Recovering period of postseismic fluid pressure in fault valve

Abstract

The present study aims to reveal the recovering period of the postseismic fluid pressure in fault zone, offering an insight into earthquake recurrence. Numerical modeling is performed based on a 2D simple layered fault-valve model to simulate the fluid activities within the earthquake fault. In order to demonstrate the features of postseismic fluid pressure in natural state, the interference of tectonic movements is not considered. The recovering period of postseismic fluid pressure includes a suddenchanging period and a much longer fluctuating period. Modeling results show that fault permeability and porosity are sensitive parameters and reversely proportional to the recovering period of the fluid pressure in earthquake fault zone. When the permeability reduces from 10^-15 to 10^-18 m², the recovering period increases from 400 to 2 000 yrs, correspondently. The upper and lower fluid pressures are separated by the valve seal, causing their fluctuations in opposite tendencies.

Keywords

recovering period / fluid pressure / fault valve / numerical modeling / thermal anomaly

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