European continuous active tectonic strain–stress map

This paper shows a new continuous strain–stress map for Europe obtained from the direct inversion of earthquake focal mechanisms calculated from the centroid tensor method. A total of 1608 focal mechanisms have been selected with several quality criteria from different catalogues (CMT Harvard, ETH, Med-Net, I.G.N. and I.A.G.) from 1973 to the present day. Values for the maximum horizontal shortening direction and brittle strain–stress regime defined by the k′ ratio (ey/ez, horizontal maximum/vertical strain) have been calculated following in Europe and Pannonian Basin the slip model of tri-axial deformation. The individual results including Dey and the shape of the active brittle strain ellipsoid have been interpolated to a final 15′ regular grid taking into account the relationship between the tectonic horizontal strain–stress value and the vertical load. Both continuous strain regime and maximum horizontal shortening (Dey) maps show a good correlation with the primary tectonic forces generated along the plate boundaries, plate kinematics and also some local perturbations related with main crustal heterogeneities and topography, as well as significant spatial variations in integrated crustal strength

Continental degassing of helium in an active tectonic setting (northern Italy): the role of seismicity

In order to investigate the variability of helium degassing in continental regions, its release from rocks and emission into the atmosphere, here we studied the degassing of volatiles in a seismically active region of northern Italy (MwMAX = 6) at the Nirano-Regnano mud volcanic system. The emitted gases in the study area are CH4–dominated and it is the carrier for helium (He) transfer through the crust. Carbon and He isotopes unequivocally indicate that crustal-derived fluids dominate these systems. An high-resolution 3-dimensional reconstruction of the gas reservoirs feeding the observed gas emissions at the surface permits to estimate the amount of He stored in the natural reservoirs. Our study demonstrated that the in-situ production of 4He in the crust and a long-lasting diffusion through the crust are not the main processes that rule the He degassing in the region. Furthermore, we demonstrated that micro-fracturation due to the field of stress that generates the local seismicity increases the release of He from the rocks and can sustain the excess of He in the natural reservoirs respect to the steady-state diffusive degassing. These results prove that (1) the transport of volatiles through the crust can be episodic as function of rock deformation and seismicity and (2) He can be used to highlight changes in the stress field and related earthquakes

Monitoring of Active Tectonic Structures – Project COST 625

 Za zahodno Slovenijo je značilna zmerna zgodovinska in recentna seizmičnost. Glavni cilj pridružitve Slovenije k projektu COST 625 je bil, da bi z izmenjavo izkušenj in metodologije ugotovili aktivnost ali neaktivnost določenih prelomov v zahodni Sloveniji. V okviru projekta smo se odločili za večletni monitoring, zato smo v zahodni Sloveniji namestili štiri ekstenziometre TM 71. V prvi polovici letu 2004 smo v Postojnski jami na dinarski prelom, ki je od Predjamskega preloma oddaljen okrog 1 km severno, postavili dva inštrumenta. Tretji inštrument je postavljen na Raškem prelomu na JV pobočju Vremščice in četrti v dolini Učje na Idrijski prelom. Peti inštrument TM 71 bo postavljen na Kneškem prelomu, ki se nahaja južno od Ravenskega preloma. Prvi rezultati v Postojnski jami kažejo na manjše horizontalne premike velikosti do 0,05 mm v enem letu.   For Western Slovenia moderate historical to recent seismicity is characteristic. The principal aim for Slovenia to join the COST 625 project was to exchange the experiences and methodology and in this way to determine the activity or non-activity of selected faults in Western Slovenia. Within the project frame we decided for several years of monitoring, and in this sense four TM 71 extensometers were installed in Western Slovenia. In the firsthalf of the 2004 two TM 71 instruments were installed in Postojnska Jama on the Dinaric oriented fault that is situated about 1 km North from Predjama fault. The third instrument was installed on Raša fault on the SE slope of Vremščica and the fourth instrument in Učja valley on Idrija fault. The fifth instrument TM71 will be set upon Kneža fault that is situated south from Ravne fault. The firs tresults from Postojnska Jama are showing the small horizontal movements for 0.05 mm in one year

Peceneaga-Camena Fault: Geomagnetic insights into active tectonic contact

Highly detailed, very accurate ground magnetic investigations were jointly conducted by Romanian and Ukrainian researchers on a segment of the Peceneaga-Camenas Fault (PCF) in order to reveal the potential of geomagnetic method for active faults investigating. The survey succeeded to outline the PCF track in the area covered by recent sediments, and provide insights on the fault structure and in-depth development. 2D numerical modeling has been employed for interpreting the obtained geomagnetic anomaly. Lateral variations in magnetization, as suggested by the model, reveal the complex geological architecture in the area, hidden by recent deposits. The zero magnetization outlined in the central part of the survey lines has been interpreted in geodynamic terms, as a breccias zone created along PCF track by its active dynamics

A Measure of Intense in West and Central Java Through Manifestation of River Basin Morphometry Development on Quaternary Volcanic Deposits

DOI: 10.17014/ijog.v4i4.88Indications exhibiting active tectonic movements in Java occur in many places, characterized by unstable regions, such as active faults, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc. The results of researches conducted at several areas in West and Central Java on tectonic morphometry developments of river basins both in Quaternary deposits and Tertiary sediments exhibit a degree of active tectonic intensity. Such the researches are very important regarding to the spatial development design that is related to a region of active tectonism that should be well understood by planners for decision making mainly through comprehensive approach, in which the phenomena involved explaining the characteristics of the region as part of an active plate margin. Statistic approach as the chosen methodology had been utilized to gain meaningful conclusions through the verification of hypotheses, which are based on valid and reliable tested data obtained from the fields and satellite imagery. Results of regression-correlation tests between azimuths of river segment and lineaments in both chronostratigraphic systems mentioned earlier are significant with several large values of correlation coefficients r of no less than 0.9. On the other hand, results of t-tests are not a significant difference of means of bifurcation ratio (Rb) and drainage density (Dd) from many to river basins. The results of all tests have verified the effect of active tectonic control on the morphometry development process regarding to river segments and density of drainage patterns development in Tertiary and Quaternary deposits

Seismotectonics

Seismotectonics is the synthesis of earthquake, geophysical, geodetic and geological data to deduce the tectonic framework of a region [Scholz, 1990]. This approach has been applied successfully to active tectonic regions such as plate boundaries, regions of intraplate seismicity, and active volcanoes throughout the world

The Phanerozoic: reconciling modern plate tectonics with ancient orogenic systems and crustal growth

[Extract] Phanerozoic Earth history affords us the previous opportunity of understanding the links between active tectonic processes and crustal growth, because we have the oceanic and continental record to combine into a coherent, whole-Earth geodynamic model

Normal fault earthquakes or graviquakes

Earthquakes are dissipation of energy throughout elastic waves. Canonically is the elastic energy accumulated during the interseismic period. However, in crustal extensional settings, gravity is the main energy source for hangingwall fault collapsing. Gravitational potential is about 100 times larger than the observed magnitude, far more than enough to explain the earthquake. Therefore, normal faults have a different mechanism of energy accumulation and dissipation (graviquakes) with respect to other tectonic settings (strike-slip and contractional), where elastic energy allows motion even against gravity. The bigger the involved volume, the larger is their magnitude. The steeper the normal fault, the larger is the vertical displacement and the larger is the seismic energy released. Normal faults activate preferentially at about 60° but they can be shallower in low friction rocks. In low static friction rocks, the fault may partly creep dissipating gravitational energy without releasing great amount of seismic energy. The maximum volume involved by graviquakes is smaller than the other tectonic settings, being the activated fault at most about three times the hypocentre depth, explaining their higher b-value and the lower magnitude of the largest recorded events. Having different phenomenology, graviquakes show peculiar precursor