Mechanism of 2003, 2007 and 2009 earthquakes (S. Vicente Cape) and implications for the 1755 Lisbon earthquake

The San Vicente Cape region (SW Iberia) is of great seismological interest due to its tectonic complexity and for the occurrence of the 1755 Lisbon mega-earthquake. A structure capable of generating such large earthquake has not been convincingly found but authors agree with the possible occurrence in the future of a similar earthquake offshore of San Vicente Cape.We have studied the mechanism of three earthquakes in this area: 29 July 2003 (Mw = 5.3), 12 February 2007 (Mw = 6.1) and 17 December 2009 (Mw = 5.5) which throw light on the dynamics of the region. These earthquakes are the largest occurred in the last 40 years at the western of San Vicente Cape. From inversion of body waves and kinematic slip distribution, we have obtained that the three shocks have similar characteristics (dimensions, maximum slip, stress drop, source time function, focal depth and rupture velocity), but we can observe differences on geometry of the rupture that reflect the great seismotectonics complexity of the zone. The 2003 and 2007 focal mechanisms are similar, corresponding to thrusting motion but the 2009 earthquake has dip-slip motion on a vertical plane. The ruptures planes for the three shocks, deduced from the slip distribution, show ruptures on NE-SW planes, with the released energy propagating to NE direction, compatible with the regional horizontal compression in the NW-SE direction produced by the convergence between the Eurasian and African plates. This direction of faulting may be applied to the generation of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, in terms of a complex rupture along NE-SW trending thrust faults at the Gorringe Bank, the Horseshoe Scarp and the Marques de Pombal Fault, with rupture propagating in NE direction toward the coast of Portugal and which may explain the large damage at Lisbon city

The 1980, 1997 and 1998 Azores earthquakes and its seismotectonic implications

We have studied the focal mechanisms of the 1980, 1997 and 1998 earthquakes in the Azores region from body-wave inversion of digital GDSN (Global Digital Seismograph Network) and broadband data. For the 1980 and 1998 shocks, we have obtained strike– slip faulting, with the rupture process made up of two sub-events in both shocks, with total scalar seismic moments of 1.9 × 1019 Nm (Mw = 6.8) and 1.4 × 1018 Nm (Mw = 6.0), respectively. For the 1997 shock, we have obtained a normal faulting mechanism, with the rupture process made up of three sub-events, with a total scalar seismic moment of 7.7 × 1017 Nm (Mw = 5.9). A common characteristic of these three earthquakes was the shallow focal depth, less than 10 km, in agreement with the oceanic-type crust. From the directivity function of Rayleigh (LR) waves, we have identified the NW–SE plane as the rupture plane for the 1980 and 1998 earthquakes with the rupture propagating to the SE. Slow rupture velocity, about of 1.5 km/s, has been estimated from directivity function for the 1980 and 1998 earthquakes. From spectral analysis and body-wave inversion, fault dimensions, stress drop and average slip have been estimated. Focal mechanisms of the three earthquakes we have studied, together with focal mechanisms obtained by other authors, have been used in order to obtain a seismotectonic model for the Azores region. We have found different types of behaviour present along the region. It can be divided into two zones: Zone I, from 30°W to 27°W; Zone II, from 27°W to 23°W, with a change in the seismicity and stress direction from Zone I. In Zone I, the total seismic moment tensor obtained corresponded to left-lateral strike–slip faulting with horizontal pressure and tension axes in the E–W and N–S directions, respectively. In Zone II, the total seismic moment tensor corresponded to normal faulting, with a horizontal tension axis trending NE–SW, normal to the Terceira Ridge. The stress pattern for the whole region corresponds to horizontal extension with an average seismic slip rate of 4.4 mm/yr

Intractable policy failure: the case of bovine TB and badgers

The failure to eliminate bovine TB from the English and Welsh cattle herd represents a long-term intractable policy failure. Cattle-to-cattle transmission of the disease has been underemphasised in the debate compared with transmission from badgers despite a contested evidence base. Archival evidence shows that mythical constructions of the badger have shaped the policy debate. Relevant evidence was incomplete and contested; alternative framings of the policy problem were polarised and difficult to reconcile; and this rendered normal techniques of stakeholder management through co-option and mediation of little assistance

The Gulf of Cádiz: thrusting or strike-slip motion?

In the Gulf of Cádiz (SW Iberian Peninsula) the boundary between Eurasia and Nubia plates corresponds to a narrow band well defined by the seismicity, where large earthquakes (M>7.0) may be associated to N-S to NNW-SSE horizontal compression due to the convergence between the two plates. Most of these earthquakes are at shallow depth (less than 40 km), with some foci at intermediate-depth, showing E-W distribution and limited by a narrow band less than 20 km wide that broadens as we move to the Strait of Gibraltar. In this area the lithospheric material is relatively rigid and the stresses are released by larger earthquakes. General tectonic models proposed for the Azores-Tunisia plate boundary explain fairly well the nature of its seismicity and tectonic motions; however, details of some of its aspects are still poorly understood and controversial. Zittelini et al. (2009) has recently proposed for the Gulf of Cádiz, transcurrent-transpressional motion along a long strike slip fault based on multichannel seismic reflection surveys. However, this contradicts the compressional motion and reverse faulting of large 1755 Lisbon earthquake (~Mw9), which generate a large tsunami and the recent moderate (Mw>6.0) in 1964, 2007 and 2009 and large (Mw= 8.0) in 1969 earthquakes occurred in the region. These earthquakes show thrusting motion along E-W faults with the southern block going under, corresponding to horizontal NW-SE compression, and they can be related directly to the plate convergence between Nubia and Iberia. References Zitellini et al., 2009. The quest for the Africa–Eurasia plate boundary west of the Strait of Gibraltar. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 280 (2009) 13–50

Focal Mechanism and Rupture Process of 2004 Alhoceima (Morocco, Mw=6.2) Earthquake from Teleseismic and Regional Broad-Band Data.

We have study the focal mechanism of the 2004 Alhoceima (Morocco, Mw=6.2) earthquake using teleseismic and regional broad-band data. The solution obtained shows strike slip motion with planes striking respectively on NNE-SSW and WNW-ESE direction and horizontal pressure axes in NNW-SSE direction. We inverted body waves at teleseismic distances using as initial orientation the solution obtained from 126 P polarities. A model of extended source with rupture velocity between 2.5-3.0 km was used for the inversion. We find a complex rupture with four events at shallow depth (2-8 km). The rupture started at 6 km depth and propagated toward the south with maximum seismic moment releases at the first step (80% over a total of 1.8 x10e18 Nm). Similar result was obtained from slip inversion. An aftershock occurred on 12/03/04 (Mw=4.8) was used as empirical green function using broad-band data at re gional distances (40 to 300 km) to estimate the source time function. Comparison of these results with those obtained for the 1994 earthquake show similar behaviour, namely, a complex rupture process and apparently no relation of the 1994 and 2004 shocks with the Nekor fault, the most important geological feature in the studied area. The stress pattern derived from the 1994 and 2004 focal mechanisms are in agreement with the regional stress pattern in the Alboran Sea: horizontal compres- sion in NNW-SSE and horizontal extension in E-W direction

Reply to Comment on “The earthquakes of 29 July 2003, 12 February 2007, and 17 December 2009 in the region of Cape Saint Vincent (SW Iberia) and their relation with the 1755 Lisbon earthquake

Indeed, the Lisbon earthquake is a very unusual seismic event and an exception to the rule because most great tsunami-generating earth- quakes are related to well-defined subduction zones. The epicentral region, focal mechanism and the structures involved at the origin of this earthquake are still a matter of debate, with several models having been proposed (e.g. Baptista et al., 2003; Grandin et al., 2007a,b; Gutscher et al., 2006; Ribeiro et al., 2006; Vilanova et al., 2003; Zitellini et al., 2001)

“El uso de los recursos energéticos”. Una unidad didáctica para la asignatura Ciencias para el Mundo Contemporáneo

La inclusión de la asignatura Ciencias para el Mundo Contemporáneo en el Bachillerato puede suponer un cambio profundo en la enseñanza de las Ciencias. No obstante, la presencia curricular no es suficiente y es preciso clarificar cuestiones importantes: qué se pretende con esta asignatura, qué tipo de contenidos aborda, cómo debe enfocarse el trabajo en el aula, etc. Creemos que, en este momento, es necesario conocer propuestas y actividades concretas que clarifiquen y orienten al profesorado que debe enseñarla. Nuestro trabajo aborda el proceso de planificación de una unidad didáctica: “El uso de los recursos energéticos”. Este proceso consta de seis tareas: análisis del contenido de enseñanza; análisis de los problemas de aprendizaje de los mismos; análisis del contexto; determinación de objetivos de enseñanza; establecimiento de una secuencia de actividades; y selección de estrategias de evaluación.Palabras clave: Ciencias para el mundo contemporáneo; Bachillerato; Modelo de planificación; Unidad didáctica; Recursos energéticos.“The use of energetic resources”. A lesson for the Science for the Contemporary World subjectThe introduction of the Science for the contemporary world subject in high school is a important change in science education. Nevertheless, the curricular presence is not enough and is necessary to clarify some important questions: what is the propose of this subject; what content should be taught; how they should be taught in the classroom; etc. In this moment, we think is necessary for teachers to know approach and activities to guide their teaching. This paper analyses the process of planning a teaching unit: “the use of energy resources”.Keywords: Science for contemporary world; High school; planning models; Teaching unit; energetic resources

¿Qué resultados de aprendizaje alcanzan los futuros maestros de Infantil cuando planifican unidades didácticas de ciencias?

En este trabajo se analizan los resultados de aprendizaje respecto a las ciencias, que alcanzan los futuros maestros y maestras de educación infantil cuando preparan unidades didácticas. Para ello, se ha construido un instrumento de análisis a partir de los resultados de aprendizaje que cabría esperar teniendo en cuenta las competencias que, para nuestra área de conocimiento, aparecen en la memoria de título de Grado de Maestro/a en Educación Infantil de la Universidad de Valencia. Tres investigadores independientes, haciendo uso de dicho instrumento, han analizado 19 unidades didácticas elaboradas por 76 alumnos del 4º curso durante dos cursos académicos consecutivos, cuando cursan la materia propia de Didáctica de las Ciencias. Los resultados ponen de manifiesto que, según aumenta la especificidad de los resultados de aprendizaje en el área de didáctica de las ciencias, menos consolidados están, lo que plantea una necesaria revisión tanto de los contenidos didácticos planteados, como de su desarrollo en los planes de estudio universitarios, con el fin de mejorar la formación inicial de maestros de educación infantil en el ámbito de la enseñanza de las ciencias. In this paper we analyze the learning results with regard to science that future teachers of early childhood education hope to obtain when they prepare teaching units while studying 'Teaching Science Education' as part of their Pre-school Education degree at the Valencia University. In order to carry out this objective, an analytical tool has been created, based on expected learning results, as regards the professional competencies specified by the accredited degree program for our area of knowledge. This tool has been used by three independent researchers to analyze 19 teaching units, prepared by 76 students during the last year of their degree during two academic years, when they studied the subject of Teaching Science. The results show that, as the specificity of expected learning results in the area of science increases, they become the less consolidated, which raises the necessity for a revision of teaching contents and their development in university curricula to improve the training of early childhood teachers in the field of teaching of science

Substance Abuse Treatment in Correctional versus Non-Correctional Settings: Analysis of Racial/Ethnic and Gender Differences

Background Alcohol and drug abuse are widespread in the US. Substance abuse treatment services are effective, but utilization of services is low, particularly among African Americans, Hispanics, and women. Substance abuse is strongly associated with incarceration, and African Americans and Hispanics make up a disproportionate percentage of individuals with substance abuse problems involved in the criminal justice system. High treatment need, low treatment uptake, and the association between substance abuse and incarceration have led, in part, to correctional institutions filling the treatment gap by increasingly providing safety-net treatment services. We sought to better understand racial/ethnic and gender differences in determinants of treatment location (jail or prison versus non-correctional settings) among treatment-seeking adults. Methods We used repeated cross-sectional data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2002-2016) to identify White, African American, and Hispanic past-year substance abuse treatment participants (n=6,435). We tested the modifying roles of race/ethnicity and gender on the association between several exposure variables and treatment locus using multiple logistic regression. Results Ten percent of treatment participants utilized treatment services in a jail or prison, which varied by race/ethnicity (9% of Whites, 15% of African Americans, 12% of Hispanics) and by gender (11% of men, 9% of women). In our fitted models, we found that educational attainment and past-year employment status varied in effect size between African Americans and Whites. The associations for both variables were strongest among African Americans (Any college vs. Less than high school – adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 0.23, 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI] = 0.08, 0.70; Ever unemployed vs. Never unemployed in the past year – aOR = 5.32, 95% CI = 1.94, 14.60). Health insurance status was significantly associated with treatment in a jail or prison only among Whites (Private vs. No insurance – aOR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.19, 0.69). Co-occurring mental health diagnosis was significant only among African Americans (Any mental health diagnosis vs. none – aOR = 3.91, 95% CI = 1.38, 11.09). Employment and health insurance status were significant only among men (aOR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.26, 3.77; aOR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.22, 0.70, respectively). Conclusion We identified modifying roles for race/ethnicity and gender in the relationship between several factors and treatment utilization in a jail or prison versus non-correctional treatment settings. More numerous factors and stronger effect sizes were identified among African Americans and men in particular. Health promotion interventions promoting the uptake of substance abuse treatment should tailor services to align with the needs of those with the highest risk for incarceration