Crustal deformation characteristics and seismogenic mechanism of the 2017 Mw6.6 Jiuzhaigou earthquake, Sichuan, China

Crustal deformation characteristics and seismogenic mechanism of the 2017 Mw6.6 Jiuzhaigou earthquake, Sichuan, China | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Crustal deformation characteristics and seismogenic mechanism of the 2017 Mw6.6 Jiuzhaigou earthquake, Sichuan, China dongzhuo xu, Guangli Su, Shenghu Li, La Ta, Linwei Li This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9454182/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Based on cross-fault observations, first-order leveling data, and seismicity catalogs from the epicentral region and the periphery of the Bayan Har block, we derived three-dimensional fault kinematic parameters and performed rigorous leveling adjustments. This integrated analysis delineates​ the relationship between regional crustal deformation, the coherent motion of the Bayan Har block, and the 2017 Jiuzhaigou Mw 6.6​ earthquake. The main conclusions are as follows: (1)​ Prior to the Jiuzhaigou Mw 6.6​ earthquake, the epicentral region exhibited pronounced anomalous uplift, while distal tectonic belts displayed varying degrees of anomalous activity. Owing to heterogeneities in geodynamic settings and structural frameworks, monitoring sites across the West Qinling, Liupanshan, Longmenshan, and Xianshuihe belts exhibited differential responses​ to the impending rupture. (2)​ The earthquake was triggered by rapid stress accumulation in the northeastern Bayan Har block, driven by the block's coherent southeastward acceleration. Furthermore, preceding major earthquakes on the block periphery (e.g., Wenchuan and Lushan) exerted a notable promoting effect—potentially via Coulomb stress transfer—on the initiation of this event. This mechanism provides key insights for predicting intraplate earthquakes​ and periphery earthquakes of continental plateaus. (3)​ While the Jiuzhaigou earthquake rupture effectively released accumulated stress in the northeastern block, tectonic stress may now be accelerating in the southeastern Triple Junction​ region. This area warrants close attention due to its potential for hosting future moderate-to-strong earthquakes. Jiuzhaigou earthquake Precise leveling data Crustal deformation analysis Seismogenic mechanism Full Text Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 23 Apr, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 22 Apr, 2026 First submitted to journal 20 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 19 Apr, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9454182","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":627910213,"identity":"654f9890-7e3d-40d6-b321-6d42a61309a2","order_by":0,"name":"dongzhuo xu","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAvklEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDCCA0D8wICBn5+Z+fAD4rUkGDBIzmxnSzMgQQsDg+SG8zwKEkTp4Dvee/hFQoGdhPFhHgYDhhqbaIJaJM+cS7NIMEiWMDvMe+ABw7G03AZCWgxu5JgZJBgcqDM7zJdgwNhwmHgtEsbNPAYSxGoxfgDSYsBMrBbJM2fMGEB+kTgMDOQEYvzCd7zH+MOHP3YS/P2HDz/4UGNDWAsQsCGiI4EI5SDA/IFIhaNgFIyCUTBSAQDayD+SYHHLKQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6916-1190","institution":"The First Monitoring and Application Center of the China Earthquake Administration","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"dongzhuo","middleName":"","lastName":"xu","suffix":""},{"id":627910214,"identity":"6de891a5-67f8-4191-a0eb-fdc4c2029f14","order_by":1,"name":"Guangli Su","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"The First Monitoring and Application Center, China Earthquake Administration","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Guangli","middleName":"","lastName":"Su","suffix":""},{"id":627910215,"identity":"9ebda6eb-7a0a-4979-94d1-d950007d0887","order_by":2,"name":"Shenghu Li","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Shandong Institute of Geological Sciences","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Shenghu","middleName":"","lastName":"Li","suffix":""},{"id":627910216,"identity":"78f453da-0a59-4dac-8252-cea14eee6e95","order_by":3,"name":"La Ta","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"The First Monitoring and Application Center, China Earthquake Administration","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"La","middleName":"","lastName":"Ta","suffix":""},{"id":627910217,"identity":"59789f9e-08be-4640-afa7-fe5f9c70d226","order_by":4,"name":"Linwei Li","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"The First Monitoring and Application Center, China Earthquake Administration","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Linwei","middleName":"","lastName":"Li","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-04-18 05:05:33","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9454182/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9454182/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":108977188,"identity":"16af2595-cafe-4b5e-ae65-9d3a83667885","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-05-11 11:30:47","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":686953,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript0418.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9454182/v1_covered_4eed12de-e44b-4d6d-8432-c4145e1fd086.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"","formattedTitle":"Crustal deformation characteristics and seismogenic mechanism of the 2017 Mw6.6 Jiuzhaigou earthquake, Sichuan, China","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"acta-geophysica","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"agph","sideBox":"Learn more about [Acta Geophysica](http://link.springer.com/journal/11600)","snPcode":"11600","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/agph/default2.aspx","title":"Acta Geophysica","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Jiuzhaigou earthquake, Precise leveling data, Crustal deformation analysis, Seismogenic mechanism","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9454182/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9454182/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eBased on cross-fault observations, first-order leveling data, and seismicity catalogs from the epicentral region and the periphery of the Bayan Har block, we derived three-dimensional fault kinematic parameters and performed rigorous leveling adjustments. This integrated analysis delineates​ the relationship between regional crustal deformation, the coherent motion of the Bayan Har block, and the 2017 Jiuzhaigou Mw 6.6​ earthquake. The main conclusions are as follows: (1)​ Prior to the Jiuzhaigou Mw 6.6​ earthquake, the epicentral region exhibited pronounced anomalous uplift, while distal tectonic belts displayed varying degrees of anomalous activity. Owing to heterogeneities in geodynamic settings and structural frameworks, monitoring sites across the West Qinling, Liupanshan, Longmenshan, and Xianshuihe belts exhibited differential responses​ to the impending rupture. (2)​ The earthquake was triggered by rapid stress accumulation in the northeastern Bayan Har block, driven by the block's coherent southeastward acceleration. 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