Accurate detection of hidden faults in Xianlin area, Nanjing (China) based on a dense, short-period seismic array

SUMMARY High-resolution detection of hidden geological faults is vital for city planning, earthquake disaster prevention and large-scale engineering construction. This study deployed 229 short-period seismometers across a 10×30 km region within the Xianlin area of Nanjing. Of which, 199 formed a 2-D array and 30 formed a linear array. Various methods were applied to detect hidden faults in the study area. Using ambient noise tomography, a 3-D S-wave velocity structure was obtained from the surface to a depth of 6.0 km, allowing the first locations of a hidden fault to be mapped via velocity anomalies. A linear array was subsequently deployed based on these early findings, and the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) method was applied to estimate bedrock depth and define shallow fault features in greater detail. Finally, a shallow seismic exploration was performed to verify the detection results of ambient noise tomography and HVSR analysis. The results indicate the presence of a hidden fault in the study area, which manifests as a distinctive area of alteration in the high- and low-velocity anomalies in the 3-D S-wave velocity structure. Significant variation was identified in the sediment layer thickness in the shallow subsurface, as observed in the HVSR records. In addition, shallow seismic exploration defined important wave-group phase-axis discontinuities in areas with abrupt sedimentary thickness changes. Thus, the hidden fault identified in this study is a normal fault with a nearly north-dipping direction, dip angle of approximately 60° and fault displacement of approximately 30 m. By linking these results with previous data, it is possible to suggest that such hidden faults are part of the Mufushan–Jiaoshan Fault. Future urban designs and buildings must thoroughly consider the seismic dangers in this region and apply suitable mitigation strategies.