The main aim of this project is to investigate the deep structure beneath the Longmenshan fault zone in China, based on a very dense passive seismological profile (see black line in the location map). The Longmenshan fault zone hosted the Wenchuan earthquake of May 2008 with a magnitude (Mw) of 7.9 and the Lushan earthquake of June 2013 with a magnitude (Mw) of 6.6 (see location map). Since 2008, several deep boreholes have been drilled along the fault zone about 40 km northeast of the epicentre of the Wenchuan earthquake. It is planned to mainly use the receiver-function method, to investigate the deep structure and, in particular, the structure of the Moho. Other recent experiments at the borders of Tibet have shown that the region of the lower crust, including the Moho, play an important role in the growth of the plateau.
Time frame
- 1.1.2018 - 31.12.2020
Funding
- DFG - German Research Foundation
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
Principal Investigators
- J. Mechie (GFZ Potsdam)
- C. Yu (CAGS, Beijing)
- H. Qian (CAGS, Beijing)
- H. Li (CAGS, Beijing)
Cooperations
- Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing
Methods & Equipment
- Passive seismological profile
- 40 DSS Cube3 with Trillium Compact 120 s seismometer
- 10 EDL with Mark L-4C-3D seismometer
Publications/Results
- Qian, H., Yu, C., Mechie, J. and Zeng, X., 2022. Dense seismological array and profile across the Longmenshan and the deep extension of the Pengguan complex. Tectonophysics, 823, 229193, doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2021.229193