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EARTHQUAKE ›› 2014, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (4): 118-126.

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Characteristics and Seismic Tectonic Background of the 2013 Delingha ML4.5 Earthquake Swarm

YAO Jia-jun1, MA Yu-hu1, ZHAO Yan-jie1, YUAN Fu-quan1, FENG Hong-wu2   

  1. 1. EarthquakeAdministration of Qinghai Province, Xining 810000,China;
    2. Lanzhou Institute of Seismology, CEA, Lanzhou 730000, China
  • Received:2014-03-20 Revised:2014-05-16 Published:2020-09-11

Abstract: Several earthquakes with ML4.0~4.5 occurred in Delingha suburbs in 2013, and were strongly feltin theurban area. We carried out relocation forthe earthquakeswarm by the double-difference method. The results show that epicenter distribution is extended in the NS direction nearly , the focal depth is concentrated at 4~ 1km and it is unsymmetrically funnel-shaped in the vertical section. Using CAP method, focal mechanism solutions of ML≥3.3 earthquakes are also determined, which shows that these eart hquakes are strike slip. The characteristics of earthquakes warm are completely different from the Zongwulong mountain fault that is the main structure in this region. It is discovered that there are many small transverse ruptures with strike slip propertiesin the vicinity of the main structure at the edge of depressions or basins. Delingha is located in the northern margin of Qaidam basin and some transverse ruptures may be inferred by the comparison of similar-tectonics. The characteristics of this eart hquakes swarm correspond to transverse ruptures with strike slip properties, we infer that the earthquakes warm is not connected with the Zongwulong mountain fault directly, and may be a result of the activity of transverse rupture. The small scale of transverse ruptures restricts the strength of seismic activity, so it can be judged that the possibility of strong earthquake with larger magnitude is rather small in the region.

Key words: Double-difference location, CAP method, Transverse fault, Earthquake swarm

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