Slip Distribution Along the Chenghai Fault From Airborne LiDAR and Tectonic Implications for the 1515 Yongsheng Earthquake, China

The tectonic deformation of the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau underwent significant changes before and after the Miocene, which led to the change of the deformation characteristics of the Sichuan‐Yunnan block, and some local areas in the block also showed structural patterns inconsistent with the macroscopic clockwise rotation deformation. Moreover, the Chenghai fault (CF) in the Sichuan‐Yunnan block was the seismogenic fault of the M 73/4 Yongsheng earthquake in 1515. However, the dense vegetation impeded the acquisition of surface deformation characteristics and small‐scale horizontal offsets along the fault, resulting in its misty kinematic properties, roughly determined geometric distribution, and the highly controversial rupture parameters of the Yongsheng earthquake. Therefore, we used airborne light detection and ranging, which can penetrate vegetation to obtain high‐resolution surface topography, to map the CF within 120 km. Combined with satellite images and field investigations, we determined that the CF consists of a series of secondary faults with simple geometric structures. Continuous offset linear landforms were preserved along the fault. 102 offsets below 30 m were statistically analyzed and the result revealed that the CF has a characteristic displacement of ∼6 m and it may rupture as a united rupture segment in each large earthquake or its two rupture segments cascade rupture to generate large earthquakes. The magnitude of the Yongsheng earthquake in 1515 was estimated at 7.7. Finally, based on this study, the kinematic characteristics of the Dali terrane and Sichuan‐Yunnan block, where the CF is located are discussed. Key Points We obtained the fine geometry of the Chenghai fault (CF) and determined its kinematic property We reestimated the magnitude of the Yongsheng earthquake in 1515 We discussed the seismogenic pattern of the CF and kinematic characteristics of the Dali terrane and Sichuan‐Yunnan block