Research on Seismic Activity and Seismic Structural Characteristics of the Shandong Region

This study investigates the seismic activity and structural characteristics of Shandong in China, identifying seismic belts and potential epicentral areas critical to the region's seismic safety. A comprehensive database was established, encompassing data on regional seismic activity and structural features, including seismic statistics, earthquake distribution patterns, major geotectonic movements, and recent tectonic activities. Research indicates that seismic activity in the Shandong region is unevenly distributed, with moderate to strong earthquakes primarily controlled by active fault zones and displaying a zonal distribution. Earthquakes generally occur at shallow depths within the middle to upper crust, with historically destructive earthquakes averaging depths of 19 km, while more recent minor quakes average approximately 14.9 km deep. This seismic activity covers the North China Plain and the Tan-Lu Seismic Statistical Areas. Forecasts predict continued or increased seismic activity over the next century, potentially including events up to magnitude 8.5. The region’s geology features the Luxi Fault Block and the Tan-Lu Fault Zone, marked by intermittent neotectonic movements of uplift and subsidence. The dominant horizontal tectonic stresses suggest a likelihood of strike-slip faulting.