A morphotectonic approach to the study of earthquakes in Rome
-
Published:2022-07-27
Issue:7
Volume:22
Page:2445-2457
-
ISSN:1684-9981
-
Container-title:Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
-
language:en
-
Short-container-title:Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.
Author:
Marra Fabrizio, Frepoli Alberto, Gioia Dario, Schiattarella Marcello, Tertulliani Andrea, Bini MonicaORCID, De Luca Gaetano, Luppichini Marco
Abstract
Abstract. Rome has the world's longest historical record of felt earthquakes, with more than 100 events during the last 2600 years. However, no destructive earthquake has been reported in the sources, and all of the greatest damage suffered in the past has been attributed to far-field events. While this fact suggests that a moderate seismotectonic regime characterizes the Roman area, no study has provided a comprehensive explanation for the lack of strong earthquakes in the region. Through the analysis of the focal mechanism and the morphostructural setting of the epicentral area of a “typical” moderate earthquake (Ml= 3.3) that recently occurred in the northern urban area of Rome, we demonstrate that this event reactivated a buried segment of an ancient fault generated under both a different and a stronger tectonic regime than that which is presently active. We also show that the evident structural control over the drainage network in this area reflects an extreme degree of fragmentation of a set of buried faults generated under two competing stress fields throughout the Pleistocene. Small faults and a present-day weaker tectonic regime with respect to that acting during the Pleistocene might explain the lack of strong seismicity in the long historical record, suggesting that a large earthquake is not likely to occur.
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
Subject
General Earth and Planetary Sciences
Reference66 articles.
1. Acocella, V. and Funiciello, R.: Transverse systems along the extensional Tyrrhenian margin of central Italy and their influence on volcanism, Tectonics, 25, TC2003, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005tc001845, 2006. 2. Alfonsi, L., Funiciello, R., Mattei, M., Girotti, O., Maiorani, A., Preite Martinez, M., Trudu, C., and Turi, B.: Structural and geochemical features of the Sabina strike-slip fault (Central Apennines), B. Soc. Geol. Ital., 110, 217–230, 1991. 3. Amato, A. and Chiarabba, C.: Earthquake occurrence and crustal structure, in: The Volcano of the Alban Hills, edited by: Trigila, R., Univ. degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”, Rome, La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, 193–211, 1995. 4. Amato, A., Alessandrini, B., Cimini, G. B., Frepoli, A., and Selvaggi, G.: Active and remnant subducted slabs beneath Italy: evidence from seismic tomography and seismicity, Ann. Geofis., 36, 201–214, 1993. 5. Bahrami, S.: Analyzing the drainage system anomaly of zagros basins: Implications for active tectonics, Tectonophysics, 608, 914–928, 2013.
Cited by
5 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献
|
|