Skip to main content

Seismological features

  • Chapter
The Wenchuan Earthquake of 2008
  • 5483 Accesses

Abstract

The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake was a deadly earthquake of magnitude M s8.0, which occurred at 14:28 on 12 May 2008, in Sichuan Province of China and killed at least 69,226 people, with 17,923 missing. Approximately 15 million people lived in the affected area, and it left about 4.8 million people homeless. It was the deadliest earthquake to hit China since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, which killed at least 240,000 people, and the strongest in China since the 1950 Chayu earthquake, which registered 8.5 on the Richter magnitude scale.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Burchfiel B C, Royden L H, Van Der Hilst R D, et al. A geological and geophysical context for the Wenchuan earthquake of 12 May 2008, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China. GSA Today, 18(7): 4–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen J, Hayes G. 2008. Finite fault model—preliminary result of the May 12, 2008 M w 7.9 eastern Sichuan, China earthquake, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2008yus2008ryan/finite_fault.php. Accessed 23 Mar 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Q F, Wang K L. 2010. The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and earthquake prediction in China. Bull Seismol Soc Amer, 100(5B): 2840–2857.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Li L, Li J, et al. 2008. Wenchuan earthquake: Way of thinking is changed. Episodes, 31(4): 374–377.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark M K, Royden L H. 2000. Topographic ooze: Building the eastern margin of Tibet by lower crustal flow. Geology, 28(8):703–706.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Division of monitoring and prediction, CEA. 2009. Scientific Research Report of Wenchuan 8.0 Earthquake. Beijing: Seismological Press, (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott J R, Walters R J, England P C, et al. 2010. Extension on the Tibetan Plateau: recent normal faulting measured by InSAR and body wave seismology. Geophys J Int, 183(2): 503–535. doi: 10.1111/J.1365-246X.2010.04754.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang Y, Wu J P, Zhang T Z, et al. 2008. Relocation of the M8.0 Wenchuan earthquake and its aftershock sequence. Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 51(2): 1703–1711.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hubbard J, Shaw J H. 2009. Uplift of the Longmenshan and Tibetan Plateau, and the 2008 Wenchuan (M = 7.9) earthquake. Nature, 458:194–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang H K, Li M X, Wu Q, et al. 2009. Characteristics of the May 12, 2008 Wenchuan M s8.0 earthquake sequence and discussion on relevant problems. Earthquake Res China, 23(1):34–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirby E, Whipple K, Harkins N. 2008. Topography reveals seismic hazard. Nat Geosci, 1(8): 485–487.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lei J, Zhao D P, Su J R, et al. 2009. Fine seismic structure under the Longmenshan fault zone and the mechanism of the large Wenchuan earthquake. Chin J Geophys, 52(2):339–345.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meng G J, Ren J W, Wang M, et al. 2008. Crustal deformation in western Sichuan region and implications for 12 May 2008 M s 8.0 earthquake. Geochem Geophys Geosyst, 9(11), Q11007. doi: 10.1029/2008GC002144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MIT Report. 2008. Earthquake near Wenchuan, West Sichuan, China 2008 May 12 06:28:01 UTC; Magnitude 7.9. http://quake.mit.edu/~changli/wenchuanjitml. Accessed 23 Mar 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Park J, Anderson K, Aster R, et al. 2005. Global seismographic network records the great Sumatra-Andaman earthquake. Eos Trans AGU, 86(6): 57–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shu W, Peng Y J, Zheng Y J, et al. 2002. Crust and upper mantle shear velocity structure beneath the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas. Earth Sci, 23(3):193–200. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang W M, Zhao L F, Li J, et al. 2008. Rupture process of the M s 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake of Sichuan, China. Chin J Geophys, 51(5):1403–1410. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei W, Sun R M, Shi Y L. 2010. P-wave tomographic images beneath southeastern Tibet: Investigating the mechanism of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Sci China Scr D-Earth Sci, 53(9): 1252–1259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen X Z, Ma S L, Xu X W, et al. 2009a. Historical pattern and behavior of earthquake ruptures along the eastern boundary of the Sichuan-Yunnan faulted-block, southwestern China. Phys Earth Planet In, 168(l/2):16–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wen X Z, Zhang P Z, Du F, et al. 2009b. The background of historical and modern seismic activities of the occurrence of M8.0 Wenchuan, Sichuan, earthquake. Chin J Geophys, 52(2): 444–454. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wikipedia. 2008. 2008 Sichuan earthquake. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008Sichuan_earthquake. Accessed 23 Mar 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Feng W P, Xu L S, et al. 2008. Spatio-temporal rupture process of the 2008 great Wenchuan earthquake. Sci China Serr D-Earth Sci, 53(2): 145–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng Y, Ma H S, Lu J, et al. 2009. Source mechanism of strong aftershocks (M > 5.6) of the 2008/05/12 Wenchuan earthquake and the implication for seismotectonics. Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 52(6):739–753.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Science Press, Beijing and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Yong, C., Booth, D.C. (2011). Seismological features. In: The Wenchuan Earthquake of 2008. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-21159-1_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics