Seismotectonics of southeast France: from the Jura mountains to Corsica

The analysis of the seismicity catalog (1996 to 2019) covering the region from the Jura mountains to Corsica provides a first-order image of the distribution of earthquakes, highlighting large structures such as the Briançonnais and Piedmontais seismic arcs, the eastward deepening of the focal depths through the Western Alps, several large active faults (e.g. Belledonne, Middle Durance, Ligure). Over this period the magnitudes are moderate and the focal mechanisms of the main events display a diversity of seismic behaviors that can be explained by the complexity of the different geological domains with a more or less strong structural inheritage, by variable rheological characteristics at the scale of the crust and by the joint action of different mechanisms of deformation. The distribution of the historical events is in fairly good agreement with the instrumental seismicity, but several earthquakes of $M >6$ are highlighted since the 14th century until the beginning of the 20th

Seismotectonics of southeast France: from the Jura mountains to Corsica

The analysis of the seismicity catalog (1996 to 2019) covering the region from the Jura mountains to Corsica provides a first-order image of the distribution of earthquakes, highlighting large structures such as the Briançonnais and Piedmontais seismic arcs, the eastward deepening of the focal depths through the Western Alps, several large active faults (e.g. Belledonne, Middle Durance, Ligure). Over this period the magnitudes are moderate and the focal mechanisms of the main events display a diversity of seismic behaviors that can be explained by the complexity of the different geological domains with a more or less strong structural inheritage, by variable rheological characteristics at the scale of the crust and by the joint action of different mechanisms of deformation. The distribution of the historical events is in fairly good agreement with the instrumental seismicity, but several earthquakes of $M >6$ are highlighted since the 14th century until the beginning of the 20th

Rapid response to the M_w 4.9 earthquake of November 11, 2019 in Le Teil, Lower Rhône Valley, France

On November 11, 2019, a Mw 4.9 earthquake hit the region close to Montelimar (lower Rhône Valley, France), on the eastern margin of the Massif Central close to the external part of the Alps. Occuring in a moderate seismicity area, this earthquake is remarkable for its very shallow focal depth (between 1 and 3 km), its magnitude, and the moderate to large damages it produced in several villages. InSAR interferograms indicated a shallow rupture about 4 km long reaching the surface and the reactivation of the ancient NE-SW La Rouviere normal fault in reverse faulting in agreement with the present-day E-W compressional tectonics. The peculiarity of this earthquake together with a poor coverage of the epicentral region by permanent seismological and geodetic stations triggered the mobilisation of the French post-seismic unit and the broad French scientific community from various institutions, with the deployment of geophysical instruments (seismological and geodesic stations), geological field surveys, and field evaluation of the intensity of the earthquake. Within 7 days after the mainshock, 47 seismological stations were deployed in the epicentral area to improve the Le Teil aftershocks locations relative to the French permanent seismological network (RESIF), monitor the temporal and spatial evolution of microearthquakes close to the fault plane and temporal evolution of the seismic response of 3 damaged historical buildings, and to study suspected site effects and their influence in the distribution of seismic damage. This seismological dataset, completed by data owned by different institutions, was integrated in a homogeneous archive and distributed through FDSN web services by the RESIF data center. This dataset, together with observations of surface rupture evidences, geologic, geodetic and satellite data, will help to unravel the causes and rupture mechanism of this earthquake, and contribute to account in seismic hazard assessment for earthquakes along the major regional Cévenne fault system in a context of present-day compressional tectonics

Les tremblements de terre dans le Nyonsais, les Baronnies et les régions voisines

National audienc

Etude théorique sur le calcul des mécanismes au foyer dans un réservoir et application à la sismicité de la saline de Vauvert (Gard)

We develop a non linear inversion method based on the simulated annealing and using the amplitudes of the P, SV and SH direct waves, in order to determine focal mechanism from few stations as in reservoir context. This method allows the determination of the fault plane solution (strike, dip and rake) characterizing a double-couple solution or the determination of the six components of the moment tensor describing a general seismic source. The double-couple inversion and the moment tensor inversion are tested on four earthquakes induced in the geothermal reservoir of Soultz-sous-Forêts. The calculated focal mechanisms are in accordance with the solutions determined by Charlety et al. 2007. Finally, the inversion method is applied to the seismicity of the Vauvert salt production site recorded by two permanent 3-component stations. First, the method is tested on 15 earthquakes recorded during the deployment of a temporary antenna of four 3-component stations. The comparison between the inversion using the two permanent stations and the temporary antenna and the inversion using the two permanent stations only shows similar focal mechanisms for the events located between the two permanent stations. Second, the method is applied to a seismicity swarm. The focal mechanisms are obtained for 532 events and globally indicate rupture along NE-SW sub-vertical fractures. These focal solutions are interpreted as ruptures on stratigraphic planes in the non-soluble beds intercalated in the salt series.Nous proposons une méthode d'inversion non linéaire des amplitudes des ondes directes P, SV et SH basée sur l'algorithme du recuit simulé, afin de déterminer à partir d'un nombre limité de stations, le mécanisme au foyer de séismes induits en contexte de réservoir. Cette méthode permet de déterminer aussi bien les paramètres du plan de faille (azimut, pendage et angle de glissement) décrivant une source double-couple, que les six composantes du tenseur des moments décrivant une source plus générale. L'inversion double-couple et l'inversion du tenseur des moments sont testées sur quatre séismes induits dans le réservoir géothermique de Soultz-sous-Forêts. Les mécanismes obtenus sont en accord avec ceux déterminés par Charléty et al. 2007.La méthode d'inversion est appliquée à la sismicité de la saline de Vauvert enregistrée par un réseau permanent de deux stations 3-composante. Dans un premier temps, la méthode est testée sur 15 séismes enregistrés durant le déploiement temporaire d'une antenne de quatre capteurs 3-composante. La comparaison entre l'inversion utilisant les deux stations permanentes et l'antenne temporaires et l'inversion utilisant seulement les deux stations permanentes montre des mécanismes au foyer double-couple identiques pour les séismes localisés entre les deux stations permanentes. Dans un deuxième temps, la méthode est appliquée à un essaim de sismicité. Les mécanismes au foyer obtenus pour 532 évènements, indiquent pour la majorité une rupture le long de fractures sub-verticales NE-SW, interprétée comme de probables ruptures sur les plans stratigraphiques des bancs d'insolubles intercalés dans la formation de sel

Les répliques du séisme du Teil (Mw4.9) et leur lien avec la géologie

National audienc

Inferring fault mechanical conditions from the source parameters of a complex microseismic multiplet in the Corinth rift, Greece

International audienceWe develop a mechanical model of tight clusters of coplanar seismic asperities, to investigate a particular microearthquake swarm located at 8 km depth in the Corinth rift in Greece, which was active between 2001 and 2007. Although it is classified as a multiplet based on waveform similarity, this seismic sequence is much more complex than a repeating earthquake sequence and cannot be interpreted as the regular failure of a single asperity forced by surrounding aseismic creep. Here we suggest that such complex sequences could be generated by the failure of a set of coplanar asperities interacting in a small region of a fault segment. We show that in order to reproduce the dynamics of the observed sequence and the characteristics of the events, the cluster of asperities has to be located very close to an aseismically slipping fault segment, which could be an updip extension of the deep detachment zone in the rift, creeping at 1.5 cm/yr. For more general cases of coplanar clustered asperities, we show that the shape of the cumulative coseismic displacement pattern associated with the repeated failures of the asperities is strongly controlled by the behavior of the fault area surrounding the asperity cluster. In particular, if the cluster is part of a locked fault area, the resulting long-term cumulative displacement is maximum at the center of the cluster. In contrast, an asperity cluster surrounded by aseismic creep leads to a uniform cumulative coseismic slip pattern. The ratio between cumulative slip at the center of the seismogenic patch and cumulative slip at its periphery could therefore be an indicator of the mechanical conditions prevailing on the fault. A systematic study of the source parameters of complex microseismic sequences could therefore provide insights into the mechanical state of active faults continuously generating microseismicity

Theorical study on focal mechanisms computation in a reservoir and applications to the seismicity of the Vauvert salt solution mining site (Gard, france)

Nous proposons une méthode d inversion non linéaire des amplitudes des ondes directes P, SV et SH basée sur l algorithme du recuit simulé, afin de déterminer à partir d un nombre limité de stations, le mécanisme au foyer de séismes induits en contexte de réservoir. Cette méthode permet de déterminer aussi bien les paramètres du plan de faille (azimut, pendage et angle de glissement) décrivant une source double-couple, que les six composantes du tenseur des moments décrivant une source plus générale. L inversion double-couple et l inversion du tenseur des moments sont testées sur quatre séismes induits dans le réservoir géothermique de Soultz-sous-Forêts. Les mécanismes obtenus sont en accord avec ceux déterminés par Charléty et al. 2007. La méthode d inversion est appliquée à la sismicité de la saline de Vauvert enregistrée par un réseau permanent de deux stations 3-composantes. Dans un premier temps, la méthode est testée sur 15 séismes enregistrés durant le déploiement temporaire d une antenne de quatre capteurs 3-composantes. La comparaison entre l inversion utilisant les deux stations permanentes et l antenne temporaires et l inversion utilisant seulement les deux stations permanentes montre des mécanismes au foyer double-couple identiques pour les séismes localisés entre les deux stations permanentes. Dans un deuxième temps, la méthode est appliquée à un essaim de sismicité. Les mécanismes au foyer obtenus pour 532 événements, indiquent pour la majorité une rupture le long de fractures sub-verticales NE-SW, interprétée comme de probables ruptures sur les plans stratigraphiques des bancs d insolubles intercalés dans la formation de sel.We develop a non linear inversion method based on the simulated annealing and using the amplitudes of the P, SV and SH direct waves, in order to determine focal mechanism from few stations as in reservoir context. This method allows the determination of the fault plane solution (strike, dip and rake) characterizing a double-couple solution or the determination of the six components of the moment tensor describing a general seismic source. The double-couple inversion and the moment tensor inversion are tested on four earthquakes induced in the geothermal reservoir of Soultz-sous-Forêts. The calculated focal mechanisms are in accordance with the solutions determined by Charlety et al. 2007. Finally, the inversion method is applied to the seismicity of the Vauvert salt production site recorded by two permanent 3-component stations. First, the method is tested on 15 earthquakes recorded during the deployment of a temporary antenna of four 3-component stations. The comparison between the inversion using two permanent stations and the temporary antenna and the inversion using the two permanent stations only shows similar focal mechanisms for the events located between the two permanent stations. Second, the method is applied to a seismicity swarm. The focal mechanisms are obtained for 532 events and globally indicate rupture along NE-SW sub-vertical fractures. These focal solutions are interpreted as ruptures on stratigraphic planes in the non-soluble beds intercalated in the salt series.NICE-BU Sciences (060882101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Locally triggered earthquake swarm in the low-deformation zone of Tinée Valley (Southwestern French Alps) following the extreme rainfall event associated with the 2020 Alex storm

International audienceOn 2nd October 2020, an unusual extreme rainfall event (600 mm) associated with the devastating “Alex storm” occurred in less than 24 hours in the Tinée valley, a low strain rate area (convergence rates of 0.3-0.9 mm/yr) of the Southern French Alps, located 20 kilometers from Nice city. This transitional zone between the Argentera Mercantour exhumed Alpine massif and the Nice/Castellane Arc, mainly filled with Cenozoic sediments covering inherited structures, has no clear active faults known and displays a low seismicity rate with only 60 events recorded between 2014 and October 2020 by the national RESIF-EPOS seismic network, with local magnitudes ranging from 0.6 to 2.6. However, in the days after the “Alex storm”, a sudden increase in the seismicity rate was observed, with 114 events detected by template matching (local magnitudes between -0.8 and 2.05). After a peak activity, reached on the 8th of October with more than 60 events detected, the seismic crisis ended around mid-December 2020. Here, we investigate how the intense rainfall can explain the seismic sequences and what are the triggering processes in such a low tectonically deformation area.Basing our analysis on a precise relocation of the seismicity, using the double-difference relative method, three swarms successively activating from south to north, with focal depths around 5 kilometers have been revealed. The main swarm clearly presents a N160 alignment, which is quite consistent with the general orientation of the Southwestern Alps main faults. A geological field analysis has also shown the presence of major unmapped pluri-kilometers faults consistent with the seismicity location and orientation. Those faults may cross-cut the entire sedimentary layers, connecting more or less directly the ground surface to the deep basement with some highly-permeable channels for fluid flow. Moreover, this relocation analysis highlighted a bi-directional migration of the seismicity within the main swarm: northwestward with a velocity of 100 m/hr, compatible with aseismic slip-driven seismicity, and southeastward with a velocity of 4.5 m/hr, rather compatible with fluid diffusion-driven seismicity.On top of that, preliminary numerical models, focusing on the analysis of Coulomb stress changes in response to the recorded rainfall rate, showed a correlation between the seismicity rate and the rainfall, which may indicate a rapid saturation of the shallow porous sedimentary layers with fluids after the storm. However, models of stress changes associated with increasing fluid pressure only or including the effect of poroelasticity are not sufficient to explain the temporal evolution of seismicity and its rates. The contribution of other driving processes is necessary and aseismic slip processes could be more relevant to explain the 3 main bursts of seismicity, the migration pattern and the few-days delay with the rainfall episode. Those rainfall-induced aseismic fault slip may have triggered local seismic ruptures along small seismogenic portions of unknown inherited structures. Thus, our study reveals that the Tinée valley area is a good example to study the complexity of aseismic triggering processes of seismicity in association with shallow rainfall-driven hydraulic perturbations in an intraplate region with a low-deformation background rate