Wide-angle reflection and refraction seismic profile from the outer part of the gulf of Cadiz: nearest-seis cruise.

We will explain the first interpretations from a marine refraction and wide-angle reflection seismic profile acquired in the outer part of the Gulf of Cadiz in November 2008, in the framework of the Nearest-Seis cruise.Peer Reviewe

Seismic and gravity constraints on the nature of the basement in the Africa-Eurasia plate boundary: New insights for the geodynamic evolution of the SW Iberian margin

We present a new classification of geological domains at the Africa-Eurasia plate boundary off SW Iberia, together with a regional geodynamic reconstruction spanning from the Mesozoic extension to the Neogene-to-present-day convergence. It is based on seismic velocity and density models along a new transect running from the Horseshoe to the Seine abyssal plains, which is combined with previously available geophysical models from the region. The basement velocity structure at the Seine Abyssal Plain indicates the presence of a highly heterogeneous, thin oceanic crust with local high-velocity anomalies possibly representing zones related to the presence of ultramafic rocks. The integration of this model with previous ones reveals the presence of three oceanic domains offshore SW Iberia: (1) the Seine Abyssal Plain domain, generated during the first stages of slow seafloor spreading in the NE Central Atlantic (Early Jurassic); (2) the Gulf of Cadiz domain, made of oceanic crust generated in the Alpine-Tethys spreading system between Iberia and Africa, which was coeval with the formation of the Seine Abyssal Plain domain and lasted up to the North Atlantic continental breakup (Late Jurassic); and (3) the Gorringe Bank domain, made of exhumed mantle rocks, which formed during the first stages of North Atlantic opening. Our models suggest that the Seine Abyssal Plain and Gulf of Cadiz domains are separated by the Lineament South strike-slip fault, whereas the Gulf of Cadiz and Gorringe Bank domains appear to be limited by a deep thrust fault located at the center of the Horseshoe Abyssal Plain

Editorial: Submarine Active Faults: From Regional Observations to Seismic Hazard Characterization

Since the beginning of the XXI Century, our society has witnessed a number of catastrophic earthquakes with devastating consequences (e.g., Sumatra 2004, Haiti 2010, Japan 2010, Nepal 2015, Italy 2009 and 2016). Localizing the active faults and understanding their earthquake history is key to improve modern probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA) and, thus, to mitigate the consequences of future events. Seismicity models to characterize the earthquake frequency in a region in PSHA studies have been traditionally based on archaeological, historical and instrumental earthquake records. However, the rapid advance of active tectonics and paleoseismological studies has resulted in the development of seismicity models for faults, since they allow characterizing the active faults, reconstructing their 3D geometry at depth, and determining their past earthquake history and seismic potential based on the interpretation of the geological record. Traditionally, active tectonics and paleoseismological research had been mainly conducted to study onshore active faults. However, the occurrence of the offshore Sumatra (2004) and Japan (2010) earthquakes and consequent tsunamis, which caused tens of thousands of casualties and extensive and severe damage and economic losses, have brought into sharp focus the need to better understand the geohazards related to submarine active faults. In the last few years, the availability of offshore geological and geophysical data at various scales (e.g., deep and shallow borehole, wide angle seismic profiles, tomography, 3D and 2D seismic reflection surveys, high resolution bathymetry or seafloor imaging) has allowed for a better definition of offshore fault systems. These studies focused on accurately constraining the kinematic, architecture and linkage of active faults, and, in some cases, identify recent earthquake ruptures or recognize and date individual events. In addition, underwater active tectonics and paleoseismological studies benefit from: (1) low erosional rates that preserve fault morphology and segmentation; (2) continuous sedimentation in time and space that allows for local and/or regional stratigraphic and chronostratigraphic correlations; (3) multiscale seafloor mapping and sub-seafloor seismic imaging; and 4) absence–or lowest amount–of human modification. This Research Topic includes fourteen published articles focused in the study of underwater active tectonic regions or active fault systems around the world (Figure 1). They use different datasets (i.e., bathymetry, seismicity from a local seismic network, sub-bottom profiling, reflection seismic profiles or sedimentary cores) to identify and characterize the seismic cycle of active faults using multidisciplinary approaches and innovative methodologies. The main goal of this Research Topic has been to show the present advance in underwater active tectonics and paleoseismology in order to improve our understanding about the seismic and tsunami hazard. Here we provide a short review of the contributions grouped by the main topics

Active deformation in old oceanic lithosphere and significance for earthquake hazard: Seismic imaging of the Coral Patch Ridge area and neighboring abyssal plains (SW Iberian Margin)

Martínez-Loriente, S. ... et al.-- 26 pages, 13 figures, 1 tableRecently acquired high-resolution multichannel seismic profiles together with bathymetric and sub-bottom profiler data from the external part of the Gulf of Cadiz (Iberia-Africa plate boundary) reveal active deformation involving old (Mesozoic) oceanic lithosphere. This area is located 180 km offshore the SW Iberian Peninsula and embraces the prominent NE-SW trending Coral Patch Ridge, and part of the surrounding deep Horseshoe and Seine abyssal plains. E-W trending dextral strike-slip faults showing surface deformation of flower-like structures predominate in the Horseshoe Abyssal Plain, whereas NE-SW trending compressive structures prevail in the Coral Patch Ridge and Seine Hills. Although the Coral Patch Ridge region is characterized by subdued seismic activity, the area is not free from seismic hazard. Most of the newly mapped faults correspond to active blind thrusts and strike-slip faults that are able to generate large magnitude earthquakes (Mw 7.2-8.4). This may represent a significant earthquake and tsunami hazard that has been overlooked so far. Key Points New active structures have been mapped in the Coral Patch Ridge area The newly mapped faults are able to generate large magnitude earthquakes (Mw>7) These new structures may represent a significant earthquake and tsunami hazard ©2013. American Geophysical Union. All Rights ReservedThe authors acknowledge the support of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) through National Projects EVENT (CGL2006–12861-C02-02) and SHAKE (CGL2011–30005-C02-02); the European Transnational Access SALVADORE program of the EU (RITA-CT-2004–505322), the ESF EuroMargins SWIM project (01- LEG-EMA09F and REN2002–11234E-MAR), the EU program ‘‘Global Change and Ecosystems’’ contract n. 037110 (NEAREST), the ESF TopoEurope TOPOMED project (CGL2008–03474-E/BTE), and the SWIMGLO project (PTDC/MAR/100522/2008). We also acknowledge funding from the MICINN through the ‘‘Ramon y Cajal’’ program (R. Bartolome) and from the CSIC through a JAE Pre-Doc fellowship (S. Martínez-Loriente)Peer Reviewe

A tribute to Marie Tharp: Mapping the seafloor of back-arc basins, mid-ocean ridges, continental margins and plate boundaries

European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2020, 4-8 May 2020Marie Tharp (1920-2006) was a pioneer of modern oceanography. She was an American geologist and oceanographic cartographer who, together with his husband Bruce Heezen, generated the first bathymetric map of the Atlantic Ocean floor. Tharp's work revealed the detailed topography and geological landscape of the seafloor. Her work revealed the presence of a continuous rift valley along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge axis, causing a paradigm in earth sciences that led to the acceptance of plate tectonics and continental drift theories. Piecing maps together in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Marie and his partner Bruce Heezen discovered the 75.000 km underwater ridge bounding around the globe. By this finding, they laid the conclusion from geophysical data that the seafloor spreads from mid-ocean ridges and that continents are in motion with respect to one another¿a revolutionary geological theory at that time. Many years later, satellite images demonstrate that Tharp¿s maps were accurate. In this contribution, we focus on detailed bathymetric maps collected from year 1992 to today, which include bathymetric maps from diverse parts of the world. For instance, we will show a) Back-arc basins (i.e. the Bransfield Basin, Antarctica; and the North Fiji Basin, SW Pacific); b) Mid-ocean ridges and fracture zones (i.e. the MAR at the South of Azores, the MAR at the Oceanographer-Hayes, and the St. Paul Fracture Zone at the Equator), and c) Active tectonic structures from the Gulf of Cadiz and Alboran Sea, located at the Africa-Eurasia plate boundary (Gibraltar Arc). Regarding this last area, we will characterize the seafloor expression of the fault systems, as well as the subsurface structure of the faults in the Gulf of Cadiz and Alboran Sea. This zone is characterized by a moderate seismicity, mainly reverse and strike-slip focal mechanisms; although large historical (AD1755, AD1829) and instrumental earthquakes or large/great magnitude also occurred, such as the earthquakes of 1969, 1994, 2004 and 2016. In addition, the Gulf of Cadiz-Alboran Sea area is compartmentalized in different crustal domains, bounded by active strike-slip fault systems. We adopted a multi-scale approach, including morphological analysis of shipboard multibeam bathymetry, near-bottom bathymetry obtained with Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) at a resolution of 1-2 m, and medium to deep penetration multi-channel seismic (MCS) data. Finally, we will also show a couple of videos from recent marine cruises in the Gibraltar Arc (SHAKE-2015 and INSIGHT-2018), both using state-of-the-art high-resolution marine technologie

Compressional tectonic inversion of the Algero-Balearic basin: Latemost Miocene to present oblique convergence at the Palomares margin (Western Mediterranean)

Interpretation of new multichannel seismic reflection profiles indicates that the Palomares margin was formed by crustal-scale extension and coeval magmatic accretion during middle to late Miocene opening of the Algero-Balearic basin. The margin formed at the transition between thinned continental crust intruded by arc volcanism and back-arc oceanic crust. Deformation produced during the later positive inversion of the margin offshore and onshore is partitioned between ~N50°E striking reverse faults and associated folds like the Sierra Cabrera and Abubacer anticlines and N10–20°E sinistral strike-slip faults like Palomares and Terreros faults. Parametric subbottom profiles and multibeam bathymetry offshore, structural analysis, available GPS geodetic displacement data, and earthquake focal mechanisms jointly indicate that tectonic inversion of the Palomares margin is currently active. The Palomares margin shows a structural pattern comparable to the north Maghrebian margins where Africa-Eurasia plate convergence is accommodated by NE-SW reverse faults, NNW-SSE sinistral faults, and WNW-ESE dextral ones. Contractive structures at this margin contribute to the general inversion of the Western Mediterranean since ~7 Ma, coeval to inversion at the Algerian margin. Shortening at the Alboran ridge and Al-Idrisi faults occurred later, since 5 Ma, indicating a westward propagation of the compressional inversion of the Western Mediterranean

Tectonic evolution, geomorphology and influence of bottom currents along a large submarine canyon system: The São Vicente Canyon (SW Iberian margin)

A multi-scale dataset consisting of multi-beam echo-sounder, 2D multi-channel seismic and sidescan sonar (TOBI) data allows us to identify a large variety of morphologies originating from sedimentary and tectonic processes along the São Vicente Canyon (SVC), which is the largest submarine canyon developed in the external part of the Gulf of Cadiz. The SVC is located in one of the most seismogenic areas of Western Europe. The convergence between the Eurasian and African plates has controlled the formation and evolution of the canyon. The SVC is tectonically controlled by three main thrust faults: the Marquês de Pombal Fault, the São Vicente Fault and the Horseshoe Fault. No major rivers feed sediment to the canyon head, but the main sediment source is related to the dismantling of canyon flanks and the MOW (Mediterranean Overflow Water). This current contributes sediments by two different processes: a) conturites deposition at the head and flanks of the SVC that periodically fail into the canyon; and b) the coarser-grained and denser sediment of the MOW might be trapped at the head of the canyon and could develops into hyperpycnal flows. The SVC is characterized by retrogressive erosion being submarine landslide deposits and scars the main seafloor morphologies. The tectonic and stratigraphic interpretation of seismic profiles indicate that the SVC is a clear example of a diachronous and segmented canyon developed since the Late Miocene in an area of present-day active plate tectonics. This study investigates the interaction between active tectonics, the dynamics of submarine canyons and the resulting geomorphologies

The European Fault-Source Model 2020 (EFSM20): geologic input data for the European Seismic Hazard Model 2020

Earthquake hazard analyses rely on seismogenic source models. These are designed in various fashions, such as point sources or area sources, but the most effective is the three-dimensional representation of geological faults. We here refer to such models as fault sources. This study presents the European Fault-Source Model 2020 (EFSM20), which was one of the primary input datasets of the recently released European Seismic Hazard Model 2020. The EFSM20 compilation was entirely based on reusable data from existing active fault regional compilations that were first blended and harmonized and then augmented by a set of derived parameters. These additional parameters were devised to enable users to formulate earthquake rate forecasts based on a seismic-moment balancing approach. EFSM20 considers two main categories of seismogenic faults: crustal faults and subduction systems, which include the subduction interface and intraslab faults. The compiled dataset covers an area from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge to the Caucasus and from northern Africa to Iceland. It includes 1248 crustal faults spanning a total length of ∼95 100 km and four subduction systems, namely the Gibraltar, Calabrian, Hellenic, and Cyprus arcs, for a total length of ∼2120 km. The model focuses on an area encompassing a buffer of 300 km around all European countries (except for Overseas Countries and Territories) and a maximum of 300 km depth for the subducting slabs. All the parameters required to develop a seismic source model for earthquake hazard analysis were determined for crustal faults and subduction systems. A statistical distribution of relevant seismotectonic parameters, such as faulting mechanisms, slip rates, moment rates, and prospective maximum magnitudes, is presented and discussed to address unsettled points in view of future updates and improvements. The dataset, identified by the DOI https://doi.org/10.13127/efsm20 (Basili et al., 2022), is distributed as machine-readable files using open standards (Open Geospatial Consortium).</p

Geophysical and geological characterization of the active structures and of the nature of the basement in the Eurasia-Africa plate boundary (SW Iberian Margin): Implications for regional geodynamics and seismic hazard assessment = Caracterització geofísica i geològica de les estructures actives i la natura del basament en el límit de plaques Euràsia-Àfrica (Marge SO d’Ibèria): Implicacions per la geodinàmica regional i per l’avaluació de la perillositat sísmica

[spa] El Margen SO de Iberia es una zona de gran interés dónde han tenido lugar grandes terremotos y tsunamis, como el de Lisboa de 1755 (Mw 8.5) o el de Horseshoe de 1969 (Mw 8.0). La convergencia NO-SE entre las placas de África y Eurasia controla la actividad sísmica de moderada magnitud que caracteriza la región. Datos de sísmica de reflexión multicanal adquiridos recientemente, junto con datos batimétricos y perfiles de alta resolución (campaña SWIM 2006; IP: Eulàlia Gràcia) de la parte externa del Golfo de Cádiz (límite de placas Eurasia- África), revelan deformación activa involucrando litosfera oceánica antigua (Mesozoico). Estos conjuntos de datos muestran deformación en dirección a lo largo de dos lineaciones prominentes (la Lineación Norte y la Lineación Sur), se observan desplazamientos del fondo marino y fallamiento activo a profundidades de 10 km y con una longitud mínima de 150 km [Bartolomé et al., 2012]. Además los datos de SWIM revelan fallas de strike-slip orientadas E-W mostrando deformación en superficie en forma de estructuras en flor. También se observan estructuras compresivas de dirección NE-SO en la zona del Coral Patch Ridge y de las Seine Hills [Martínez-Loriente et al., 2013]. Pese a que la región se caracteriza por una sismicidad muy débil, los datos demuestran que hay deformación activa. Muchas de las nuevas estructuras cartografiadas corresponden a cabalgamientos ciegos y estructuras en dirección que son capaces de generar grandes terremotos (Mw 7.2 ¿ 8.4) y consecuentes tsunamis [Martínez-Loriente et al., 2013]. Los modelos de tomografía y gravimetría a lo largo del perfil NEAREST P1 adquirido en la parte externa del Margen SO de Iberia, revelan la presencia de peridotita serpentinizada en el basamento del Gorringe Bank y los sectores adyacentes de las llanuras abisales de Tagus y Horseshoe [Sallarès et al., 2013]. Estos tres dominios formarían parte de una banda de rocas ultramáficas, la cual se habría generado probablemente durante la primera fase de la abertura del Atlántico Norte (Cretácico Inferior) [Sallarès et al., 2013]. La estructura de velocidad en la parte sur del perfil, indica la presencia de una corteza oceánica delgada y muy heterogénea, similar a la descrita en zonas de generación de corteza lenta o muy lenta [Martínez-Loriente et al., submitted]. Esta corteza oceánica delgada se habría formado durante la primera fase lenta (8 mm/año) de generación de corteza en el segmento NE del Atlántico Central (190-180 Ma) [Martínez-Lorietne et al., submitted]. La integración de los resultados de los perfiles NEAREST P1 y P2 [Sallarès et al., 2011], junto con datos previamente publicados, revelan la presencia de 3 dominios oceánicos en el Margen SO de Iberia: (1) El dominio de la Llanura abisal del Seine, generada durante los primeros episodios de generación de corteza oceánica del segmento NE del Atlántico Central; (2) el dominio del Golfo de Cádiz, compuesto por corteza oceánica generada en el sistema de expansión Alpino-Tethys entre Iberia y África, el cual es sincrónico con la formación del dominio anterior; (3) el dominio del Gorringe Bank, compuesto por rocas del manto exhumadas, formadas durante las primeras fases de la abertura del Atlántico Norte. Estos modelos indican que la Llanura abisal del Seine y el Golfo de Cádiz están separadas por la Lineación Sur, mientras que el Golfo de Cádiz y el Gorringe Bank están separados por un sistema de falla profunda localizado en el centro de la llanura de Horseshoe, al cual nos referimos como el cabalgamiento de la llanura abisal de Horseshoe [Martínez-Loriente et al., submitted]. Estos nuevos descubrimientos son relevantes para los estudios de peligrosidad sísmica en la región. Por un lado, la presencia de deformación activa ha sido demostrada en la parte externa del Golfo de Cádiz, involucrando estructuras consideradas hasta el momento como inactivas [Zitellini et al., 2009]. Por el otro lado, el conocimiento de la naturaleza del basamento en el Margen SO de Iberia puede proporcionar información muy valiosa en el proceso de sismogénesi, como la nucleación de terremotos y la velocidad de propagación. Ambos aspectos pueden ayudar a refinar los modelos de evaluación del riesgo sísmico y de tsunamis.[eng] In this PhD Thesis I present a new interpretation of: 1) active structures implicating old oceanic lithosphere; 2) the nature of the basement; and 3) the distribution of the basement domains and the geodynamic reconstruction of the SW Iberian margin, a region that hosts the slow convergent boundary between the African and Eurasian plates. This interpretation is based on new geophysical data acquired, processed and modeled in the framework of this PhD work. The main findings of my study are the following ones: 1) Recently acquired high-resolution multichannel seismic profiles together with bathymetric and sub-bottom profiler data (SWIM 2006 survey) from the external part of the Gulf of Cadiz (Eurasia-Africa plate boundary) reveal active deformation involving old (Mesozoic) oceanic lithosphere [Martínez-Loriente et al., 2013]. This dataset shows active strike-slip occurring along the prominent lineaments North and South, imaging seafloor displacements and active faulting to depths of at least 10 km and of a minimum length of 150 km [Bartolome et al., 2012]. Seismic moment tensors show predominantly WNW–ESE right-lateral strike-slip motion [Geissler et al., 2010]. Estimates of earthquake source depths close to the fault planes indicate upper mantle (i.e., depths of 40–60 km) seismogenesis [Stich et al., 2010, Bartolomé et al., 2012], implying the presence of old, thick, and brittle lithosphere. Moreover, the SWIM 2006 dataset also reveals E-W trending dextral strike-slip faults showing surface deformation of flowerlike structures, which predominate in the Horseshoe Abyssal Plain. In contrast, NE-SW trending compressive structures prevail in the Coral Patch Ridge and in the Seine Hills [Martínez-Loriente et al., 2013]. Although the Coral Patch Ridge region is characterized by subdued seismic activity, the area is not free from seismic hazard. Most of the newly mapped faults correspond to active blind thrusts and strike-slip faults that are able to generate large magnitude earthquakes (Mw 7.2 to 8.4) [Martínez-Loriente et al., 2013]. 2) Combined seismic and gravity modeling along NEAREST profile P1 acquired in the external part of the SW Iberian margin, reveals the presence of a serpentinized peridotite basement flooring the Gorringe Bank and adjacent sectors of the Tagus and Horseshoe abyssal plains [Sallarès et al., 2013]. These three domains would be part of a wide ultramafic rock band [Sallarès et al., 2013], similar to the Zone of Exhumed Continental Mantle off Western Iberia [Pinheiro et al., 1992; Dean et al., 2000]. Furthermore, the basement velocity structure of the southeastern part of the profile (i.e., the Coral Patch Ridge and Seine Abyssal Plain) indicates the presence of a highly heterogeneous, thin oceanic crust (4-6 km-thick), similar to that described in slow/ultraslow spreading centers, with local high-velocity anomalies possibly representing serpentinite intrusions [Martínez-Loriente et al., submitted]. 3) The integration of the results from NEAREST profiles P1 and P2 that runs across the central Gulf of Cadiz [Sallarès et al., 2011], and previously existing data reveals the presence of three main oceanic domains offshore SW Iberia [Martínez-Loriente et al., submitted]: (a) the Seine Abyssal Plain domain, made of oceanic crust that would be generated during the first slow (~8 mm/yr) stages of seafloor spreading of the northeastern segment of the Central Atlantic (i.e. 190 Ma – 180 Ma) [Martínez-Loriente et al., submitted]; (b) the Gulf of Cadiz domain, constituted of oceanic crust generated in the Alpine-Tethys spreading system between Iberia and Africa, which was coeval with the formation of the Seine Abyssal Plain domain and lasted up to the North Atlantic continental break-up (Late Jurassic) [Sallarès et al., 2011]; and (c) the Gorringe Bank domain, made of exhumed mantle rocks that was probably generated during the earliest phase of the North Atlantic opening that followed the continental crust breakup (Early Cretaceous) [Sallarès et al., 2013]. During the Miocene, the NW–SE trending Eurasia–Africa convergence resulted in thrusting of the southeastern segment of the exhumed serpentinite band over the northwestern one, forming the Gorringe Bank [Sallarès et al., 2013]. These models indicate that the Seine Abyssal Plain and Gulf of Cadiz domains are separated by the Lineament South strike-slip system, whereas the Gulf of Cadiz and Gorringe Bank domains are bounded by a deep thrust fault system located at the center of the Horseshoe Abyssal Plain, which we refer to as the Horseshoe Abyssal plain Thrust [Martínez-Loriente et al., submitted]. These new findings are relevant for geohazard assessment in the region. On one hand, the presence of active deformation has been demonstrated in the external part of the Gulf of Cadiz, involving structures considered inactive [e.g. Zitellini et al., 2009] until the present work. On the other hand, the knowledge of the nature of the SW Iberian margin basement may provide valuable information into the process of seismogenesis, such as earthquake nucleation and velocity propagation. Both aspects will help to refine regional seismic and tsunami hazard assessment models

Wide-angle reflection and refraction seismic profile from the outer part of the gulf of Cadiz: nearest-seis cruise.

We will explain the first interpretations from a marine refraction and wide-angle reflection seismic profile acquired in the outer part of the Gulf of Cadiz in November 2008, in the framework of the Nearest-Seis cruise.Peer Reviewe