Geodynamics and seismicity of the eastern part of Central Asia

Abstract

Study of the geodynamics of the eastern part of Central Asia shows that the present-day tectonic activity of this territory is connected with its division into blocks limited by active faults and with the interaction among these blocks and with the neighboring lithospheric plates. The North China and South China platforms occupy most of this territory. The western boundary of the South China platform with Tibetan blocks is the most active. The energy volume increases up to 10¹⁰–10¹² J, and the earthquake magnitudes go up to 8–9 within this boundary. The interaction of Tibetan blocks with the Southeast China Block causes detachment and a clockwise turn of the upper layers of the Earth’s crust under the influence of the Hindustan indenter pressure.