In large continental orogens, an important research topic is the behavior of deep crustal and upper mantle deformation, and the flow styles of ductile material. The morphology of the eastern margin of the Tibetan plat...In large continental orogens, an important research topic is the behavior of deep crustal and upper mantle deformation, and the flow styles of ductile material. The morphology of the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau, adjacent to the Sichuan basin, is characterized by very steep relief with high mountain ranges. The crust beneath this region slows the velocities in the middle and lower crust. We have adopted a relatively dense network to inverse the detailed structure of the crust and upper mantle along the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau and Sichuan basin, using teleseismic data via receiver function analysis. The results are in-line with the hypothesis that viscous crustal material is flowing beneath the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau and that this process drives overlying crustal material around the strong and rigid Sichuan basin. When the viscous material hits this obstruction, flows are divided into two or more branches with different directions. The upper part of the upwelling viscous flow produces the pressure to intrude the upper crust, thereby driving uplift of mountain ranges and high peaks. In contrast, the lower part of the downwelling viscous flow produces the pressure to intrude the lower crust and upper mantle to deepen the Moho discontinuity, causing observed crustal thickening.展开更多
The channel flow model was gradually being accepted with the more important multidisci- plinary evidences from geology and geophysics, but how the lower crustal flow influenced the surface deformation quantitatively w...The channel flow model was gradually being accepted with the more important multidisci- plinary evidences from geology and geophysics, but how the lower crustal flow influenced the surface deformation quantitatively was unknown. Here, we develop a three-dimensional viscoelastic model to explore the mechanical relations between the lower crustal flow and the surface deformation in western Sichuan. Based on numerous tests, our results show that the modeled results fit well with the observed GPS data when the lower crust flows faster than the upper crust about 11 mm/a in the rhombic block, which can be useful to understand the possible mechanism of the surface deformation in western Siehuan. Moreover, taking the Xianshuihe fault as an example, we preliminarily analyze the relation between the active fault and stress field, according to the boundary constraints that deduced from the best model. The results show that the maximum shear stress on the Xianshuihe fault zone is mainly located in the fault terminal, intersections and the bend of the fault geometry, the stress level on the northwestern segment that has the high slip rate is relatively high. Additionally, with the reduction of the Young's modulus in the fault zone, it's conducive to generate the greater strain distribution, hence forming the high stress level.展开更多
On the basis of distribution of active fault and regional rheological structure, a three-dimensional finite element model of Sichuan-Yunnan region, China, is constructed to simulate contemporary crustal motion and str...On the basis of distribution of active fault and regional rheological structure, a three-dimensional finite element model of Sichuan-Yunnan region, China, is constructed to simulate contemporary crustal motion and stress distribution and discuss the dynamic mechanism of crustal motion and deformation in the Sichuan-Yunnan region. Linear Maxwell visco-elastic model is applied, which includes the active fault zones, the elastic upper crust and viscous lower crust and upper mantle. Four different models with different boundary conditions and deep structure are calculated. Some conclusions are drawn through comparison. Firstly, the crustal rotation about the eastern syntaxis of the Himalaya in the Sicuan-Yunnan region may be controlled by the special dynamic boundary condition. The drag force of the lower-crust on the upper crust is not negligible. At the same time, the main active fault zones play an important role in the contemporary crustal motion and deformation in Sichuan-Yunnan region.展开更多
Using the broadband seismic data of the regional stations in the Sichuan Digital Seismic Network and the mobile seismic stations in this region,the receiver function inversion method was adopted to study the character...Using the broadband seismic data of the regional stations in the Sichuan Digital Seismic Network and the mobile seismic stations in this region,the receiver function inversion method was adopted to study the characteristics of crustal flow and dynamic effects in Sichuan and adjacent areas. The results show that: Velocity in the crust and upper mantle of the Sichuan basin is significantly higher than that beneath the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. The velocity v_S is from 3. 6 to 3. 8km / s in the crust and4. 5- 4. 8km / s in the upper mantle beneath the basin,and there is no low-velocity layer in the crust. The lithology shows a hard block. The v_S velocity in the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau is lower,with average v_Sof 3. 0- 3. 4km / s in the mid crust and4. 0- 4. 5km / s in the upper mantle. Low-velocity layers are distributed widely in the crust,most of which are in the mid crust at a depth of 20km- 40 km,and there are also a few low-velocity layers appearing in the upper crust at depths of 10km- 20 km and the lower crust at depths of 40km- 60 km. Affected by the northward pushing of the Indian plate,the eastward movement of the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau is blocked by the hard Sichuan basin,producing a southward and southeastward component.Such movement process is produced by the complicated forces acting in this area. Just under the action of these forces, the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau becomes a region with complicated geology and intensive earthquake activity. Obstructed by the hard Sichuan basin,the low-velocity crustal flow is delaminated and split into two or three upward and downward tributaries. The upward flow intruded into the upper crust,causing uplift of the earths urface,forming mountain crests; the downward flow intruded into the lower crust and upper mantle,resulting in thickening of the crust and depression of the Moho. The crustal flow in the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau is mainly distributed along the active faults. The crustal flow flows out from the Qiangtang block in the middle part of the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau,the mainstream flows along the NW-SE trending Xianshuihe fault zone,then turns NS and flows to the south along the Anninghe and Xiaojiang faults. There is another crustal flow in the north of the study area,flowing in the NE and E-W directions to the Longmenshan faults.展开更多
A teleseismic profile consisting of 26 stations was deployed along 30°N latitude in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. By use of the inversion of P-wave receiver function, the S-wave velocity structures at depth from s...A teleseismic profile consisting of 26 stations was deployed along 30°N latitude in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. By use of the inversion of P-wave receiver function, the S-wave velocity structures at depth from surface to 80 km beneath the profile have been determined. The inversion results reveal that there is significant lateral variation of the crustal structure between the tectonic blocks on the profile. From Linzhi north of the eastern Himalayan Syntaxis, the crust is gradually thickened in NE direction; the crustal thickness reaches to the maximum value (~72 km) at the Bangong-Nujiang suture, and then decreased to 65 km in the Qiangtang block, to 57―64 km in the Bayan Har block, and to 40―45 km in the Sichuan Basin. The eastern segment of the teleseismic profile (to the east of Batang) coincides geographically with the Zhubalong-Zizhong deep seismic sounding profile carried out in 2000, and the S-wave velocity structure determined from receiver functions is consistent with the P-wave velocity structure obtained by deep seismic sounding in respect of the depths of Moho and major crustal interfaces. In the Qiangtang and the Bayan Har blocks, the lower velocity layer is widespread in the lower crust (at depth of 30―60 km) along the profile, while there is a normal velocity distribution in lower crust in the Sichuan Basin. On an average, the crustal velocity ratio (Poisson ratio) in tectonic blocks on the profile is 1.73 (σ = 0.247) in the Lhasa block, 1.78 (σ = 0.269) in the Banggong-Nujiang suture, 1.80 (σ = 0.275) in the Qiangtang block, 1.86 (σ = 0.294) in the Bayan Har blocks, and 1.77 (σ = 0.265) in the Yangtze block, respectively. The Qiangtang and the Bayan Har blocks are characterized by lower S-wave velocity anomaly in lower crust, complicated Moho transition, and higher crustal Poisson ratio, indicating that there is a hot and weak medium in lower crust. These are considered as the deep environment of lower crustal flow in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Flowage of the ductile material in lower crust may be attributable to the variation of the gravitational potential energy in upper crust from higher on the plateau to lower off plateau.展开更多
Based on conservation of energy principle and heat flow data in China continent, the upper limit of 1.3 μW/m3 heat production is obtained for continental crust in China. Furthermore, using the data of heat flow and h...Based on conservation of energy principle and heat flow data in China continent, the upper limit of 1.3 μW/m3 heat production is obtained for continental crust in China. Furthermore, using the data of heat flow and helium isotope ratio of underground fluid, the heat productions of different tectonic units in China continent are estimated in range of 0.58-1.12 μW/m3 with a median of 0.85 μW/m3. Accordingly, the contents of U, Th and K20 in China crust are in ranges of 0.83-1.76 μg/g, 3.16-6.69 μg/g, and 1.0%-2.12%, respectively. These results indicate that the abundance of radioactive elements in the crust of China continent is much higher than that of Archean crust; and this fact implies China's continental crust is much evolved in chemical composition. Meanwhile, significant lateral variation of crustal composition is also exhibited among different tectonic units in China continent. The crust of eastern China is much enriched in incompatible elements such as U, Th and K than that of western China; and the crust of orogenic belts is more enriched than that of platform regions. It can also be inferred that the crusts of eastern China and orogenic belts are much felsic than those of western China and platform regions, respectively, derived from the positive correlation between the heat production and SiO2 content of bulk crust. This deduction is consistent with the results derived from the crustal seismic velocity data in China. According to the facts of the lower seismic velocity of China than the average value of global crust, and the higher heat production of China continent compared with global crust composition models published by previous studies, it is deduced that the average composition models of global continent crust by Rudnick and Fountain (1995), Rudnick and Gao (2003), Weaver and Tarney (1984), Shaw et al. (1986), and Wedepohl (1995) overestimate the abundance of incompatible elements such as U, Th and K of continental crust.展开更多
According to both the general formula of ground surface displacement by drainage from a well for radial permeable flow of underground water and the drawdown expressions for the flow in multilayered structural aquifers...According to both the general formula of ground surface displacement by drainage from a well for radial permeable flow of underground water and the drawdown expressions for the flow in multilayered structural aquifers, we have derived the analytical expressions of surface displacement induced by steady flow withdrawal from a full penetrating well on phreatic water and confined water in multilayered structural aquifers and discussed the numerial integration scheme of these analytical expressions. And by means of Hermite′s quadrature formula with 20 nodes, we have made calculational programs and examples to show that the methods mentioned in this paper are effective. We think that these methods lay a foundation to study quantitatively crustal deformation due to groundwater drainage when we are engaged in high precision dynamic geodetic measurement on the area of steady flow of multilayered aquifers.展开更多
We study the recent upper crustal heat flow variations caused by long-term physical processes such as paleoclimate, erosion, sedimentation and mantle plume upwelling. As specific heat flow is a common lower boundary c...We study the recent upper crustal heat flow variations caused by long-term physical processes such as paleoclimate, erosion, sedimentation and mantle plume upwelling. As specific heat flow is a common lower boundary condition in many models of heat en fluid flow in the Earth’s crust we quantify its long-term transient variation caused by paleoclimate, erosion or sedimentation, mantle plume upwelling and deep groundwater flow. The studied area extends between the Eifel mountains and the Maas river inCentral Europe. The total variation due to these processes in our study area amounts to tectonic events manifested in the studied area 20 mW/m2, about 30% of the present day specific heat flow in the region.展开更多
This study examines the relationship between high positive isostatic gravity anomalies (IGA), steep topography and lower crustal extrusion at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. IGA data has revealed uplift a...This study examines the relationship between high positive isostatic gravity anomalies (IGA), steep topography and lower crustal extrusion at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. IGA data has revealed uplift and extrusion of lower crustal flow in the Longmen Shan Mountains (the LMS). Firstly, The high positive IGA zone corresponds to the LMS orogenic belt. It is shown that abrupt changes in IGA correspond to zones of abrupt change of topography, crustal thickness and rock density along the LMS. Secondly, on the basis of the Airy isostasy theory, simulations and inversions of the positive IGA were conducted using three-dimensional bodies. The results indicated that the LMS lacks a mountain root, and that the top surface of the lower crust has been elevated by 11 km, leading to positive IGA, tectonic load and density load. Thirdly, according to Watts's flexural isostasy model, elastic deflection occurs, suggesting that the limited (i.e. narrow) tectonic and density load driven by lower crustal flow in the LMS have led to asymmetric flexural subsidence in the foreland basin and lifting of the forebulge. Finally, based on the correspondence between zones of extremely high positive IGA and the presence of the Precambrian Pengguan-Baoxing complexes in the LMS, the first appearance of erosion gravels from the complexes in the Dayi Conglomerate layer of the Chengdu Basin suggest that positive IGA and lower crustal flow in the LMS took place at 3.6 Ma or slightly earlier.展开更多
Seismic tomography reveals an “R-shape” regional flow constrained between the depths of 50 to 80 km in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau (STP) which demonstrates some of the differences revealed by the magnetotelluri...Seismic tomography reveals an “R-shape” regional flow constrained between the depths of 50 to 80 km in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau (STP) which demonstrates some of the differences revealed by the magnetotelluric (MT) soundings in some areas. The “R-shape” flow could be present in both the lower crust and uppermost mantle, but not in the lower crust above the Moho discontinuity. Lateral flow has been imaged under the Qiangtang and Songpan-Ganzi blocks while two channel flows have been revealed beneath the south part of the STP with the eastward lateral flow from the Qiangtang block separating into two channel flows. One branch turns southwards at the south Qiangtang block, along the Bangong-Nujiang fault reaching to the Indochina block, and another is across the Songpan-Ganzi block (fold system) which then separates into northward and southward parts. The northward branch is along the edge of the north Sichuan basin reaching to the Qingling fault and the southward channel turns south along the Anninghe fault, then turns eastward along the margins of the south Sichuan basin. Our study suggests that the crustal deformation along the deep, large sutures (such as the Longmen Shan fault zone) is maintained by dynamic pressure from the regional flow intermingled with the hot upwelling asthenosphere. The material in the lower crust and uppermost mantle flowing outward from the center of the plateau is buttressed by the old, strong lithosphere that underlies the Sichuan basin, pushing up on the crust above and maintaining steep topography through dynamic pressure. We therefore consider that the “R-shape” regional flow played a key role in the crustal deformation along the deep suture zones of the Bangong-Nujiang, the Longmen-Shan faults, and other local heavily faulted zones.展开更多
Various models exist to explain the formation of the Tibetan Plateau,including“tectonic escape”,“pure shear thickening”,“convective removal of the lithospheric mantle”,and“lower crustal flow”model.The first tw...Various models exist to explain the formation of the Tibetan Plateau,including“tectonic escape”,“pure shear thickening”,“convective removal of the lithospheric mantle”,and“lower crustal flow”model.The first two models are primarily constructed on pure mechanical models but are unable to reasonably explain the tension and shear phenomena inside the plateau.The latter two are rheological dynamic models based on deep geophysical observations.However,the spatial range of the lower crustal flow and its role in the plateau formation/uplift remain controversial.Five multi-terrane viscoplastic thermomechanical models were constructed to simulate the uplift and lithospheric structure change of the Tibetan Plateau during the post-collision stage(since 35 Ma)under the convergence of the Indian Plate.Results show that the plateau's formation begins with crustal thickening,blocked by strong terranes at the northern plateau,and expanded laterally to the east.The lithosphere thickens gradually and experiences delamination at its base,elevating temperature within the crust and forming partial melting layers in the central plateau.As convergence persists on the southern side,the northern plateau's lithosphere bends downward and undergoes delamination,further heating the crust and promoting the northward and eastward flow of partial melting layers,leading to secondary uplift around the plateau.展开更多
The crustal thicknesses and the Poisson’s ratios under the seismic stations can be calculated by receiver function method with H-κ stacking effectively. But the stacking results are affected to some extent by the av...The crustal thicknesses and the Poisson’s ratios under the seismic stations can be calculated by receiver function method with H-κ stacking effectively. But the stacking results are affected to some extent by the average crustal P-wave velocity. To eliminate this effect and get more accurate crustal structure along the Zhenkang-Luxi deep seismic sounding profile which lies in Yunnan Province, we calculate the receiver functions from the teleseismic events recorded by 11 temporary stations as well as 5 permanent ones along the profile and carry out the stacking with Vp obtained from the profile in this study. Our study shows that the crustal thicknesses along the Zhenkang-Luxi profile range from 34.8 km to 41.8 km with an average of 39 km. The crust is thicker in the middle part of the profile and thinner in both sides in general. Dramatic changes of crustal thickness about 3 km are detected across both the Lancangjiang fault and the Xiaojiang fault, which implies that these faults cut through the Moho. The lowest Poisson’s ratio under the stations is 0.22 and the highest is 0.27 with the mean of 0.25, which is lower than the global average value 0.27 in the continental crust. It suggests that most of the crust along the profile lacks mafic component, but contains more felsic substance. The low Poisson’s ratio also indicates that there is no satisfying condition for partial melting. We deduce that the material flow in the middle-lower crust in the southeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau may occur only in the north region of 24°N.展开更多
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China under grant Nos. 40839909,41074062, and 40674040
文摘In large continental orogens, an important research topic is the behavior of deep crustal and upper mantle deformation, and the flow styles of ductile material. The morphology of the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau, adjacent to the Sichuan basin, is characterized by very steep relief with high mountain ranges. The crust beneath this region slows the velocities in the middle and lower crust. We have adopted a relatively dense network to inverse the detailed structure of the crust and upper mantle along the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau and Sichuan basin, using teleseismic data via receiver function analysis. The results are in-line with the hypothesis that viscous crustal material is flowing beneath the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau and that this process drives overlying crustal material around the strong and rigid Sichuan basin. When the viscous material hits this obstruction, flows are divided into two or more branches with different directions. The upper part of the upwelling viscous flow produces the pressure to intrude the upper crust, thereby driving uplift of mountain ranges and high peaks. In contrast, the lower part of the downwelling viscous flow produces the pressure to intrude the lower crust and upper mantle to deepen the Moho discontinuity, causing observed crustal thickening.
基金supported by the Basic Research Fund from the Institute of Crustal Dynamics, China Earthquake Administration (Nos. ZDJ2012-09, ZDJ2010-12)the National Key Technology Research and Development Program (No. 2012BAK19B03)
文摘The channel flow model was gradually being accepted with the more important multidisci- plinary evidences from geology and geophysics, but how the lower crustal flow influenced the surface deformation quantitatively was unknown. Here, we develop a three-dimensional viscoelastic model to explore the mechanical relations between the lower crustal flow and the surface deformation in western Sichuan. Based on numerous tests, our results show that the modeled results fit well with the observed GPS data when the lower crust flows faster than the upper crust about 11 mm/a in the rhombic block, which can be useful to understand the possible mechanism of the surface deformation in western Siehuan. Moreover, taking the Xianshuihe fault as an example, we preliminarily analyze the relation between the active fault and stress field, according to the boundary constraints that deduced from the best model. The results show that the maximum shear stress on the Xianshuihe fault zone is mainly located in the fault terminal, intersections and the bend of the fault geometry, the stress level on the northwestern segment that has the high slip rate is relatively high. Additionally, with the reduction of the Young's modulus in the fault zone, it's conducive to generate the greater strain distribution, hence forming the high stress level.
基金Ministry of Science and Technology (2004CB418406, 2005DKA64000)the Basic Science Research Plan of the Institute of Earthquake Science, China Earthquake Administration (02076902-03).
文摘On the basis of distribution of active fault and regional rheological structure, a three-dimensional finite element model of Sichuan-Yunnan region, China, is constructed to simulate contemporary crustal motion and stress distribution and discuss the dynamic mechanism of crustal motion and deformation in the Sichuan-Yunnan region. Linear Maxwell visco-elastic model is applied, which includes the active fault zones, the elastic upper crust and viscous lower crust and upper mantle. Four different models with different boundary conditions and deep structure are calculated. Some conclusions are drawn through comparison. Firstly, the crustal rotation about the eastern syntaxis of the Himalaya in the Sicuan-Yunnan region may be controlled by the special dynamic boundary condition. The drag force of the lower-crust on the upper crust is not negligible. At the same time, the main active fault zones play an important role in the contemporary crustal motion and deformation in Sichuan-Yunnan region.
基金funded by the key project of National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.40839909 and 41074062)
文摘Using the broadband seismic data of the regional stations in the Sichuan Digital Seismic Network and the mobile seismic stations in this region,the receiver function inversion method was adopted to study the characteristics of crustal flow and dynamic effects in Sichuan and adjacent areas. The results show that: Velocity in the crust and upper mantle of the Sichuan basin is significantly higher than that beneath the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. The velocity v_S is from 3. 6 to 3. 8km / s in the crust and4. 5- 4. 8km / s in the upper mantle beneath the basin,and there is no low-velocity layer in the crust. The lithology shows a hard block. The v_S velocity in the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau is lower,with average v_Sof 3. 0- 3. 4km / s in the mid crust and4. 0- 4. 5km / s in the upper mantle. Low-velocity layers are distributed widely in the crust,most of which are in the mid crust at a depth of 20km- 40 km,and there are also a few low-velocity layers appearing in the upper crust at depths of 10km- 20 km and the lower crust at depths of 40km- 60 km. Affected by the northward pushing of the Indian plate,the eastward movement of the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau is blocked by the hard Sichuan basin,producing a southward and southeastward component.Such movement process is produced by the complicated forces acting in this area. Just under the action of these forces, the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau becomes a region with complicated geology and intensive earthquake activity. Obstructed by the hard Sichuan basin,the low-velocity crustal flow is delaminated and split into two or three upward and downward tributaries. The upward flow intruded into the upper crust,causing uplift of the earths urface,forming mountain crests; the downward flow intruded into the lower crust and upper mantle,resulting in thickening of the crust and depression of the Moho. The crustal flow in the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau is mainly distributed along the active faults. The crustal flow flows out from the Qiangtang block in the middle part of the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau,the mainstream flows along the NW-SE trending Xianshuihe fault zone,then turns NS and flows to the south along the Anninghe and Xiaojiang faults. There is another crustal flow in the north of the study area,flowing in the NE and E-W directions to the Longmenshan faults.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants No. 40334041 and 40774037)the International Cooperation Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Grant No.2003DF000011)
文摘A teleseismic profile consisting of 26 stations was deployed along 30°N latitude in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. By use of the inversion of P-wave receiver function, the S-wave velocity structures at depth from surface to 80 km beneath the profile have been determined. The inversion results reveal that there is significant lateral variation of the crustal structure between the tectonic blocks on the profile. From Linzhi north of the eastern Himalayan Syntaxis, the crust is gradually thickened in NE direction; the crustal thickness reaches to the maximum value (~72 km) at the Bangong-Nujiang suture, and then decreased to 65 km in the Qiangtang block, to 57―64 km in the Bayan Har block, and to 40―45 km in the Sichuan Basin. The eastern segment of the teleseismic profile (to the east of Batang) coincides geographically with the Zhubalong-Zizhong deep seismic sounding profile carried out in 2000, and the S-wave velocity structure determined from receiver functions is consistent with the P-wave velocity structure obtained by deep seismic sounding in respect of the depths of Moho and major crustal interfaces. In the Qiangtang and the Bayan Har blocks, the lower velocity layer is widespread in the lower crust (at depth of 30―60 km) along the profile, while there is a normal velocity distribution in lower crust in the Sichuan Basin. On an average, the crustal velocity ratio (Poisson ratio) in tectonic blocks on the profile is 1.73 (σ = 0.247) in the Lhasa block, 1.78 (σ = 0.269) in the Banggong-Nujiang suture, 1.80 (σ = 0.275) in the Qiangtang block, 1.86 (σ = 0.294) in the Bayan Har blocks, and 1.77 (σ = 0.265) in the Yangtze block, respectively. The Qiangtang and the Bayan Har blocks are characterized by lower S-wave velocity anomaly in lower crust, complicated Moho transition, and higher crustal Poisson ratio, indicating that there is a hot and weak medium in lower crust. These are considered as the deep environment of lower crustal flow in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Flowage of the ductile material in lower crust may be attributable to the variation of the gravitational potential energy in upper crust from higher on the plateau to lower off plateau.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants Nos. 40376013, 40572128, and 40104003)
文摘Based on conservation of energy principle and heat flow data in China continent, the upper limit of 1.3 μW/m3 heat production is obtained for continental crust in China. Furthermore, using the data of heat flow and helium isotope ratio of underground fluid, the heat productions of different tectonic units in China continent are estimated in range of 0.58-1.12 μW/m3 with a median of 0.85 μW/m3. Accordingly, the contents of U, Th and K20 in China crust are in ranges of 0.83-1.76 μg/g, 3.16-6.69 μg/g, and 1.0%-2.12%, respectively. These results indicate that the abundance of radioactive elements in the crust of China continent is much higher than that of Archean crust; and this fact implies China's continental crust is much evolved in chemical composition. Meanwhile, significant lateral variation of crustal composition is also exhibited among different tectonic units in China continent. The crust of eastern China is much enriched in incompatible elements such as U, Th and K than that of western China; and the crust of orogenic belts is more enriched than that of platform regions. It can also be inferred that the crusts of eastern China and orogenic belts are much felsic than those of western China and platform regions, respectively, derived from the positive correlation between the heat production and SiO2 content of bulk crust. This deduction is consistent with the results derived from the crustal seismic velocity data in China. According to the facts of the lower seismic velocity of China than the average value of global crust, and the higher heat production of China continent compared with global crust composition models published by previous studies, it is deduced that the average composition models of global continent crust by Rudnick and Fountain (1995), Rudnick and Gao (2003), Weaver and Tarney (1984), Shaw et al. (1986), and Wedepohl (1995) overestimate the abundance of incompatible elements such as U, Th and K of continental crust.
文摘According to both the general formula of ground surface displacement by drainage from a well for radial permeable flow of underground water and the drawdown expressions for the flow in multilayered structural aquifers, we have derived the analytical expressions of surface displacement induced by steady flow withdrawal from a full penetrating well on phreatic water and confined water in multilayered structural aquifers and discussed the numerial integration scheme of these analytical expressions. And by means of Hermite′s quadrature formula with 20 nodes, we have made calculational programs and examples to show that the methods mentioned in this paper are effective. We think that these methods lay a foundation to study quantitatively crustal deformation due to groundwater drainage when we are engaged in high precision dynamic geodetic measurement on the area of steady flow of multilayered aquifers.
文摘We study the recent upper crustal heat flow variations caused by long-term physical processes such as paleoclimate, erosion, sedimentation and mantle plume upwelling. As specific heat flow is a common lower boundary condition in many models of heat en fluid flow in the Earth’s crust we quantify its long-term transient variation caused by paleoclimate, erosion or sedimentation, mantle plume upwelling and deep groundwater flow. The studied area extends between the Eifel mountains and the Maas river inCentral Europe. The total variation due to these processes in our study area amounts to tectonic events manifested in the studied area 20 mW/m2, about 30% of the present day specific heat flow in the region.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41372114,41502116,41340005,41172162,40972083,40841010)a research project of the National Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation(Grant No.SK-0801)
文摘This study examines the relationship between high positive isostatic gravity anomalies (IGA), steep topography and lower crustal extrusion at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. IGA data has revealed uplift and extrusion of lower crustal flow in the Longmen Shan Mountains (the LMS). Firstly, The high positive IGA zone corresponds to the LMS orogenic belt. It is shown that abrupt changes in IGA correspond to zones of abrupt change of topography, crustal thickness and rock density along the LMS. Secondly, on the basis of the Airy isostasy theory, simulations and inversions of the positive IGA were conducted using three-dimensional bodies. The results indicated that the LMS lacks a mountain root, and that the top surface of the lower crust has been elevated by 11 km, leading to positive IGA, tectonic load and density load. Thirdly, according to Watts's flexural isostasy model, elastic deflection occurs, suggesting that the limited (i.e. narrow) tectonic and density load driven by lower crustal flow in the LMS have led to asymmetric flexural subsidence in the foreland basin and lifting of the forebulge. Finally, based on the correspondence between zones of extremely high positive IGA and the presence of the Precambrian Pengguan-Baoxing complexes in the LMS, the first appearance of erosion gravels from the complexes in the Dayi Conglomerate layer of the Chengdu Basin suggest that positive IGA and lower crustal flow in the LMS took place at 3.6 Ma or slightly earlier.
文摘Seismic tomography reveals an “R-shape” regional flow constrained between the depths of 50 to 80 km in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau (STP) which demonstrates some of the differences revealed by the magnetotelluric (MT) soundings in some areas. The “R-shape” flow could be present in both the lower crust and uppermost mantle, but not in the lower crust above the Moho discontinuity. Lateral flow has been imaged under the Qiangtang and Songpan-Ganzi blocks while two channel flows have been revealed beneath the south part of the STP with the eastward lateral flow from the Qiangtang block separating into two channel flows. One branch turns southwards at the south Qiangtang block, along the Bangong-Nujiang fault reaching to the Indochina block, and another is across the Songpan-Ganzi block (fold system) which then separates into northward and southward parts. The northward branch is along the edge of the north Sichuan basin reaching to the Qingling fault and the southward channel turns south along the Anninghe fault, then turns eastward along the margins of the south Sichuan basin. Our study suggests that the crustal deformation along the deep, large sutures (such as the Longmen Shan fault zone) is maintained by dynamic pressure from the regional flow intermingled with the hot upwelling asthenosphere. The material in the lower crust and uppermost mantle flowing outward from the center of the plateau is buttressed by the old, strong lithosphere that underlies the Sichuan basin, pushing up on the crust above and maintaining steep topography through dynamic pressure. We therefore consider that the “R-shape” regional flow played a key role in the crustal deformation along the deep suture zones of the Bangong-Nujiang, the Longmen-Shan faults, and other local heavily faulted zones.
基金sponsored by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2021YFA0715100)the Shenzhen Fundamental Research Program,China(No.JCYJ20220818102601004)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41774145)the Pre-research Project on Civil Aerospace Technologies(No.D020101)of CNSA。
文摘Various models exist to explain the formation of the Tibetan Plateau,including“tectonic escape”,“pure shear thickening”,“convective removal of the lithospheric mantle”,and“lower crustal flow”model.The first two models are primarily constructed on pure mechanical models but are unable to reasonably explain the tension and shear phenomena inside the plateau.The latter two are rheological dynamic models based on deep geophysical observations.However,the spatial range of the lower crustal flow and its role in the plateau formation/uplift remain controversial.Five multi-terrane viscoplastic thermomechanical models were constructed to simulate the uplift and lithospheric structure change of the Tibetan Plateau during the post-collision stage(since 35 Ma)under the convergence of the Indian Plate.Results show that the plateau's formation begins with crustal thickening,blocked by strong terranes at the northern plateau,and expanded laterally to the east.The lithosphere thickens gradually and experiences delamination at its base,elevating temperature within the crust and forming partial melting layers in the central plateau.As convergence persists on the southern side,the northern plateau's lithosphere bends downward and undergoes delamination,further heating the crust and promoting the northward and eastward flow of partial melting layers,leading to secondary uplift around the plateau.
基金supported by the Seismic Youth Funding of Geophysical Exploration Center,China Earthquake Administration (YFGEC2016003)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41774070 and 41404049)
文摘The crustal thicknesses and the Poisson’s ratios under the seismic stations can be calculated by receiver function method with H-κ stacking effectively. But the stacking results are affected to some extent by the average crustal P-wave velocity. To eliminate this effect and get more accurate crustal structure along the Zhenkang-Luxi deep seismic sounding profile which lies in Yunnan Province, we calculate the receiver functions from the teleseismic events recorded by 11 temporary stations as well as 5 permanent ones along the profile and carry out the stacking with Vp obtained from the profile in this study. Our study shows that the crustal thicknesses along the Zhenkang-Luxi profile range from 34.8 km to 41.8 km with an average of 39 km. The crust is thicker in the middle part of the profile and thinner in both sides in general. Dramatic changes of crustal thickness about 3 km are detected across both the Lancangjiang fault and the Xiaojiang fault, which implies that these faults cut through the Moho. The lowest Poisson’s ratio under the stations is 0.22 and the highest is 0.27 with the mean of 0.25, which is lower than the global average value 0.27 in the continental crust. It suggests that most of the crust along the profile lacks mafic component, but contains more felsic substance. The low Poisson’s ratio also indicates that there is no satisfying condition for partial melting. We deduce that the material flow in the middle-lower crust in the southeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau may occur only in the north region of 24°N.