Introplate earthquakes in Introplate earthquakes in North China: Challenges North China: Challenges and opportunitiesand opportunities

Mian LiuDept. of Geological Sciences

University of Missouri - Columbia

Historic and modern seismicity in China and surrounding regionsHistoric and modern seismicity in China and surrounding regions

1976 Tangshan Earthquake~250,000 people killed

1. North China is one of the best examples of intraplate seismicity

Why Greater North China?Why Greater North China?

2. North China is one of the best examples of intraplate volcanism.

Why Greater North China?Why Greater North China?

世界全新世火山分布 (Simkin and Siebert, 1994)

3. North China is one of the best examples of reactivated cratons.

Why Greater North China?Why Greater North China?

华北岩石圈演化模式示意图 (Xu Yigang)North China Lithospheric Evolution

The Greater North China is the cradle of Chinese geology and one of the best studied regions in China

华北地区深地震测深测线分布华北地区深地震测深测线分布

刘昌铨等，刘昌铨等， 19821982 ，， 19861986 ；张先康等，；张先康等， 19951995 ，， 19981998 ；嘉；嘉世旭等，世旭等， 1995; 1995; 王椿镛等，王椿镛等， 19931993 ；张先康等，；张先康等， 19961996 ；刘；刘福田等，福田等， 19861986 ；朱露培等，；朱露培等， 19901990 ；孙若昧等，；孙若昧等， 1995;. 1995;. 李李松林松林 ,2001.,2001.

The Greater North China is a good natural laboratory for understanding dynamic coupling between climate, hydrosphere, and solid earth in the evovling earth system.

Opportunities (1)Opportunities (1)

NSF China has included North China tectonics as one of the top-priority studies in its newly drafted strategic plan

NSF China Strategic Plan:

地球科学“十一五”发展战略（征求意见稿， 2005 年 10 月 8日）

重要研究方向 :

（ 2) 大华北新生代大陆动力学、气候演化和灾害　　影响板内地震的深部地质因素　　现今地壳变形、应变场及其地壳变形模型　　板内地震成因与地震灾害预测　　深部地幔结构、演化与火山活动的时空关系　　软流圈和岩石圈相互作用及岩石圈减薄机制

Opportunities (2)Opportunities (2)

NSF China has recently funded the “Deep Earth Lightening Project:

~$20 Million USD over five years

Opportunities (3)Opportunities (3)

North China Array: 800 (600 newly acquired) broadband seismometers to match the “Deep Earth Lightening Project.

An unique opportunity for An unique opportunity for International collaboration!International collaboration!

Under planning: Two US-China joint workshops on collaborative research in North China

Distribution of the portable seismic array

SSB

Ongoing Effort: Lithospheric Structure and Deformation Around the OrdosOngoing Effort: Lithospheric Structure and Deformation Around the Ordos

Collaborators:

Univeristy of Missouri-Columbia(Liu, Sandvol)

Nanjing University, China(WANG Liangshu, MI Ning)

Peking University, China(John CHEN, ZHOU Shiyong)

Xi’an Geodetic Center, China(WANG qingliang, CUI Duxin)

Institute of Geophysics, China(HE Jiangkun)

Ordos Plateau

TibetXi’an

SKS splitting results Migrated receiver functions

Preliminary Results of the Pilot Seismic Profile Across the Liupan Shan Thrust BeltPreliminary Results of the Pilot Seismic Profile Across the Liupan Shan Thrust Belt

Liu

pan

Sh

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NSF PIRE: A US-China Partnership in Research and Education of Intraplate Earthquakes

US Institutions: University of Missouri-

Columbia (lead institution) University of Oklahoma University of Colorado North Carolina State

University Chinese Partners

Peking University Nanjing University Chinese Earthquake

Administration Chinese Academy of

Sciences,

Research objectives: imaging regional 3-D earth

structure using ambient noise tomography and other seismological techniques;

producing high-resolution seismic images of crustal and fault structures;

constraining crustal strain rates using space geodesy and paleoseismic surveys;

simulating the occurrence and migration of intraplate earthquakes.

In the past 200 years, seismicity in N China apparently migrated from the Weihe-Shanxi graben eastward to the North China Plain

Thank You!