On the Influence of the 2021 Hubsugul Earthquake on the Seismicity in the Junction between the Altai–Sayan Mountain Region and the Baikal Rift Zone

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the influence of the large (M_L = 6.9) 2021 Hubsugul earthquake on the seismicity of the block structure in the junction area between the Altai–Sayan mountain region and the Baikal Rift Zone. This study uses data from the networks of seismic stations operated by the Altai–Sayan and Baikal branches of the RAS Geophysical Survey, as well as from Mongolian stations. We show the evolution of the seismic process near the boundaries of the Tuva–Mongolia block and adjacent blocks in eastern Tuva. We have determined and studied the source zone of the Darkhad earthquake swarm which was formed in 2022‒2023 as several sequences of events, with the larger ones having magnitudes M_L > 5. Simultaneously with the activation of the Hubsugul earthquake source zone, we observed high seismic activity in the source zones of past large earthuuakes: 1991 Busingol, 2011‒2012 Tuva events, and 2008 Belin-Bii-Kham. The action of the Hubsugul earthquake on the seismicity in boundary blocks of the Altai–Sayan and Baikal zones was different from that of the 2003 Chuya earthquake on Altai seismicity.