From an analysis of the seismicity of the Mediterranean basin we obtain a model of the deep structure of this region that is a further improvement to the plate tectonic theory. Taking into account the data of seismology, the gravity anomalies, volcanism and the few available data on the heat flow in this region, we conclude that the African plate is wedged under the Euro‐Asiatic plate with a slope of approximately 58° in the Lipari region and 35° in the Aegean region. This model can explain the high seismicity of middle south Italy, the sinking of middle north Italy, and the uplift of south Italy. The last movement is confirmed also by geologic and archeologic data. The archeologic data give an uplift rate of 0.034 cm/yr.
S U M M A R YWe combine Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements with forward modelling of viscoelastic relaxation and after-slip to study the post-seismic deformation of the 1997 UmbriaMarche (Central Apennines) moderate shallow earthquake sequence. Campaign GPS measurements spanning the time period 1999-2003 are depicting a clear post-seismic deformation signal. Our results favour a normal faulting rupture model where most of the slip is located in the lower part of the seismogenic upper crust, consistent with the rupture models obtained from the inversion of strong motion data. The preferred rheological model, obtained from viscoelastic relaxation modelling, consists of an elastic upper crust, underlain by a transition zone with a viscosity of 10 18 Pa s, while the rheology of deeper layers is not relevant for the observed time-span. Shallow fault creep and after-slip at the base of the seismogenic upper crust are the first order processes behind the observed post-seismic deformation. The deep after-slip, below the fault zone at about 8 km depth, acting as a basal shear through localized time-dependent deformation, identifies a rheological discontinuity decoupling the seismogenic upper crust from the low-viscosity transition zone.
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