Decadal variability and scales of the sea surface structure in the northern Ionian

The variability and scales of the sea surface structure of the northern Ionian Sea from January 1993 to December 2007 were studied by means of altimeter remotely-sensed weekly Sea Level Anomaly (SLA) objective maps. Variability in the sea surface structure was addressed by means of empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis and, assuming an exponential correlation model, scales of the SLA field were quantified as e-folding distances of the SLA autocorrelation function. The variability in the sea surface structure, described by the first three EOFs, which cumulatively explain 60.3% of the data set variance, is characterized by a large-scale structure with variability on a time scale of ∼10-13 years and, on shorter scales, an eddy system with variability on an annual scale. The variability in the large-scale structure describes an overturning of the SLA field, which took place in 1997, and determines a reversal of the geostrophic upper-layer circulation. As the large-scale circulation transition takes place, time-dependent spectral analysis of EOF coefficients shows a redistribution of the spectral energy from inter-annual to semi-annual and monthly components. Spatial scales display variability on an annual and inter-annual time scale. On the annual time scale, variability in spatial scales is characterized by longer values in summer-fall and shorter in winter-spring. Inter-annual variability in spatial scales is demonstrated by a remarkable drop in the values during fall in the period 1998-2000. We propose an explanation of the variability in horizontal scales in terms of the redistribution of water masses and related modifications of the vertical structure of the water column associated with different regimes of the basin-scale circulation.     

The Ms = 6.2, June 15, 1995 Aigion earthquake (Greece): evidence for low angle normal faulting in the Corinth rift

We present the results of a multidisciplinary study of the M_s = 6.2, 1995, June 15, Aigion earthquake (Gulf of Corinth, Greece). In order to constrain the rupture geometry, we used all available data from seismology (local, regional and teleseismic records of the mainshock and of aftershocks), geodesy (GPS and SAR interferometry), and tectonics. Part of these data were obtained during a postseismic field study consisting of the surveying of 24 GPS points, the temporary installation of 20 digital seismometers, and a detailed field investigation for surface fault break. The Aigion fault was the only fault onland which showed detectable breaks (< 4 cm). We relocated the mainshock hypocenter at 10 km in depth, 38 ° 21.7 N, 22 ° 12.0 E, about 15 km NNE to the damaged city of Aigion. The modeling of teleseismic P and SH waves provides a seismic moment M_o = 3.4 10¹⁸ N.m, a well constrained focal mechanism (strike 277 °, dip 33 °, rake – 77°), at a centroidal depth of 7.2 km, consistent with the NEIC and the revised Harvard determinations. It thus involved almost pure normal faulting in agreement with the tectonics of the Gulf. The horizontal GPS displacements corrected for the opening of the gulf (1.5 cm/year) show a well-resolved 7 cm northward motion above the hypocenter, which eliminates the possibility of a steep, south-dipping fault plane. Fitting the S-wave polarization at SERG, 10 km from the epicenter, with a 33° northward dipping plane implies a hypocentral depth greater than 10 km. The north dipping fault plane provides a poor fit to the GPS data at the southern points when a homogeneous elastic half-space is considered: the best fit geodetic model is obtained for a fault shallower by 2 km, assuming the same dip. We show with a two-dimensional model that this depth difference is probably due to the distorting effect of the shallow, low-rigidity sediments of the gulf and of its edges. The best-fit fault model, with dimensions 9 km E–W and 15 km along dip, and a 0.87 m uniform slip, fits InSAR data covering the time of the earthquake. The fault is located about 10 km east-northeast to the Aigion fault, whose surface breaks thus appears as secondary features. The rupture lasted 4 to 5 s, propagating southward and upward on a fault probably outcropping offshore, near the southern edge of the gulf. In the shallowest 4 km, the slip – if any – has not exceeded about 30 cm. This geometry implies a large directivity effect in Aigion, in agreement with the accelerogram aig which shows a short duration (2 s) and a large amplitude (0.5 g) of the direct S acceleration. This unusual low-angle normal faulting may have been favoured by a low-friction, high pore pressure fault zone, or by a rotation of the stress directions due to the possible dip towards the south of the brittle-ductile transition zone. This fault cannot be responsible for the long term topography of the rift, which is controlled by larger normal faults with larger dip angles, implying either a seldom, or a more recently started activity of such low angle faults in the central part of the rift.     

The Banda Sea earthquake of 24 November 1983: evidence for intermediate depth thrust faulting in the Benioff zone

On 24 November 1983, a major earthquake occurred at 180 km depth beneath the Banda Sea. In the focal mechanism solution the pressure axis is almost horizontal, (azimuth 191°, plunge 02°) and the tension axis nearly vertical (plunge 88°). A comparison with the foreshock-aftershock pattern suggests that shear failure took place within the north-north-westerly dipping Benioff zone by thrust faulting along a southerly dipping plane. The focal mechanism solution does not conform to the usual pattern of the tension or compression axis being roughly parallel to the dip of the Benioff zone. Consequently the faulting could not have been caused by down-dip tension or compression within a sinking slab.     

Cost-effective analysis technique for the design of bridges against strike-slip faulting

The paper studies the performance of a typical overpass bridge, with continuous deck and monolithic pier-deck connections, subjected to strike-slip faulting. A three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) model of the entire bridge–foundation–abutment–soil system is developed, accounting for soil, structure and geometric nonlinearities. Soil behaviour is simulated with a thoroughly validated strain softening constitutive model. The concrete damaged plasticity (CDP) model is implemented for piers, accounting for the interaction between axial force N , bending moment M , shear force Q and torsion T (NMQT ); the model is validated against experimental results from the literature. The location of the fault rupture is parametrically investigated, confirming the vulnerability of indeterminate structural systems to large tectonic deformation. The deck is shown to sustain both in-plane and out-of-plane bending moments, as well as torsion; the piers are subjected to biaxial bending, shear and torsion. The response is highly dependent on the location of the fault rupture, emphasizing the need to develop cost-effective modelling techniques. Four such techniques are developed (with and without decoupling) and comparatively assessed using the detailed 3D FE model as benchmark. The best prediction is achieved by a coupled model, which includes the bridge superstructure, detailed 3D modelling of the soil-foundation system only for the pier directly affected by the fault, and nonlinear springs representing the foundations of all other piers. The proposed technique offers a computationally efficient means to parametrically analyse long multispan bridges subjected to faulting, for which full 3D FE modelling is impractical.     

the faulting characteristics of 2008 wenchuan ms8.0 earthquake and its relation with strong ground motion

The 2008 M_S8 Wenchuan earthquake occurs on a high angle listric thrust fault. It is the first time that the near and far field strong ground motion was observed for such special type thrust earthquake. This paper jointly interprets the distribution of peak acceleration of ground motion data with seismogenic structure and slip propagating process to investigate how high angle listric thrust fault controls the pattern of strong ground motion. We found that the distribution of peak acceleration of strong ground motion during the Wenchuan earthquake has four distinctive features: 1)The peak acceleration of ground motion inside the Longmenshan fault zone is large, that is, nearly twice as strong as that outside the fault zone; 2)This earthquake produces significant vertical ground motion, prevailing against horizontal components in the near field; 3)The far field records show that the peak acceleration is generally higher and attenuates slower versus station-fault distance in the hanging wall. It is doubtful that the attenuation of horizontal components also has the hanging wall effect since no evidence yet proving that the unexpected high value at long distance need be omitted; 4)As to the attenuation in directions parallel to the source fault(Yingxiu-Beichuan Fault), the far field records also exhibit azimuthal heterogeneity that the peak acceleration of horizontal components decreases slower in the north-northeastern direction in which the co-seismic slip propagates than that in the backward way. However, the attenuation of vertical component displays very weak heterogeneity of this kind. Synthetically considered with shallow dislocation, high dip angle, and prevailing vertical deformation during co-seismic process of the Wenchuan earthquake, our near and far field ground motion records reflect the truth that the magnitude of ground motion is principally determined by slip type of earthquake and actual distance between the slipping source patches and stations. As a further interpretation, the uniqueness of high angle listric thrust results in that the ground motion effects of the Wenchuan earthquake are similar to that due to a common thrust earthquake in some components while differ in the others.     

Source parameters of mining-induced seismic events: An evaluation of homogeneous and inhomogeneous faulting models for assessing damage potential

Source parameter estimates based on the homogeneous and inhomogeneous source models have been examined for an anomalous sequence of seven mine-induced events located between 640 and 825 m depth at Strathcona mine, Ontario, and having magnitudes ranging betweenm _N 0.8 and 2.7. The derived Brune static stress drops were found to be similar to those observed for natural earthquakes (30 bars), whereas dynamic stress drops were found to range up to 250–300 bars. Source radii derived from Madariaga's model better fit documented evidence of underground damage. These values of source radii were similar to those observed for the inhomogeneous model. The displacement at the source, based on the observed attenuation relationship, was about 60 mm for three magnitude 2.7 events. This is in agreement with slip values calculated using peak velocities and assuming the asperity as a Brune source within itself (72 mm). By using Madariaga's model for the asperity, the slip was over 3 times larger than observed. Peak velocity and acceleration scaling relations with magnitude were investigated by incorporating available South African data, appropriately reduced to Canadian geophysical conditions. The dynamic stress drop scaled as the square root of the seismic moment, similar to reported results in the literature for crustal earthquakes. This behavior suggests that the size of the asperities responsible for the peak ground motion, with respect to the overall source size, follow distributions that may be similar over a wide range of magnitudes. Measurements of source rupture complexity (ranging from 2 to 4) were found to agree with estimates of overall source to asperity radii, suggesting, together with the observed low rupture velocities (0.3 to 0.6 ), that the sources were somewhat complex. Validation of source model appropriateness was achieved by direct comparison of the predicted ground motion level to observed underground damage in Creighton mine, located within the same regional stress and geological regime as Strathcona mine. Close to the source (<100 m), corresponding to relatively higher damage levels, a good agreement was found between the predicted peak particle velocities for the inhomogeneous model and velocities derived based on established geomechanical relationships. The similarity between asperity radii and the regions of the highest observed damage provided additional support for the use of the inhomogeneous source model in the assessment of damage potential.     

三种变换在强震记录分析方面的研究

在简要地介绍比较了傅立叶变换、小波变换、希尔伯特-黄变换理论的基础上,针对集集地震大量强震记录进行各种变换分析比较,以探求希尔伯特-黄变换在强震记录分析中应用的前景.通过对集集地震60条不同震中距和场地的强震纪录,分别作傅立叶频谱、希尔伯特-黄边际谱和能量密度谱分析,列表归纳对比显示希尔伯特-黄变换在强震记录处理中基本表现出和其他变换相同的趋势,并有其新特点,能体现出强地震动的瞬时特性,是对现有强震数据处理方法重要的补充.     

2003年宁河地震序列特征的分析

2003年4月天津宁河地震序列的发生, 使天津市大部分地区明显有感, 震中烈度Ⅴ度。 分析结果表明, 宁河地震序列从空间、 时间、 强度分布等方面均具有震群性质的基本特征, 但余震贫乏、 序列的频度和强度衰减快, 不同于传统意义的震群; 宁河地震序列发生的位置靠近唐山余震区的西南端, 又具有相对独立的空间特征; 3次4级左右地震的震源机制解不一致, 可能与震源区构造复杂有关, 是震源区调整让位的一种表现形式, 说明震源区应力仍在调整中。     

Spatiotemporal evolution of the 2021 MS6.4 Yangbi earthquake sequence

Based on the seismic phase reports of the Yangbi area from January 1 to June 25, 2021, and the waveform data of M ≥ 4 earthquakes, we obtained the relocation results and focal mechanism solutions of the M_S6.4 Yangbi earthquake sequence using the HypoDD and CAP methods. Based on our results, our main conclusions are as follows: (1) the M_S6.4 Yangbi earthquake sequence is a typical foreshock-mainshock-aftershock sequence. The foreshocks of the first two stages have the obvious fronts of migration and their migration rate increased gradually. There was no apparent front of migration during the third stage, and the occurrence of the mainshock was related to stress triggering from a M5.3 foreshock. We tentatively speculate that the rupture pattern of the Yangbi earthquake sequence conforms to the cascading-rupture model; and (2) the main fault of the M_S6.4 Yangbi earthquake sequence is a NW-trending right-lateral strike-slip fault. As time progressed, a minor conjugate aftershock belt formed at the northwest end of this fault, and a dendritic branching structure emerged in the southern fault segment, showing a complex seismogenic fault structure. We suggested that the fault of the Yangbi earthquake sequence may be a young sub-fault of the Weixi-Weishan fault.     

2021年云南漾濞MS6.4地震序列发震构造及其与2013年洱源、2017年漾濞地震的异同

2021年5月21日云南漾濞发生M_S6.4地震.为深入了解该地震的发震断层及发震构造特征,探讨其与2013年洱源与2017年漾濞地震发震构造及背景的异同,本文基于中国地震台网中心的观测报告,使用双差方法对漾濞地震序列进行重定位,并从全球矩心矩张量(GCMT)和美国地质调查局(USGS)搜集了9个震源机制解计算了震源区构造应力场,初步得到如下结论:(1)2021年漾濞地震序列呈NW-SE向展布且SE端余震数量多于NW端,余震区地壳应力不均匀释放,致使5.0级及以上地震周边余震稀少;4个5.0级及以上地震初始破裂深度大于矩心深度,推测发震断层是从断裂底部向浅部破裂.(2)发震断裂是维西—乔后—巍山断裂西南侧的未知断裂F2、F3,其走向NW-SE、倾向SW、倾角近垂直,具有右旋走滑特征.其中F2贯穿整个地震序列,长约30 km,F3主要发育在中南段,长约11 km,两条发震断层相交于地震丛集中间位置.(3)震源区构造应力场是走滑的应力机制,呈SSE向(174.57°)低倾伏角(18.79°)挤压,及SWW向(-93.65°)近水平(5.21°)拉张状态.震源区的发震构造受川滇块体与滇南块体形成的右旋走滑边界控制.(4)这3个地震均发生在川滇块体右旋走滑西南边界形成的走滑应力机制作用背景下.2013年洱源地震可能更多的受控于局部构造的垂向差异运动;2017年漾濞地震仅受到川滇块体西南边界的右旋走滑作用;2021年漾濞地震则主要受控于川滇块体西南边界的右旋走滑运动,还存在少量局部构造垂向差异运动作用.     

体波谱振幅相关系数法在肥东地震序列震后判定中的应用

地震直达体波记录的观测谱包含震源、传播路径和台站信息,而发生在同一震源区的不同地震,如:序列地震,在同一地震台站的记录,受传播路径影响基本相同,地震台站的场地响应、仪器响应也完全相同。因此,序列地震体波观测零频谱的相关系数直接反映震源辐射图型因子的相似性,即震源机制解的相似性。将该方法用于2009年安徽肥东地震序列,与传统方法计算的震源机制解作比较,结果显示,谱振幅相关系数法能反映序列地震震源机制解的变化过程。     

张北6.2级地震前怀来地震台倾斜异常特征

1998年1月10日张北6．2级地震前，怀来地震台SQ－70光记录倾斜仪出现了错位掉格现象，震后恢复。在分析倾斜资料信度的基础上对异常特征进一步探讨，倾斜异常特征主要是光记录曲线错位，错位频次与方向和孕震断层活动有密切的内在联系。本文对张北地震前怀来地震台倾斜异常特征进行分析，探讨地震台站利用异常资料预报地震的有效途径。     

2013年木里、盐源交界地震震中区建筑物抗震性能分析

2013年11月22日,木里、盐源交界处先后发生Ms3.4、Ms 4.1及Ms3.7级地震,地震造成当地自建房屋破坏,震中区建筑类型主要为土木结构、夯土墙结构及木结构。本文在现场调查的基础上,对不同类型建筑物的破坏特征进行了分析,给出了地震烈度图,分析了建筑物破坏原因,指出土木结构及夯土墙结构是农村自建房屋中抗震最不利建筑,木结构房屋抗震性能相对较好。房屋抗震性能不佳是此次地震震害较重的主要原因。     

Seismogenic potential and earthquake hazard assessment in the Tell Atlas of Algeria

Seismotectonic zonation studies in the Tell Atlas of Algeria, a branch of the Africa-Eurasia plate boundary, provide a valuable input for deterministic seismic hazard calculations. We delineate a number of seismogenic zones from causal relationships established between geological structures and earthquakes and compile a working seismic catalogue mainly from readily available sources. To this catalogue, for a most rational and best-justified hazard analysis, we add estimates of earthquake size translated from active faulting characteristics. We assess the regional seismic hazard using a deterministic procedure based on the computation of complete synthetic seismograms (up to 1 Hz) by the modal summation technique. As a result, we generate seismic hazard maps of maximum velocity, maximum displacement, and design ground acceleration that blend information from geology, historical seismicity and observational seismology, leading to better estimates of the earthquake hazard throughout northern Algeria. Our analysis and the resulting maps illustrate how different the estimate of seismic hazard is based primarily on combined geologic and seismological data with respect to the one for which only information from earthquake catalogues has been used.     

Late Cenozoic faulting in SW Bulgaria: Fault geometry,kinematics and driving stress regimes. Implications for late orogenic processes in the Hellenic hinterland

We investigate the geometry and kinematics of the faults exposed in basement rocks along the Strouma River in SW Bulgaria as well as the sequence of faulting events in order to place constraints on the Cenozoic kinematic evolution of this structurally complex domain. In order to decipher the successive stress fields that prevailed during the tectonic history, we additionally carried out an analysis of mesoscale striated faults in terms of paleostress with a novel approach. This approach is based on the P–T axes distribution of the fault-slip data, and separates the fault-slip data into different groups which are characterized by kinematic compatibility, i.e., their P and T axes have similar orientations. From these fault groups, stress tensors are resolved and in case these stress tensors define similar stress regimes (i.e., the orientations of the stress axes and the stress shape ratios are similar) then the fault groups are further unified. The merged fault groups after being filled out with those fault-slip data that have not been incorporated into the above described grouping, but which present similar geometric and kinematic features are used for defining the final stress regimes. In addition, the sequence of faulting events was constrained by available tectonostratigraphic data.Five faulting events named D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5 are distinguished since the Late Oligocene. D1 is a pure compression stress regime with σ₁ stress axis trending NNE-SSW that mainly activated the WNW-ESE to ENE-WSW faults as reverse to oblique reverse and the NNW-SSE striking as right-lateral oblique contractional faults during the Latest Oligocene-Earliest Miocene. D2 is a strike-slip − transpression stress regime with σ₁ stress axis trending NNE-SSW that mainly activated the NNW-SSE to N-S striking as right-lateral strike-slip faults and the ENE-WSW striking faults as left-lateral strike-slip ones during the Early-Middle Miocene. D3 extensional event is associated with a NW-SE to WNW-ESE extension causing the activation of mainly low-angle normal faults of NE-SW strike and NNE-SSW to NNW-SSE striking high-angle normal faults. D4 is an extensional event dated from Late Miocene to Late Pliocene. It activated NNW-SSE to NW-SE faults as normal faults and E-W to WNW-ESE faults as right-lateral oblique extensional faults. The latest D5 event is an N-S extensional stress regime that dominates the wider area of SW Bulgaria in Quaternary times. It mainly activated faults that generally strike E-W (ENE-WSW and WNW-ESE) normal faults, along which fault-bounded basins developed. The D1 and D2 events are interpreted as two progressive stages of transpressional tectonics related to the late stages of collision between Apulia and Eurasia plates. These processes gave rise to the lateral extrusion of the Rhodope and Balkan regions toward the SE along the Strouma Lineament. The D3 event is attributed to the latest stage of this collision, and represents the relaxation of the overthickened crust along the direction of the lateral extrusion. The D4 and D5 events are interpreted as post-orogenic extensional events related to the retreat of the Hellenic subduction zone since the Late Miocene and to the widespread back-arc Aegean extension still prevailing today.     

Spatio-temporal variation and focal mechanism of the Wenchuan M_S8.0 earthquake sequence

Based on abundant aftershock sequence data of the Wenchuan MS8.0 earthquake on May 12, 2008, we studied the spatio-temporal variation process and segmentation rupture characteristic.Dense aftershocks distribute along Longmenshan central fault zone of NE direction and form a narrow strip with the length of 325 km and the depth between several and 40 km.The depth profile(section of NW direction) vertical to the strike of aftershock zone(NE direction) shows anisomer-ous wedgy distribution characteristic of aft...     

Recurrence pattern of Holocene earthquakes along the Dead Sea transform revealed by varve-counting and radiocarbon dating of lacustrine sediments

A high-resolution Holocene seismic history of the Dead Sea Transform (DST) is established from laminated sedimentary cores recovered at the shores of the Dead Sea. Radiocarbon dating and annual laminae counting yield excellent agreement between disturbed sedimentary structures (identified as seismites) and the historical earthquake record: All recent and historical strong events of the area were identified, including the major earthquakes of A.D. 1927, 1837, 1212, 1033, 749, and 31 B.C. The total of 53 seismites recognized along the entire Holocene profile indicate varying recurrence intervals of seismic activity between a few and 1000 years, with a conspicuous minimum rate at 2100-31 B.C. and a noticeable maximum during the past six to eight centuries. Most of the epicenters of the correlated earthquakes are situated very close to the Dead Sea (within 150 km) or up to 400 km north of it along the DST. Between 1000 B.C. and A.D. 1063, and from A.D. 1600 to recent time the epicenters are all located on the northern segment of the DST, whereas prior to 1000 B.C. and between A.D. 1000 and 1600 they appear to scatter along several segments of the DST. We establish how the local intensity exerts a control on the formation of seismites. At historically estimated intensities greater than VII, all well documented earthquakes are correlated, whereas at intensities smaller than VI none are matching.The periods with enhanced earthquake rate along the DST correlate with those along the North Anatolian Fault as opposed to the intervening East Anatolian Fault. This may indicate some elastic coupling on plate-boundary scale that may also underlie escape and extrusion tectonics, typical of continental collision.     

基于汶川地震序列震源机制解对龙门山地区构造变形模式的初步探讨

本文采用理论震源机制解的分析方法,以汶川地震序列震源机制解为约束,探讨龙门山地区构造变形模式及其与汶川地震序列的关系.通过有限元模拟,计算了龙门山地区不同构造变形模式下的构造应力场,得到了理论震源机制解,并与汶川地震序列实际震源机制解进行对比分析,初步探讨了该区构造变形模式对汶川地震序列的影响.结果显示,在龙门山地区,青藏高原内深部构造变形快于地表的构造变形模式下,区域构造应力场对应的理论震源机制解与汶川地震序列震源机制解的相符程度较高.这种一致性可能表明:(1)青藏高原内部深部构造变形快于地表,是龙门山地区比较合理的构造模式;(2)构造应力场是影响汶川地震序列震源机制的重要力学因素.     

基于汶川地震序列震源机制解对龙门山地区构造变形模式的初步探讨

本文采用理论震源机制解的分析方法,以汶川地震序列震源机制解为约束,探讨龙门山地区构造变形模式及其与汶川地震序列的关系.通过有限元模拟,计算了龙门山地区不同构造变形模式下的构造应力场,得到了理论震源机制解,并与汶川地震序列实际震源机制解进行对比分析,初步探讨了该区构造变形模式对汶川地震序列的影响.结果显示,在龙门山地区,青藏高原内深部构造变形快于地表的构造变形模式下,区域构造应力场对应的理论震源机制解与汶川地震序列震源机制解的相符程度较高.这种一致性可能表明:(1)青藏高原内部深部构造变形快于地表,是龙门山地区比较合理的构造模式;(2)构造应力场是影响汶川地震序列震源机制的重要力学因素.     

The February 1996 earthquake sequence in the eastern Pyrenees: first results

An earthquake with local magnitude (ML) 5.2 occurred February 18, 1996 in the eastern Pyrenees (France) near the town of Saint-Paul de Fenouillet. This event is the first of this magnitude in France to be well recorded instrumentally. Less than 24 hours after the main shock, we installed a temporary network of 30 seismological stations in the epicentral area to record the aftershock sequence. In this paper, we analyse the main shock and present the 37 largest aftershocks (1.8 Ml 3.4) in the two months following the main shock. These events are located using data from the permanent Pyrenean seismological network and the temporary network when available. We also determined eight fault plane solutions using the P-wave first motions. The main shock and the aftershocks are located inside the small Agly massif. This Hercynian structure sits some 8 km north of the North Pyrenean Fault, which is usually considered to be the suture between the Iberian and Eurasian plates. The mechanism of the main shock is a left-lateral strike-slip on an E–W trending fault. The fault plane solutions of the aftershocks are mostly E–W striking reverse faults, in agreement with the general north-south shortening of the Pyrenees. The aftershocks located down to 11 km depth, indicating that the Agly massif is deeply fractured. The main interpretations of these results are: (i) The main shock involved an E–W trending fault inside the highly fractured Agly massif, relaying the North Pyrenean Fault which had, at least in the last 35 years, a poor seismic activity along this segment; (ii) The Saint-Paul de Fenouillet syncline to the north and the North Pyrenean Fault to the south delimit a 15 km wide senestral shear zone. Such a structure is also suggested by the highly fractured pattern of the Agly massif and by small en echelon faults and secondary folds in the Saint-Paul de Fenouillet syncline; (iii) we suggest that the North Pyrenean Frontal Thrust, located less than 10 km north of the Agly massif, has a ramp geometry at depth below the Agly massif.