The 2015<i>M</i>_w 6.4 Pishan Earthquake: Seismic Hazards of an Active Blind Wedge Thrust System at the Western Kunlun Range Front, Northwest Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

Research Article| March 30, 2016 The 2015 Mw 6.4 Pishan Earthquake: Seismic Hazards of an Active Blind Wedge Thrust System at the Western Kunlun Range Front, Northwest Tibetan Plateau Tao Li; Tao Li aResearch Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, PetroChina, Xueyuan Road 20, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, [e-mail] Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jie Chen; Jie Chen bState Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamics, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100029, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Lihua Fang; Lihua Fang cInstitute of Geophysics, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100081, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Zhuxin Chen; Zhuxin Chen aResearch Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, PetroChina, Xueyuan Road 20, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, [e-mail] Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jessica A. Thompson; Jessica A. Thompson dDepartment of Earth Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106 U.S.A. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Chengzao Jia Chengzao Jia aResearch Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, PetroChina, Xueyuan Road 20, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, [e-mail] Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Tao Li aResearch Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, PetroChina, Xueyuan Road 20, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, [e-mail] Jie Chen bState Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamics, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100029, China Lihua Fang cInstitute of Geophysics, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100081, China Zhuxin Chen aResearch Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, PetroChina, Xueyuan Road 20, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, [e-mail] Jessica A. Thompson dDepartment of Earth Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106 U.S.A. Chengzao Jia aResearch Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, PetroChina, Xueyuan Road 20, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, [e-mail] Publisher: Seismological Society of America First Online: 14 Jul 2017 Online Issn: 1938-2057 Print Issn: 0895-0695 © 2016 by the Seismological Society of America Seismological Research Letters (2016) 87 (3): 601–608. https://doi.org/10.1785/0220150205 Article history First Online: 14 Jul 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Tao Li, Jie Chen, Lihua Fang, Zhuxin Chen, Jessica A. Thompson, Chengzao Jia; The 2015 Mw 6.4 Pishan Earthquake: Seismic Hazards of an Active Blind Wedge Thrust System at the Western Kunlun Range Front, Northwest Tibetan Plateau. Seismological Research Letters 2016;; 87 (3): 601–608. doi: https://doi.org/10.1785/0220150205 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietySeismological Research Letters Search Advanced Search ABSTRACT Active blind‐thrust systems pose hidden but destructive earthquake hazards in convergent mountain fronts around the world, exemplified by the most recent 2015 Mw 6.4 Pishan event in the Hetian fold belt at the western Kunlun range front, northwest Tibetan plateau. Integrated analysis of surface geology, topography, seismic reflection profiles, and Pishan seismicity delineates the surface and subsurface geometries of the Hetian fold belt. Our results indicate that the fold belt is a segmented, active blind wedge thrust system. The Pishan event is generated by one wedge thrust segment along its leading edge: the mainshock is generated on the low‐angle fore‐thrust Slik ramp, and the aftershocks are diffusely distributed across the ramp, overlying anticline, and some unimaged structures beneath the ramp. Mapped sizes of other segments suggest that the fold belt is capable of much larger (Mw≥7.5) and more destructive earthquakes. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.