Seismotectonics and seismicity of the Silakhor region, Iran

This paper deals with seismotectonic and seismicity of the Silakhor region that shows high seismic activity in western Iran. Silakhor is a vast plain with several villages and cities of Dorud and Borujerd and a small town of Chalanchulan that were destroyed and/or damaged many times by large earthquakes. This paper addresses the historical and instrumental earthquakes and their causative faults, seismotectonic provinces and seismotectonic zones of the region. Available seismic data were normalized by means of time normalization technique that resulted in the magnitude-frequency relation for the Silakhor area and estimation of the return period of earthquakes with different magnitudes. Some active faults in this region include the Dorud fault, the main Zagros thrust, the Galehhatam fault, the Sahneh fault and others. Among them, the Dorud fault is an earthquake fault and is the cause for most of the large and intermediate earthquakes in the region. The return period of large earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 7.0 (Ms) is very low, however, the occurrence of destructive earthquakes is greater in the region than in the neighboring provinces. The study proves the high seismicity of this zone and it is required to develop an accurate national plan for future building and reinforcement of the existing buildings in this region.     

Study of the Cuban fractures

With the help of aerial photographs, satellite photographs and imageries, contour maps, geological and geomorphological information (personal correspondence and unpublished works), geophysical regional data, and field work, it has been possible to map a network of fractures, alignments, and faults in 26 areas (distinguishing them quantitatively and hierarchically). Links with known regional structures were also studied. Interpretation of the linear relief elements confirms the very different density, dimensions, strikes, and function of the fracturation and also, from a microtectonic perspective, explains the activity of some active faults better. It has confirmed some previous results and improved on others; for example, the Oriente fault which is the most active in Cuba with two segments (Western: Cabo Cruz—Santiago de Cuba; Eastern: Santiago de Cuba—Punta de Maisí, the Western fault being the most active); the Nortecubana fault, forming the northern limit of the Cuban megablock, and divided into three segments; and the Cauto—Nipe fault, forming the limit of the neotectonic units, presenting two segments with three seismoactive knots.     

Middle Pleistocene to Holocene activity of the Gondola Fault Zone (Southern Adriatic Foreland): Deformation of a regional shear zone and seismotectonic implications

Recent seismicity in and around the Gargano Promontory, an uplifted portion of the Southern Adriatic Foreland domain, indicates active E–W strike-slip faulting in a region that has also been struck by large historical earthquakes, particularly along the Mattinata Fault. Seismic profiles published in the past two decades show that the pattern of tectonic deformation along the E–W-trending segment of the Gondola Fault Zone, the offshore counterpart of the Mattinata Fault, is strikingly similar to that observed onshore during the Eocene–Pliocene interval. Based on the lack of instrumental seismicity in the south Adriatic offshore, however, and on standard seismic reflection data showing an undisturbed Quaternary succession above the Gondola Fault Zone, this fault zone has been interpreted as essentially inactive since the Pliocene. Nevertheless, many investigators emphasised the genetic relationships and physical continuity between the Mattinata Fault, a positively active tectonic feature, and the Gondola Fault Zone. The seismotectonic potential of the system formed by these two faults has never been investigated in detail. Recent investigations of Quaternary sedimentary successions on the Adriatic shelf, by means of very high-resolution seismic–stratigraphic data, have led to the identification of fold growth and fault propagation in Middle–Upper Pleistocene and Holocene units. The inferred pattern of gentle folding and shallow faulting indicates that sediments deposited during the past ca. 450 ka were recurrently deformed along the E–W branch of the Gondola Fault Zone.We performed a detailed reconstruction and kinematic interpretation of the most recent deformation observed along the Gondola Fault Zone and interpret it in the broader context of the seismotectonic setting of the Southern Apennines-foreland region. We hypothesise that the entire 180 km-long Molise–Gondola Shear Zone is presently active and speculate that also its offshore portion, the Gondola Fault Zone, has a seismogenic behaviour.     

Reactivation of deep faults beneath Southern Apennines: evidence from the 1990–1991 Potenza seismic sequences

We relocate the 1990–1991 Potenza (Southern Apennines belt, Italy) sequences and calculate focal mechanisms. This seismicity clusters along an E–W, dextral strike–slip structure. Second-order clusters are also present and reflect the activation of minor shears. The depth distribution of earthquakes evidences a peak between 14 and 20 km, within the basement of the subducting Apulian plate. The analysed seismicity does not mirror that of Southern Apennines, which include NW–SE striking normal faults and earthquakes concentrated within the first 15 km of the crust. We suggest that the E–W faults affecting the foreland region of Apennine propagate up to 25 km of depth. The Potenza earthquakes reflect the reactivation of a deep, preexisting fault system. We conclude that the seismotectonic setting of Apennines is characterized by NW–SE normal faults affecting the upper 15 km of the crust, and by E–W deeper strike–slip faults cutting the crystalline basement of the chain.     

松潘—甘孜地区百年地震构造和现今动力学

研究区位于青藏高原的东北隅(96°～107°E,30°～35°N)。基于该地区长度大于2km的4 781条1∶20万数字化实测断裂、1900年以来的5 220条数字地震记录,以及野外地质观测数据,识别出993条不同属性的地震断层,构建了该地区百年地震构造格局。1970年以来十年期地震断层跃迁图像表明,自20世纪80年代中期白马—虎牙强烈震群爆发之后,地震活动在沿各主要走滑断层带自西(北西)向东(南东)迁移的同时,逐渐向中部贡玛—达曲断裂带和南部鲜水河断裂带的东南段集中。地震活动的断裂构造联系主要表现为挤压剪切转换机制和典型的楔顶效应。研究区165个GPS速度矢量展现了与3个地块和以鲜水河断裂带为主的速度域、速度梯度带和速度扰动区。跨研究区南缘鲜水河断裂带的位移速率因贡玛—达曲断裂带汇聚而达到了6.5～8.6mm/a,而跨北缘东昆仑断裂带的位移速度只有1.8～2.2mm/a。因鲜水河断裂走向在其中南段发生向南的急剧偏转,垂直断层面的位移矢量分量不断增强,形成了汶川8.0级地震成核及NE向单边破裂的动力学条件。     

Active faults and paleoseismicity in Fennoscandia, especially Sweden. Primary structures and secondary effects

Fennoscandia, today a region of low to moderately low seismicity, was, at the time of deglaciation, with rates of uplift on the order of tens of centimetres per year, a region of very high seismicity and active tectonics. This is evident both from primary fault structures and from secondary sedimentary and hard rock effects in the region around the epicentral areas. The map of active faults in Fennoscandia includes numerous structures previously not recognised. Despite this, the recording of active faults and paleoseismic events is still in its initial phase. Much more data will surely accumulate in the near future.     

Tectonic deformation and subsurface active fault trends of El-Faiyum province,Egypt as deduced by seismicity and potential field data

We utilized the seismicity and the potential field data to study the tectonic deformation and to delineate the seismically active subsurface tectonic trends of El-Faiyum area. To accomplish these goals, we analyzed and interpreted the seismicity data, the reduced to pole total magnetic intensity, and the Bouguer anomaly maps. We also used the spatial distribution of the recent seismic events and the focal mechanism to outline the local seismic zones that control the seismicity of the study area and to determine the sense of the motion along the subsurface active faults. The focal mechanism of the recent seismic events and the interpreted subsurface tectonic faults from the potential field data reflect strike-slip movements with normal components along the subsurface active faults. The gravity and magnetic maps show a NE-SW regional trend with low gravity and magnetic values. The NE-SW regional trend extends across the whole area and could be related to the Pelusium Megashear fault. A NE-SW trend with high gravity and magnetic exists at the northern part and coincides with the Kattania Uplift and the basaltic flows in Gabal Qatrani area. The gravity and magnetic maps also reveal several local anomalies with different polarities, amplitudes, and extensions, which reflect anticlinal and synclinal structures on the basement surface. The seismotectonic map, generated by linking the basement structure map and the spatial distribution of the recent earthquake foci, reveals the dominant tectonic trends and the subsurface active faults.     

First-order regional seismotectonic model for South Africa

A first-order seismotectonic model was created for South Africa. This was done using four logical steps: geoscientific data collection, characterisation, assimilation and zonation. Through the definition of subunits of concentrations of earthquake foci and large neotectonic and structural domains, seismotectonic structures, systems and domains were created. Relatively larger controls of seismicity exist between the Great Escarpment and the coast. In the south, this region is characterised by large aeromagnetic anomalies and large EW trending faults. In the west, it is characterised by the NW–SE trending Wegener stress anomaly, radial-trending dykes and earthquake clusters. In the east, it is characterised by a large neotectonic domain where several large historical earthquakes occurred. In the centre of South Africa, several clusters of earthquake activity are found, often related to mining activity. Further north, seismicity is related to both mining activity and neotectonic deformation. This work contributes to the development of a seismotectonic model for South Africa by (1) bringing together, digitally, several data sets in a common GIS platform (geology, geophysics, stress, seismicity, neotectonics, topography, crustal and mantle structure and anisotropy), (2) understanding the significance of data sets for seismotectonic zonation and limitations thereof and (3) obtaining a reasonable regional model for use in seismic hazard assessments.     

从断层中心论向块体中心论转变--论活动块体在地震活动中的作用

讨论活动块体在地震活动中的作用。板缘地震在空间上呈线性分布,而中国大陆地震在空间上呈片状分布。大陆强震往往涉及两个以上方向断层的活动,且强震往往沿块体边界迁移或在其两侧断层上对迁。一些强震前后由中小地震震源机制解反映的Ｐ轴方向往往发生近９０°的转向,这种现象难以用区域应力方向变化来解释,但可从块体活动角度出发,用块体两个边界断层的先后错动来解释。地震前异常的远程效应、震后烈度异常分布图像以及地震序列特点等也显示了活动块体的作用。不同地区由地震活动性推测的块体活动方式有所差别,其原因可能和区域主压应力轴与块体两个边界断层走向的夹角不同有关。据此认为,在分析中国地震活动时要把视角从以活动断层为中心转变为以活动块体为中心     

辽宁地区主要断裂活动性和地震危险性评估

基于辽宁地区主要活动断裂的几何特征和空间展布，对1980年以来辽宁地区M_L≥2.0地震的累计频次和1900年以来M_s≥5.0地震的年发生率的空间分布及其与活动断裂构造背景关系进行研究，获得了基于地震学的辽宁省内主要断裂和构造区（带）的活动性与地震危险性的初步评估结果。辽宁地区主要断裂活动性较高的有海城河断裂、金州断裂九寨—盖州北段、朝阳—北票断裂等；辽宁地区未来3年发生M_s≥5.0地震危险性较高的断裂依次有海城河断裂、金州断裂、熊岳—庄河断裂、鸭绿江断裂及赤峰—开原断裂与柳河断裂交汇处等。在判定区域地震危险性和城市地震风险时，除了依据前兆异常的空间分布，还应充分考虑区内主要构造（断裂）的活动性与地震危险性。     

Transtensional deformation in the Lake Tahoe region, California and Nevada, USA

Dextral transtensional deformation is occurring along the Sierra Nevada–Great Basin boundary zone (SNGBBZ) at the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada microplate. In the Lake Tahoe region of the SNGBBZ, transtension is partitioned spatially and temporally into domains of north–south striking normal faults and transitional domains with conjugate strike-slip faults. The normal fault domains, which have had large Holocene earthquakes but account only for background seismicity in the historic period, primarily accommodate east–west extension, while the transitional domains, which have had moderate Holocene and historic earthquakes and are currently seismically active, primarily record north–south shortening. Through partitioned slip, the upper crust in this region undergoes overall constrictional strain.Major fault zones within the Lake Tahoe basin include two normal fault zones: the northwest-trending Tahoe–Sierra frontal fault zone (TSFFZ) and the north-trending West Tahoe–Dollar Point fault zone. Most faults in these zones show eastside down displacements. Both of these fault zones show evidence of Holocene earthquakes but are relatively quiet seismically through the historic record. The northeast-trending North Tahoe–Incline Village fault zone is a major normal to sinistral-oblique fault zone. This fault zone shows evidence for large Holocene earthquakes and based on the historic record is seismically active at the microearthquake level. The zone forms the boundary between the Lake Tahoe normal fault domain to the south and the Truckee transition zone to the north.Several lines of evidence, including both geology and historic seismicity, indicate that the seismically active Truckee and Gardnerville transition zones, north and southeast of Lake Tahoe basin, respectively, are undergoing north–south shortening. In addition, the central Carson Range, a major north-trending range block between two large normal fault zones, shows internal fault patterns that suggest the range is undergoing north–south shortening in addition to east–west extension.A model capable of explaining the spatial and temporal partitioning of slip suggests that seismic behavior in the region alternates between two modes, one mode characterized by an east–west minimum principal stress and a north–south maximum principal stress as at present. In this mode, seismicity and small-scale faulting reflecting north–south shortening concentrate in mechanically weak transition zones with primarily strike-slip faulting in relatively small-magnitude events, and domains with major normal faults are relatively quiet. A second mode occurs after sufficient north–south shortening reduces the north–south S_hmax in magnitude until it is less than S_v, at which point S_v becomes the maximum principal stress. This second mode is then characterized by large earthquakes on major normal faults in the large normal fault domains, which dominate the overall moment release in the region, producing significant east–west extension.     

A model of characteristic earthquakes and its implications for regional seismicity

Regional seismicity (i.e. that averaged over large enough areas over long enough periods of time) has a size–frequency relationship, the Gutenberg–Richter law, which differs from that found for some seismic faults, the Characteristic Earthquake relationship. But all seismicity comes in the end from active faults, so the question arises of how one seismicity pattern could emerge from the other. The recently introduced Minimalist Model of Vázquez‐Prada et al. of characteristic earthquakes provides a simple representation of the seismicity originating from a single fault. Here, we show that a Characteristic Earthquake relationship together with a fractal distribution of fault lengths can accurately describe the total seismicity produced in a region. The resulting earthquake catalogue accounts for the addition of both all the characteristic and all the non‐characteristic events triggered in the faults. The global accumulated size–frequency relationship strongly depends on the fault length fractal exponent and, for fractal exponents close to 2, correctly describes a Gutenberg–Richter distribution with a b exponent compatible with real seismicity.     

Seismic Hazard Studies in the U.K.: Source Specification Problems of Intraplate Seismicity

Although the U.K. is in an area of only low to moderate seismicity, the seismic hazard is sufficient to pose a threat to sensitive structures such as chemical plants and nuclear facilities. In quantifying the level of hazard by conventional probabilistic methodology, however, some problems arise in attempting to interpret earthquake data in terms of geological structure and faults. In the U.K., not only is it impossible to identify any demonstrably active faults, but also it is extremely difficult to discern any relationship between the pattern of seismicity and local or regional geological structure.This study discusses the use of two zonation approaches which complement each other in such a way that the general character and trend of seismicity is preserved. In one approach, the zonation is informed by the structural geology, where possible; geological zonation is avoided if it produces sources with heterogeneous seismicity. In the other approach, the record of past earthquakes is divided up into very small zones around individual epicentres or groups of epicentres, the size of each zone usually being proportional to the uncertainty in the epicentral determination of the appropriate event. This zonation preserves an observed tendency of some British earthquakes to repeat themselves. It is suggested that, in intraplate areas such as the U.K., it is often inappropriate to attempt to model individual fault sources. No faults in the U.K. are provably active. Because an earthquake of moderate size can occur on a very short fault segment, it is impractical to restrict fault modelling to major features. Even the two largest U.K. faults, suspected to be active, pose problems in attributing historical seismicity to them as distinct features.     

Normal faulting along the western side of the Matese Mountains: Implications for active tectonics in the Central Apennines (Italy)

We provide new field data from geologic mapping and bedrock structural geology along the western side of the Matese Mts in central Italy, a region of high seismicity, strain rates among the highest of the entire Apennines (4–5 mm/yr GPS-determined extension), and poorly constrained active faults. The existing knowledge on the Aquae Iuliae normal fault (AIF) was implemented with geometric and kinematic data that better constrain its total length (16.5 km), the minimum long-term throw rate (0.3–0.4 mm/yr, post-late glacial maximum, LGM), and the segmentation. For the first time, we provide evidence of post-350 ka and possibly late Quaternary activity of the Ailano – Piedimonte Matese normal fault (APMF). The APMF is 18 km long. It is composed of a main 11 km-long segment striking NW–SE and progressively bending to the E–W in its southern part, and a 7 km-long segment striking E–W to ENE-WSW with very poor evidence of recent activity. The available data suggest a possible post-LGM throw rate of the main segment of ≳0.15 mm/yr. There is no evidence of active linkage in the step-over zone between the AIF and APMF (Prata Sannita step-over).An original tectonic model is proposed by comparing structural and geodetic data. The AIF and APMF belong to two major, nearly parallel fault systems. One system runs at the core of the Matese Mts and is formed by the AIF and the faults of the Gallo-Letino-Matese Lake system. The other system runs along the western side of the Matese Mts and is formed by the APMF, linked to the SE with the Piedimonte Matese – Gioia Sannitica fault. The finite extension of the APMF might be transferred to the NW towards the San Pietro Infine fault. The nearly 2–3 mm/yr GPS-determined extension rate is probably partitioned between the two systems, with a ratio that is difficult to establish due to poor GPS coverage. The proposed model, though incomplete (several faults/transfer zones need further investigations), aids in the seismotectonic interpretation of poorly-known earthquakes (e.g., 346/355 AD earthquake on the Ailano – Piedimonte Matese – Gioia Sannitica fault system), and stimulates and further orients seismotectonic investigations aimed at constraining the segmentation pattern and seismogenic potential of the area.     

The role of small‐scale fold and fault development in seismogenic zones: example of the western Huércal‐Overa Basin (eastern Betic Cordillera,Spain)

The NW–SE shortening between the African and the Eurasian plates is accommodated in the eastern Betic Cordillera along a broad area that includes large N‐vergent folds and kilometric NE–SW sinistral faults with related seismicity. We have selected the best exposed small‐scale tectonic structures located in the western Huércal‐Overa Basin (Betic Cordillera) to discuss the seismotectonic implications of such structures usually developed in seismogenic zones. Subvertical ESE–WNW pure dextral faults and E–W to ENE–ESW dextral‐reverse faults and folds deform the Quaternary sediments. The La Molata structure is the most impressive example, including dextral ESE–WNW Neogene faults, active southward‐dipping reverse faults and associated ENE–WSW folds. A molar M1 assigned to Mimomys savini allows for precise dating of the folded sediments (0.95–0.83 Ma). Strain rates calculated across this structure give ～0.006 mm a^?1 horizontal shortening from the Middle Pleistocene up until now. The widespread active deformations on small‐scale structures contribute to elastic energy dissipation around the large seismogenic zones of the eastern Betics, decreasing the seismic hazard of major fault zones. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Source-to-site distance distributions for area type of seismic sources used in PSHA applications

The use of recent ground motion prediction equations in probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) with area type of seismic sources requires defining the probability distributions of various source-to-site distance metrics with finite fault rupture taken into account. This task is rendered very difficult due to large epistemic uncertainties involved in specifying the details of the causative faults for area sources of diffused seismicity. However, it may generally be possible to constrain the strike and dip angles for fault ruptures in area sources from regional seismotectonic and geological information. This paper proposes to estimate the various finite fault distance measures from a site to a location in an area source by averaging the distances for several fault rupture scenarios with randomly distributed strike and dip over specified ranges. To consider the spatial distribution of the seismicity, the paper then provides the guidelines for defining the distance distributions by assigning suitable weight factors to the distance estimates for a grid of locations in the source area. The PSHA computation based on the distance distributions thus defined is shown to provide quite realistic and objective estimate of the hazard.     

Jabuka island (Central Adriatic Sea) earthquakes of 2003

We present analyses of one of the strongest earthquake sequences ever recorded within the Adriatic microplate, which occurred near the Jabuka island in the very centre of the Adriatic Sea. The mainshock (29 March 2003, 17:42, M_L=5.5) was preceded by over 150 foreshocks, and followed by many aftershocks, over 4600 of which were recorded on the closest station HVAR (about 90 km to the east). As the epicentre was in the open sea and due to the absence of nearby stations, we were able to confidently locate only 597 events. Hypocentral locations were computed by a grid-search algorithm after seven iterations of refining hypocentres and adjusting station corrections. Epicentres lie in a well-defined area of about 300 km², just to the W and NW of the Jabuka island. The vertical cross-sections reveal that hypocentres dip to the NE, closely matching faults from the Jabuka-Andrija fault system, as identified on the available reflection profiles in the area. The fault-plane solution of the main shock based on the first-motion polarity readings agrees well with the CMT solutions and indicates faulting caused by a S–N directed tectonic pressure, on a reverse, dip-slip fault. This is in very good agreement with the seismotectonic framework of the area. These earthquakes are important as they identify the Jabuka-Andrija fault system as an active one, which can significantly influence seismic hazard on the islands in the central Adriatic archipelago and on the Croatian coast between Zadar and Split. Along with several other sequences which occurred in the last two decades, they force us to change our notion of Adria as nearly aseismic, compact and rigid block. In fact, it turns out that recent seismicity of the Central Adriatic Sea is comparable to the seismicity of several well known earthquake-prone areas in the circum-Adriatic region.     

A multi-tiered earthquake hazard model for Australia

Earthquakes result from tectonic processes, and their distribution is strongly influenced by large-scale geology and the tectonic stress field. However, earthquake hazard estimates, particularly ground motion recurrence, have traditionally been computed using source models based primarily on instrumental and historical seismicity. In areas of low to moderate seismicity such as Australia, large earthquakes commonly occur in areas which have experienced little or no recent activity, making it difficult to develop source models based solely on seismicity.

The seismotectonic model developed for Australia that is presented here (AUS5) is based on geology, geophysics, tectonics and seismicity. The model was developed using a number of tiers of information, so that new information can easily be incorporated. The information used includes, but is not limited to, tectonic provinces, basins and ranges, gravity, magnetic, topography, and seismicity, all on a regional scale. On a local scale, for a site-specific earthquake hazard study, active faulting can be incorporated to provide fault source zones.

An earthquake hazard map showing peak ground acceleration with a 10% chance of exceedance in 50 years for southeastern Australia using the geologically defined seismotectonic model AUS5 is presented as an indication of how the model performs.     

湘东-赣西NNE向走滑断裂与地震、地热关系

该文重点研究了湘东、赣西地区ＮＮＥ向活动走滑断裂系与地震和温泉分布之间的密切联系。结果表明：①研究区地震和温泉主要集中在３条ＮＮＥ向主走滑断裂带及及伴生的Ｐ、Ｐ’断裂带;②高温热泉或强震震中区的基本构造样式为走滑断层左行、左阶雁列带和拉分盆地构造;③陆壳结构分层特征是影响该区地震作用强度的一个重要因素。     

Quaternary strike-slip faults in southeastern spain

The Gibraltar Arc (Western Mediterranean Sea) is traversed by a NE-trending fault system that extends from northern Morocco to southeastern Spain. In this area, three main faults (the Carboneras, Palomares and Alhama de Murcia faults) have been active in Quaternary time. The faults are characterized by left-lateral strike-slip motion. The Quaternary faulting and current seismicity in this part of the Meditterranean area are related to a collision-type tectonics produced by the northwestward relative motion of the African Plate toward the European Plate.