Inversion of stress field in Guangdong and its adjacent area

We determine the stress field of Guangdong and its adjacent area by using focal mechanism solutions of 137 earthquakes and obtain tectonic stress tensors in 12 zones. The result shows that the azimuth of maximum principal stress σ 1 is approximately WNW in southwestern Fujian, southern Jiangxi, Guangdong’s Heyuan and the Pearl River Delta, NW in Guangdong’s Yangjiang, and nearly NNW in the two zones of eastern Guangxi and Beibuwan Gulf (the Northern Gulf), varying clockwise in WNW-NW-NNW from east to west. The azimuth of minimum principal stress σ 3 varies from NNE to ENE. The relative magnitude of medium principal stress σ 2 ( R value), is the smallest in Beibuwan and largest in Longyan of Fujian. Strike-slip faulting is dominated in the study area.