Aseismic creep and gravitational sliding on the lower eastern flank of Mt. Etna: Insights from the 2002 and 2022 fault rupture events between Santa Venerina and Santa Tecla

Tringali, Giorgio; Bella, Domenico; Livio, Franz; Ferrario, Maria Francesca; Groppelli, Gianluca; Pettinato, Rosario; Michetti, Alessandro Maria

doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2023.229829

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

References 40 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This study should be extended in the mid and long term, but to date, the data available provide maximum movement speeds of 2.80 mm/year and minimum speeds of 0.24 mm/year. This gives an idea of the intense activity of these faults, which has persisted over time, as well as the possibility of a flank eruption on the western flank of the area of the last eruption of 2021, with a movement of blocks towards the W or the SW, similar to that interpreted by [4] in Etna volcano or [41] for this eruption.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Active Faults, Kinematics, and Seismotectonic Evolution during Tajogaite Eruption 2021 (La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain)

Rodríguez-Pascua,

Perez-Lopez,

Perucha

et al. 2024

Applied Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

During the 2021 La Palma strombolian and fissure eruption, two faults were identified that controlled the spatial distribution of earthquake hypocenters and effusive eruptive vents. One of these faults has a NW-SE trend (Tazacorte Fault: TZF) and the other one shows an ENE-WSW trend (Mazo Fault: MZF). Previous works on fault structural analysis in La Palma indicated that the eruption zone was compatible with an extensional tectonic strain ellipsoid which activated normal-strike-slip directional faults at the confluence of TZF and MZF. These fractures were activated during the 2021 Tajogaite eruption, determining the NW-SE and WSW-ENE spatial distribution of vents. Both faults were mapped in real time during the volcanic eruption from fieldwork and remote sensing imagery (aerial drone images). We have collected more than 300 fracture data associated with the effusive vents and post-eruption seismic creep. Since the affected area was densely inhabited, most of these fractures affect houses and infrastructures. Some of the houses affected by the TZF were damaged 9 months after the eruption, although they were not damaged during the eruption. Surprisingly, these houses already had repairs made to the same fractures since 1980, giving information of previous fault creep movement. During the 2021 Tajogaite eruption, shallow seismicity was spatially related to both faults, suggesting a seismic behavior instead of the precedent creep movement. However, the lack of seismicity after the eruption indicates that the faults went back to creep aseismic behavior, similarly to 1980. The mapping and monitoring of these faults (TZF and MZF) is relevant bearing in mind that they have been active since 1980 and the post-eruptive phase of the 2021 volcanic eruption, which has to be included in the land use planning in areas affected by the volcanic eruption and creep movement. Furthermore, both faults could act as seismogenic sources triggering volcanic earthquakes with potential high macroseismic intensities and mass movements. The data presented here show the importance of having this type of study before the onset of the eruption, thus allowing a better interpretation of seismic data during volcanic unrest.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…This fracturing has been acting aseismically (creep), affecting houses and infrastructure. Examples of fracturing in volcanic environments with seismic and aseismic movement appear in the works of [1][2][3][4], on the geodynamics of Etna eruptions and the activation of faults with effects on buildings and infrastructure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%