Length distribution of strike-slip faults and the process of breakage in continental crust

1976 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 704-707 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Ranalli

The distribution of lengths of regional strike-slip faults in continental crust is adequately described by the lognormal probability distribution. It is therefore suggested that the faulting process can be modelled as a random process obeying the law of proportionate effect (Kolmogorov type).

1979 ◽  
Vol 23 (03) ◽  
pp. 188-197
Author(s):  
Michel K. Ochi

This paper discusses the effect of statistical dependence of the maxima (peak values) of a stationary random process on the magnitude of the extreme values. A theoretical analysis of the extreme values of a stationary normal random process is made, assuming the maxima are subject to the Markov chain condition. For this, the probability distribution function of maxima as well as the joint probability distribution function of two successive maxima of a normal process having an arbitrary spectral bandwidth are applied to Epstein's theorem for evaluating the extreme values in a given sample under the Markov chain condition. A numerical evaluation of the extreme values is then carried out for a total of 14 random processes, including nine ocean wave records, with various spectral bandwidth parameters ranging from 0.11 to 0.78. From the results of the computations, it is concluded that the Markov concept is applicable to the maxima of random processes whose spectral bandwidth parameter, ɛ, is less than 0.5, and that the extreme values with and without the Markov concept are constant irrespective of the e-value, and the former is approximately 10 percent greater than the latter. It is also found that the sample size for which the extreme value reaches a certain level with the Markov concept is much less than that without the Markov concept. For example, the extreme value will reach a level of 4.0 (nondimensional value) in 1100 observations of the maxima with the Markov concept, while the extreme value will reach the same level in 3200 observations of the maxima without the Markov concept.


2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 1013-1021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad H. Hussein

Soil erodibility reflects the soil effect on the detachment process by rainfall and runoff; an evaluation of this parameter for single storm events was carried out using natural runoff plot data collected for two rainfall seasons in northern Iraq. The region is characterized by a semiarid Mediterranean-type climate with normal rainfall intensity below 20 mm/h and dominant sheet erosion on agricultural land. The plots were three 30 × 3 m and three 10 × 3 m, in fallow, situated on a 6% uniform slope; the soil at the site has a silty clay loam texture and belongs to the Calciorthid suborder. Sheet erosion rate was assumed linearly proportional to the storm power and the sheet flow power; a steady-state turbulent and kinematic sheet flow was also assumed. The results indicated a dominant detachment by rainfall with a substantial variability in storm by storm calculated sheet erodibility. The two-parameter lognormal probability distribution fitted the obtained sheet erodibility values reasonably well. Using this probability distribution, a representative sheet erodibility value of 0.056 × 10−3kg/J was obtained for use at the experimental site.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pan Luo ◽  
Jianye Ren ◽  
Xi He ◽  
Chao Lei ◽  
Junjie Xu ◽  
...  

<p>Our study focuses on the Zhongjianna (ZJN) (Phu Kham) Basin, located at the western termination of the South China Sea (SCS) and separated from the Indochina continent by the N-S striking East Vietnam Boundary Fault Zone, which is a large scale strike-slip fault system. The sedimentary infill history of the ZJN basin records the complete evolution and interaction of the Indochina-SCS system and allows the tectonic and kinematic evolution of the basin to be understood.. The discovery of hyper-extended continental crust and mantle exhumation in this basin leads to the question of what is the relative role of large-scale strike-slip and orthogonal faulting in controlling crustal thinning in the ZJN basin.  </p><p>  Our preliminary results confirm the existence of hyperextended continental crust flooring the ZJN basin. Two different types of structures can be identified in this area: extension related deformation in the eastern part and strike-slip related deformation in the western part. The analysis of fault geometries and kinematics linked to timing and subsidence rates suggest that the N-S-orientated strike-slip structures dominated the continental shelf and slope area on the west side of the basin. In the basin, however, most faults strike NE-SW and are parallel to the mid-ocean ridge. Thus, it appears that the ZJN basin resulted from the partitioning between strike-slip and orthogonal extension.</p><p>In our presentation we show the results of our seismic interpretation, strain and subsidence analysis and discuss the interaction between strike-slip and orthogonal extension in setting up the hyper-extended ZJN basin and its implications for the large scale tectonic and geodynamic framework.</p>


2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
D F Greene ◽  
E A Johnson

Many aspects of temporal variation in tree seed production (e.g., the proability distribution, periodicity, uni modality) are poorly understood. In this paper, we used 32 annual seed production records from 22 species to show that there are no discernible endogenous cycles, and there is a modest (but seldom significant) tendency for a high seed production year to be followed by an unusually low production year. Finally, we found that all of the records conformed to a single lognormal probability distribution, although our ability to discriminate among species, given short and extremely variable records, is admittedly very limited. We used the lognormal to develop the distribution of the sums of local seed production events (summed across 4 years) as an aid in predicting postharvest or postfire tree regeneration success. Our conclusion is that reliable (defined as 90% of the time) adequate stocking at the edge of an area source requires that the species of interest must comprise a very large fraction of the total basal area per area. Indeed, if the species constitutes less than about 50% of the source, neither burns nor even very narrow strip cuts will be reliably stocked.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikael Evain ◽  
Philippe Schnürle ◽  
Angélique Leprêtre ◽  
Fanny Verrier ◽  
Louise Watremez ◽  
...  

Abstract. Deep seismic acquisitions and a new kinematic study recently highlighted the presence of continental crust in both the southern Mozambique's Coastal Plain (MCP) and further offshore in the North Natal Valley (NNV). Such findings falsify previous geodynamic scenarios based on the kinematic overlap between Antarctica and Africa plates, thus profoundly impacting our understanding East-Gondwana break-up. Using an updated position of Antarctica with respect to Africa this study reconsider the formation mechanism of East-African margins and most specifically of the Limpopo margin (LM). Coincident wide-angle and multi-channel seismic data acquired within the PAMELA project are processed to image the sedimentary and deep crustal structure along a profile that runs from the northeastern NNV to the Mozambique basin (MB) striking through the LM. This dataset is combined with companion deep seismic profiles and industrial onshore-offshore seismic lines to provide a robust scenario for the formation and evolution of the LM. Our P-wave velocity model consists of an upper sedimentary sequence of weakly compacted sediments including intrusions and lava flows in the NNV while contourites and mass transport deposits dominates the eastern edge of the LM. This sequence covers a thick acoustic basement that terminates as a prominent basement high just west of the contourites and mass transport deposits domain. The acoustic basement has a seismic facies and velocity signature typical of a volcano-sedimentary basin and appears widespread over our study area extending toward the eastern MCP and NNV. Based on industrial well logs that calibrate our tectono-stratigraphic analysis we constrain its age to be pre-Neocomian. We further infer that either strike-slip or trans-tensional deformation occurred at the basement high which sustained uplift up to the Neocomian. At depth, the crystalline basement and uppermost mantle velocity structures show a progressive eastward crustal thinning of continental crust along the edge of the MCP/NNV and up to the location of the basement high. On its eastern side, however, a corridor of anomalous crust depicts the velocity signature of a volcanic basement overlying lower continental crust. We infer that strike-slip rifting along the LM was accommodated at depth by ductile shearing responsible for the thinning of the continental crust and an oceanward flow of lower crustal material. This process was accompanied by intense magmatism that extruded to form the volcanic basement and gave to the corridor its peculiar structure and mixed nature. The whole region remained at a relative high level and a shallow marine environment dominated during this period. Only after break-up in the MB decoupling occurred between the MCP/NNV and the corridor allowing for the latter to subside and being covered by deep marine sediments. We provide new insights into the early evolution and formation of the LM that takes into account both kinematic and geological constraints. This scenario favors strike-slip rifting along the LM meaning that no changes in extensional direction occurred between the rifting and the opening of the MB.


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