Abstract:
Taking Wenchuan
MS8.0, Yutian
MS7.3, Lushan
MS7.0, Ludian
MS6.5 and Jinggu
MS6.6 earthquakes as examples, the relationship between spatial anomaly distribution of seismic activities and earthquakes occurrence location was analyzed based on the region-time-length (RTL) algorithm. And the relationship between regional seismic activity and earthquake occurrence time based on the new physical parameter
IRTL which was the surface integral in respect to region-time-length was explored. The results show that seismic quie-scence was detected prior to the three strong earthquakes with
MS≥7.0, and an enhancement of seismic activity was detected before the two
MS>6.0 earthquakes. Spatial anomalies of the above seismic quiescence and enhancement were mainly distributed in the potential causative fault and its surrounding areas near the epicenters. The range and degree of anomalies chronologically changed from small to large, and then to small again. During 1--3 years prior to the earthquakes with
MS≥7.0,
IRTL decreased from the zero value; and when falling to the lowest value, it rebounded. The time length from the lowest point of
IRTL curve to the earthquake occurrence was 9--18 months. Before the Ludian
MS6.5 and Jinggu
MS6.6 earthquakes,
IRTL curve began to increase from the lowest point 1 year and 1.8 years separately, and then reduced after reaching the peak point. The time length from the peak points of
IRTL curve to the earthquakes occurrence were three and nine months for the Ludian and Jinggu earthquakes, respectively. Therefore it is deduced that the lowest point of
IRTL curve in the stage of seismic quiescence and the peak point of
IRTL curve in the stage of enhanced activity may be indicators of earthquake occurrence.