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Seismic Waves Could Decrease the Permeability of the Shallow Crust
Author(s) -
Shi Yun,
Liao Xin,
Zhang Da,
Liu Chunping
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2019gl081974
Subject(s) - geology , permeability (electromagnetism) , crust , seismic wave , seismology , azimuth , microseism , petrology , geophysics , genetics , membrane , biology , physics , astronomy
Several experiments and field observations have demonstrated seismic waves‐induced permeability increases. However, a few experiments have revealed significant decreases in the permeability of fractured sandstone after shaking produced by dynamic stresses. In this paper, we analyze the tidal responses of the water level in two wells (Junan and Dingyuan) situated on and near, respectively, the Tan‐Lu fault in China. The results sampled by a single well indicate that seismic waves could both increase and decrease the permeability. In addition, our results indicate that the earthquakes that decreased the permeability in a single well were distributed in certain azimuthal zones. Given the azimuthal distribution of distant earthquakes, the observed permeability decrease could be attributed to the seismic wave‐induced clogging of fractures that compose the flow paths in the shallow crust. Our research contributes to an enhanced overall understanding of the effects of earthquakes on the permeability of the shallow crust.