scholarly journals Spatial distribution of horizontal seismic strain in the Apennines from historical earthquakes

1998 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Selvaggi

Horizontal principal seismic strain rate axes have been calculated within a regular mesh of triangles covering the Italian peninsula in a time interval of 700 years. I have used both the method of Kostrov (1974), that requires knowledge of the seismic moment tensor of earthquakes, and the modified version provided by England and Molnar (1997) that makes use of length and kinematics of the activated faults. Seismic moment tensor of historical earthquakes can be inferred from recent literature, while length of faults has been obtained from the observation that strain drop is almost constant for large Apenninic earthquakes. Spatial strain distribution from historical earthquakes shows that the Apennines can be divided into three homogeneous structural arcs (Northern Apenninic, Southern Apenninic and Calabrian arcs) within which strain is roughly constant. Although NE-SW extension is the main deformation process along the two Apenninic arcs it involves a velocity more than five times greater in the Southern Apennines. Along the Calabrian arc, I tested the effect on the strain field of the contemporaneous ~WNW-ESE and ~NNE-SSW extension due to the longitudinal dilatation of the arc during its still ESE migration.

1997 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Selvaggi ◽  
B. Castello ◽  
R. Azzara

We analyzed the distribution of seismic moment in Italy, computed from instrumental seismicity recorded by the Italian National Seismic Network in the past 14 years, to map the areas where seismic deformation processes have been active in this time interval. Seismic moment is the most suitable parameter to quantify earthquake size. It is related to the geometric characteristics of faults, to seismic energy and it is a quantity that can be summed and represented in its cumulative value. The maps of seismic moment distribution display more information than epicentral maps, better showing actively deforming regions. They provide further and original evidence for the existence, within the Apenninic belt, of two regions (north and south) characterized by different seismic energy release. The seismic moment is almost continuously and homogeneously distributed all along the belt in the Northern Apennines, whereas in the Southern Apennines it is concentrated in the zones recently activated by mainshock-aftershock seismic sequences. Seismic deformation takes place in a 30 km narrow belt along the Apennines, while in the transition zone between the Northern and Southern Apennines this belt is about 100 km wide. Comparing instrumental seismic moment release with the areas struck by the largest historical earthquakes which have occurred in the past six centuries, we qualitatively extended back to the past the information on where the seismic deformation occurs. In the Southern Apennines background energy release from instrumental seismicity is very low in the several areas hit by large historical earthquakes, suggesting that these seismogenic zones are currently quiescent.


2016 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 964-976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grzegorz Kwiatek ◽  
Patricia Martínez‐Garzón ◽  
Marco Bohnhoff

2021 ◽  
Vol 92 (6) ◽  
pp. 3460-3470
Author(s):  
Zoya Zarifi ◽  
Fredrik Hansteen ◽  
Florian Schopper

Abstract A microseismic event with Mw∼0.8 was recorded at the Grane oilfield, offshore Norway, in June 2015. This event is believed to be associated with a failure of the wellbore liner in well 25/11-G-8 A. The failure mechanism has been difficult to explain from drilling parameters and operational logs alone. In this study, we analyzed the detected microseismic event to shed light on the possible cause of this event. We inverted for the seismic moment tensor, analyzed the S/P amplitude ratio and radiation pattern of seismic waves, and then correlated the microseismic data with the drilling reports. The inverted seismic moment indicates a shear-tensile (dislocation) event with a strong positive isotropic component (67% of total energy) accompanied by a positive compensated linear vector dipole (CLVD) and a reverse double-couple (DC) component. Drilling logs show a strong correlation between high pump pressure and the occurrence of several microseismic events during the drilling of the well. The strongest microseismic event (Mw∼0.8) occurred during peak pump pressure of 277 bar. The application of high pump pressure was associated with an attempt to release the liner hanger running tool (RT) in the well, which had been obstructed. Improper setting of the liner hanger could have caused the forces from the RT release to be transferred to the liner and might have resulted in ripping and parting of the pipe. The possible direct impact of the ripped liner with the formation or the likely sudden hydraulic pressure exposure to the formation caused by the liner ripping may explain the estimated isotropic component in the moment tensor inversion in the well. This impact can promote slip along the pre-existing fractures (the DC component). The presence of gas in the formation or the funneled fluid to the formation caused by the liner ripping may explain the CLVD component.


First Break ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 75-82
Author(s):  
Lindsay Smith-Boughner ◽  
Irina Nizkous ◽  
Ian Leslie ◽  
Sebastian Braganza ◽  
Ian Pinnock ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 223 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-179
Author(s):  
S Donner ◽  
M Mustać ◽  
B Hejrani ◽  
H Tkalčić ◽  
H Igel

SUMMARY Seismic moment tensors are an important tool and input variable for many studies in the geosciences. The theory behind the determination of moment tensors is well established. They are routinely and (semi-) automatically calculated on a global scale. However, on regional and local scales, there are still several difficulties hampering the reliable retrieval of the full seismic moment tensor. In an earlier study, we showed that the waveform inversion for seismic moment tensors can benefit significantly when incorporating rotational ground motion in addition to the commonly used translational ground motion. In this study, we test, what is the best processing strategy with respect to the resolvability of the seismic moment tensor components: inverting three-component data with Green’s functions (GFs) based on a 3-D structural model, six-component data with GFs based on a 1-D model, or unleashing the full force of six-component data and GFs based on a 3-D model? As a reference case, we use the inversion based on three-component data and 1-D structure, which has been the most common practice in waveform inversion for moment tensors so far. Building on the same Bayesian approach as in our previous study, we invert synthetic waveforms for two test cases from the Korean Peninsula: one is the 2013 nuclear test of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the other is an Mw  5.4 tectonic event of 2016 in the Republic of Korea using waveform data recorded on stations in Korea, China and Japan. For the Korean Peninsula, a very detailed 3-D velocity model is available. We show that for the tectonic event both, the 3-D structural model and the rotational ground motion, contribute strongly to the improved resolution of the seismic moment tensor. The higher the frequencies used for inversion, the higher is the influence of rotational ground motions. This is an important effect to consider when inverting waveforms from smaller magnitude events. The explosive source benefits more from the 3-D structural model than from the rotational ground motion. Nevertheless, the rotational ground motion can help to better constraint the isotropic part of the source in the higher frequency range.


2011 ◽  
Vol 101 (6) ◽  
pp. 2634-2642 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Vera Rodriguez ◽  
Y. J. Gu ◽  
M. D. Sacchi

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