by the seeping water, which is a type of stick-slip mechanism. The reservoir-induced earthquakes are closely correlated with the karst.Consequently, the possibility of earthquake induced by reservoir impounding can be evaluated before dam building.

摘要： 本文介绍了我国八个水库地震的概况,总结了水库地震的一般特点,同时讨论了与成因有关的几个问题。指出库水沿周围岩石向深处的渗漏及入渗库水的封闭环境是主要的诱发条件。除构造应力外,岩体的重力可能是另一种更具普遍意义的发震初始应力。水库地震属粘滑机制。它与岩溶密切相关。