Mean magnitude variations of earthquakes as a function of depth: Different crustal stress distribution depending on tectonic setting

International audienceThe mean magnitude of earthquakes in the Gulf of Corinth is found to increase strongly with depth (b-value decreases), whereas the dip of fault planes decreases. The b-value difference of 0.25, between shallow and deep earthquake distributions, is based on about 7,000 events and therefore is statistically highly significant. The same is true in California, but opposite patterns are observed in southern Iceland and in western Nagano, Japan. Because large mean magnitudes (low b-values) are indicative of relatively high stress levels, we propose that in the detachment layer at about 9 ± 2 km depth, earthquakes are generated at higher stresses than in the shallower parts of the crust. The correlation of low b-values with low faulting dips can be taken as line of evidence that low b-values map high stress regimes

Absolute versus relative event location calibrated by induced blasts for real-time microseismic monitoring of post-mining ground failures

Accuracy of source locations of microseismic spatial swarms monitored in the vicinity of underground cavities by local seismic stations is a critical issue for the geotechnical expert in charge of assessing the local failure mechanism and its potential significance on the short-term overall stability. In order to quantify the gain in hypocenter resolution that earthquake relocation algorithms offer, multiplets were simulated using artificial sources performed in abandoned mines of the Lorraine iron-basin, region of north-eastern France. Sources consisted in small mining blasts shot in underground mine pillars at 200 meters deep, accurately controlled in terms of coordinates, orientation and energy. These "multiplet blasts" were configured to reproduce multiplet characteristics that may be defined as a group of spatially close events with similar waveforms, source mechanisms, and different origin times and magnitudes. With such a recorded dataset, first, the true orientation of all 3D sensors was counterchecked and corrected if necessary. Then a multilayered P wave velocity model was computed by taking into account all available input data, i.e. geological structure, positions of the blasts, direct P-wave arrival times and dips angles measured at the 3D probes on each experimented site. Those two steps were carried out to obtain a reliable 3D absolute location of the blasts from global inversion. On average, the misfit distance between measured and computed locations is found to be 70 meters, while for blasts correctly placed inside the microseismic network, this misfit comes down to 40 meters. This uncertainty appearing too high for clear distinction inside the several superimposed room-and-pillar mined layouts. These events were then reprocessed, using a relative location technique, considering all event pair combinations based on cross-correlated P- wave travel time delays computed in the spectral domain. Results show that relocation indeed improves the resolution, especially in the horizontal plane compared to the absolute location. If theoretical uncertainties are expected to be of the order of cm-dm, they are found to be of the order of tens of meter. Nevertheless, the true 2D geometry of the blast distribution is reliably and robustly estimated, reducing considerably error of interpretation in the risk analysis

Coseismic velocity variations caused by static stress changes associated with the 2001 Mw=4.3 Agios Ioanis earthquake in the Gulf of Corinth, Greece

International audienc

Focal mechanisms of earthquake multiplets in the western part of the Corinth Rift (Greece): influence of the velocity model and constraints on the geometry of the active faults

International audienceThe composite fault plane solutions for 24 large multiplets recorded in the western part of the Corinth Rift between 2000 and 2007 are computed by jointly inverting P polarities and Sv/P, Sh/P, Sv/Sh amplitude ratios of the direct waves. The fault plane solutions are determined using 1-D and 3-D velocity models. Solutions computed with the 3-D velocity model are preferred to the ones computed with the 1-D model because overall, 3-D solutions have a better score function. They correspond essentially to E–NE/W–SW and W–NW/E–SE striking normal faults, which is consistent with the N–S extensional/vertical shortening tectonic regime of the area. For 15 multiplets, one of the nodal planes is similar to the plane delineated by the earthquakes. It is then possible to determine which nodal plane is the fault plane. The analysis of the fault plane solutions highlights a clear decrease of their dip with depth and towards the north. Several multiplets with steeply dipping fault planes (50°–60°) located at depths of 7–8 km are clearly located at the base of onshore and offshore faults that crop out close to the south border of the Corinth Gulf, indicating that these faults are steep down to 7–8 km depth. To the north, multiplets underline a low angle north-dipping structure (20°–30°) on which steep north-dipping faults could take root

First results of the CRLN seismic network in the western Corinth Rift: evidence for old-fault reactivation

Comptes Rendus Géoscience, v. 336, n. 4-5, p. 343-351, 2004. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.crte.2003.12.004International audienc

First results of the CRLN seismic network in the western Corinth Rift: Evidence for old-fault reactivation [Premiers résultats du réseau sismique (CRLN) de la partie ouest du rift de Corinthe : Évidence de la réactivation d'une ancienne faille]

The 12 stations Corinth Rift Laboratory Seismological Network (CRLNET) aims at monitoring the seismicity (Ml>1) in the CRL area and at constraining the geometry of active structures at depth. Two years of microseismicity (2000-2001) recorded by the CRLNET in the Aigion area shows: (1) background seismicity inside the Corinth rift at depth of 4.5-11 km, deepening towards the north and no activity in the upper 4 km of the crust - this seismicity is not clearly related to major faults observed at the surface -; (2) a swarm, 6 km south of the city of Aigion, associated with the Mw=4.2, 8 April 2001 earthquake. This earthquake occurred at 6 km depth, on a SW-NE oriented fault dipping 40° to the northwest and corresponds to normal faulting with a right lateral component of slip. It likely occurred on an old structure reactivated in the present stress field. © 2003 Académie des sciences. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved

Seismicity, deformation and seismic hazard in the western rift of Corinth: New insights from the Corinth Rift Laboratory (CRL)

International audienceThis paper presents the main recent results obtained by the seismological and geophysical monitoring arrays in operation in the rift of Corinth, Greece. The Corinth Rift Laboratory (CRL) is set up near the western end of the rift, where instrumental seismicity and strain rate is highest. The seismicity is clustered between 5 and 10 km, defining an active layer, gently dipping north, on which the main normal faults, mostly dipping north, are rooting. It may be interpreted as a detachment zone, possibly related to the Phyllade thrust nappe. Young, active normal faults connecting the Aigion to the Psathopyrgos faults seem to control the spatial distribution of the microseismicity. This seismic activity is interpreted as a seismic creep from GPS measurements, which shows evidence for fast continuous slip on the deepest part on the detachment zone. Offshore, either the shallowest part of the faults is creeping, or the strain is relaxed in the shallow sediments, as inferred from the large NS strain gradient reported by GPS. The predicted subsidence of the central part of the rift is well fitted by the new continuous GPS measurements. The location of shallow earthquakes (between 5 and 3.5 km in depth) recorded on the on-shore Helike and Aigion faults are compatible with 50° and 60° mean dip angles, respectively. The offshore faults also show indirect evidence for high dip angles. This strongly differs from the low dip values reported for active faults more to the east of the rift, suggesting a significant structural or rheological change, possibly related to the hypothetical presence of the Phyllade nappe. Large seismic swarms, lasting weeks to months, seem to activate recent synrift as well as pre-rift faults. Most of the faults of the investigated area are in their latest part of cycle, so that the probability of at least one moderate to large earthquake (M = 6 to 6.7) is very high within a few decades. Furthermore, the region west to Aigion is likely to be in an accelerated state of extension, possibly 2 to 3 times its mean interseismic value. High resolution strain measurement, with a borehole dilatometer and long base hydrostatic tiltmeters, started end of 2002. A transient strain has been recorded by the dilatometer, lasting one hour, coincident with a local magnitude 3.7 earthquake. It is most probably associated with a slow slip event of magnitude around 5 ± 0.5. The pore pressure data from the 1 km deep AIG10 borehole, crossing the Aigion fault at depth, shows a 1 MPa overpressure and a large sensitivity to crustal strain changes

Reassessment of the rifting process in the Western Corinth Rift from relocated seismicity

International audienceThe seismic activity in the western part of the Corinth Rift (Greece) over the period 2000– 2007, monitored by a dense network of three-component stations, is analysed in terms of multiplets and high precision relocation using double difference techniques. This detailed analysis provides new insights into the geometry of faults at depth, the nature and the structure of the active zone at 6–8 km depth previously interpreted as a possible detachment, and more generally into the rifting process. The seismicity exhibits a complex structure, strongly varying along the rift axis. The detailed picture of the seismic zone below the rift indicates that its shallower part (at depths of 6–8 km) is 1–1.5 km thick with a complex microstructure, and that its deeper part (at depths of 9–12 km) gently dipping to the north (10–20°) is 0.1–0.3 km thick with a microstructure consistent with the general slope of the structure. Although the nature of this seismic zone remains an open question, the presence of seismicity beneath the main active area, the strong variability of the structure along the rift over short distances and the complex microstructure of the shallower part revealed by the multiplet analysis are arguments against the hypothesis of a mature detachment under the rift: this active zone more likely represents a layer of diffuse deformation. The geometry of the mapped active faults is not well defined at depth, as no seismicity is observed between 0 and 4 km, except for the Aigion Fault rooting in the seismic layer at 6 km depth with a dip of 60°. A distinct cloud of seismicity may be associated with the antithetic Kalithea Fault, on which the 1909 Fokis earthquake (M s = 6.3) may have occurred. The link between the 1995 rupture (M s = 6.2) and the faults known at the surface has been better constrained, as the relocated seismicity favours a rupture on an offshore, blind fault dipping at 30° , rather than on the deeper part of the East Helike Fault. Consequently, the 1995 event is expected to have decreased the Coulomb stress on the East Helike Fault. To explain these seismic observations along with the geodetic observations, a new mechanical model for the rifting process in this region is proposed, involving non-elastic, mostly aseismic uniform NS opening below the rift axis, coupled with the downward and northward growth of a yet immature detachment: the reported GPS rates would mainly result from this deep, silent source, and the seismicity would reveal the detachment position, not yet connected to the ductile lower crust. In such a model, the strong fluctuations of microseismicity would result from small strain instabilities, undetected by continuous GPS and possibly related to pore pressure transients