Focal Mechanism and Seismogenic Structure of the MS 5.1 Qingbaijiang Earthquake on February 3, 2020, Southwestern China

The 3 February 2020 MS 5.1 Qingbaijiang earthquake, southwestern China, is the closest recorded MS ≥ 5.0 event to downtown Chengdu City to date, with an epicentral distance of only 38 km. Here we analyze seismic data from the Sichuan and Chengdu regional seismic networks, and employ a multi-stage location method to relocate the earthquakes that have occurred along the central and northern segments of the Longquanshan fault zone since 2009, including the MS 5.1 Qingbaijiang earthquake sequence, to investigate the seismogenic structure of the region. The relocation results indicate that the seismicity along the central and northern segments of the Longquanshan fault zone has occurred mainly along the eastern branch since 2009, with the hypocentral distribution along a vertical cross-section illustrating a steep, NW-dipping parallel imbricate structure. The terminating depth of the eastern branch is about 12 km. The distribution of the MS 5.1 Qingbaijiang earthquake sequence is along the NE–SW-striking Longquanshan fault zone. The aftershock focal depths are in the 3–6 km range, with the mainshock located at 104.475°E, 30.73°N. Its initial rupture depth of 5.2 km indicates that the earthquake occurred above the shallow decollement layer of the upper crust in this region. The hypocentral distribution along the long axis of the aftershock area highlights that this earthquake sequence occurred along a fault dipping at 56° to the NW. Our surface projection of the inferred fault plane places it near the eastern branch of the Longquanshan fault zone. We infer the MS 5.1 mainshock to be a thrust faulting event based on the focal mechanism solution via the cut-and-paste waveform inversion method, with strike/dip/rake parameters of 22°/36°/91° and 200°/54°/89° obtained for nodal planes I and II, respectively. We identify that the seismogenic fault of the MS 5.1 Qingbaijiang earthquake lies along the eastern branch of the Longquanshan fault zone, and nodal plane II represents the coseismic rupture plane, based on a joint analysis of the event relocation results, mainshock focal mechanism, and regional geological information. Our study provides vital information for assessing the seismic hazard of the Longquanshan fault zone near Chengdu City.

Analysis of the Seismicity in the Jalisco Block from June to December 2015

ABSTRACT We present the first study of seismicity in the region of the Jalisco Block using data recorded by the Jalisco Seismic Accelerometric Telemetric Network between June and December 2015. During this period, 683 local earthquakes with magnitudes between 1.0<ML≤4.0 were identified and relocated with Hypo71PC. From this catalog, we identify a heterogeneous hypocentral distribution with six continental crustal seismogenic areas. We also observed seismicity associated with the subduction process that extends 180 km from the Mesoamerican trench, which suggests an estimated dip angle of the slab between 22° and 31°. A subtle dip also suggests oblique subduction toward the Colima rift zone and bending of the Rivera plate. These observations are in agreement with previous partial regional studies using local seismic networks. Two seismic swarms were observed in this period, one in the Bahia de Banderas seismogenic zone, and a second in the Guadalajara Metropolitan zone. We note two areas on the northern coast of Jalisco with meager rates of seismicity.

Relationship Between Hypocentral Distribution and Geological Structure in the Horonobe Area, Northern Hokkaido, Japan

In this paper, we discuss the relationship between the accurate hypocentral distribution and three-dimensional (3-D) geological structure in and around the Horonobe area in northern Hokkaido, Japan. The multiplet-clustering analysis was applied to the 421 micro-earthquakes which occurred from 1 September, 2003 to 30 September, 2007. The 3-D geological structure model was mainly constructed from previous seismic reflection profiles and borehole data. As a result of this analysis, although with slight differences in depth between them, the hypocenters were found to be distributed in the NNW-SSE direction and become deeper from the west toward the east. The distributed pattern of the hypocenters is similar to that of the geological structure. These results indicate that the hypocentral distribution may represent existence of active zone related to the geological structure, and provide effective information which can contribute to establishing methods for estimating the future evolution of the geological environment.

Microseismicity in the mid-St. Lawrence Valley Charlevoix zone, Québec

abstract Previous seismicity studies of the Charlevoix zone of the mid-St. Lawrence Valley have defined the extent of the active zone. Continued monitoring of this zone has yielded more hypocenters that, together with the previous data, give a more detailed picture of the hypocentral distribution of the microactivity. A more definite correlation can now be made with the known structure in this region and the faults of the St. Lawrence VAlley in general. The cumulative data permit a definition of lateral boundaries of the seismic activity, range of focal depths, and anomalous nonseismic zones. It is also possible to make a correlation with the normal faults that were probably associated with the paleorifting of the St. Lawrence Valley but are now under compression. In this seismically active region, part of these preexisting partially sealed faults were most likely weakened again at the time of formation of the Charlevoix impact structure.