Factors influencing hydrogen flux in a fault zone of Henan Province, China

This research investigates the main factors influencing changes in hydrogen concentration in a fault zone and analyzes the relationship between hydrogen and tectonic activity. Based on the hydrogen concentration in the fault gas and continuous observation data from Mashankou, Neixiang County, Henan Province, the relationships between the variation in hydrogen concentration and ground temperature, atmospheric temperature, and atmospheric pressure are analyzed. In addition, the earth tide effect on hydrogen in the fault zone is discussed. The results show that the direct influence of atmospheric or ground temperatures on the hydrogen concentration is not significant. The atmospheric and ground temperatures have some impact on the hydrogen concentration only when ground temperature increases. By means of a wavelet analysis method, which separates the semidiurnal wave and diurnal wave signals of hydrogen, the results show that the hydrogen concentration is capable of indicating the solid earth tide when comparing the pressure tide and solid earth tide signals in the same period.