Relation of deformation behavior with precipitation and groundwater of the Babaoshan fault in Beijing

We discuss the influence of precipitation and groundwater on the deformation behavior of the Babaoshan fault of Beijing by using long-term observation data from Dahuichang station during 1970–2003. The results show that a) the pore pressure on fault zone as well as the fault deformation behavior exhibited periodically variation as precipitation changed steadily and periodically; b) the periodicity of the pore pressure of fault zones disappeared and the manner of fault deformation behavior changed when precipitation was small and/or was in aberrance. This implies that rainfall plays a key role in fault deformation behavior through changing the pore pressure of fault zones. Combining the existing results about the Babaoshan fault, it is concluded that precipitation and groundwater may adjust the stress/strain field by controlling the deformation behavior of the fault, which can provide direct observation evidence for the interaction of fluid and solid in shallow crust of the Earth.