Possible precursory anomalies in ground water level associated with the Wenchuan Ms 8.0 earthquake in 2008, Sichuan, China

Abstract

We have examined the water level data from 16 wells in Sichuan province, China, recorded before the Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake occurred in 2008. We found that the data of 5 among these wells exhibit possible precursory anomalies, which are respectively named the Chuan No.08 well in Deyang, Chuan No.11 well in Pujiang, Chuan No.13 well in Luzhou, Chuan No.22 well in Qionglai and Beichuan. In time durations, these anomalies are of long-, intermediate- and short-term signals which are primarily distributed on the northeast (NE) trending Longmenshan fault zone as well as the parallel Huayingshan fault zone. It seems that the variations of the well levels on the Huayingshan fault zone imply compression while those on the Longmenshan fault zone reflect extension. These anomalies occurred first in the areas outside the epicenter region of the Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake, then migrated to the seismogenic fault zone. And they migrated from southwest to northeast in agreement with the rupture process of the main shock. Keywords: Wenchuan earthquake, Precursory anomalies, Ground water level, Temporal–spatial distribution, Sichuan province