Present-day activity and seismic potential of the north Qinling fault, southern ordos block, central China, as revealed from GPS data and seismicity

The North Qinling Fault, located at the boundary of China Block and South Block, represents an important tectonic structure between Weihe Basin Mountains, controls subsidence expansion Basin. This fault has been highly active caused strong earthquakes since Holocene in a pre-seismic stage currently, as indicated by many paleoearthquake traces found along it. To determine present-day activity seismic potential inverting GPS data, we produced locking depth, slip rate, regional strain fields maps; moreover, based on seismicity, b-value map. Combining this information with modern were able to comprehensively analyze different segments. Our inversion data showed that rate western segment (Qingjiangkou–Xitangyu) correspondent depth are 1.33 mm/a 13.54 km, respectively, while middle (Xitangyu–Fengyukou) 0.45 8.58 respectively; finally, eastern (Xitangyu–Daiyu) 0.36 21.46 respectively. depths segments shallower than 90% cutoff is similar indicating “deep creep” occurs segments, locked. Modern small have involved fault, acted gap weak characterized higher shear value lower b-value. These characteristics reflect relationship seismicity distribution. results our comprehensive analysis, combined field geological surveys, show Fault presently