Fluid regime in the source and preparation area of an earthquake

Abstract

Peculiarities of the fluid regime in the source and in the area of preparation of an earthquake which accommodates the evolution of the precursors are considered. The qualitative characteristics and the conditions of migration of the fluids, as well as their influence on the disjunctive deformations of the crust are discussed. During the development of the earthquake source, the fluid regime in this area depends on the redistribution of the fluids and their inflow from the outside. The fluid inflow and the increase in the fluid pressure are mainly due to the filtering from the subvertical permeable faults and the metamorphic dehydration of the rocks in the walls of the main fault. The fluids may also be supplied to the source from the near-surface horizons, and most of the induced earthquakes are associated with this process. These earthquakes can be considered as large-scale natural experiments which can shed light on the contribution of fluids in this phenomenon. A particular role in the mechanism of natural seismicity is played by the inflow of high-pressure fluids through the faults from the deep zones of the section.