A Statistical Analysis on the Wenchuan Aftershock Activity Triggered by Earth Tide1

Abstract

A statistical analysis on the Wenchuan aftershock activity triggered by tidal forces is systematically studied based on Schusters test, including earthquakes triggered by tidal force, tidal stress and tidal coulomb failure stress. The results show that a group of strong aftershocks which occurred at the end of July to early August in 2008 at the north of Wenchuan were obviously triggered by earth tide, the same conclusion is drawn by Schusters smooth test of the tidal force, tidal stress and tidal coulomb failure stress. In addition, the Wenchuan aftershock activity is obviously triggered by fortnight tide. In the north, the aftershocks happened more frequently in the first and last quarters of the moon, and in the south, the aftershocks happened more frequently in the first and last quarters of the moon and during the full moon.