Assessing the rate of crustal extension by 2D sequential restoration analysis: A case study from the active portion of the Malta Escarpment

Abstract

FundingThis work benefits from founding from the University of Catania in the frame of the project "Multidisciplinary analysis of the deformation around active tectonic structures" (responsible G. Barreca) and partly from the MUSE 4D project -Overtime tectonic, dynamic and rheologic control on destructive multiple seismic events -Special Italian Faults & Earthquakes: from real 4D cases to models in the frame of PRIN 2017. Authors' contributionSG: work planning, conceptualization, seismic data interpretation, data analysis and interpretation of results, review of literature, figures preparation, writing the initial draft and final version of the manuscript. GB: seismic data interpretation, data analysis and interpretation of results, review of literature, writing the initial draft and final version of the manuscript, critical reading of the manuscript, funding acquisition. FG: POS496 seismic data acquisition and processing, critical reading of the manuscript. CM: review of the literature data, critical reading of the manuscript, funding acquisition, supervision, final approval of the manuscript. M-AG: planned the CIRCEE marine geophysical survey, seismic data acquisition, critical reading of the manuscript.

Transtension at the Northern Termination of the Alfeo-Etna Fault System (Western Ionian Sea, Italy): Seismotectonic Implications and Relation with Mt. Etna Volcanism

“…Unlike the western sector of the volcano, where seismicity also occurs at greater depths (down to 35 km) related to the regional NNW-SSE-oriented compression [28,39,40], on the eastern sector the intense tectonic activity of the Timpe Fault System is characterized by several shallow earthquakes (more than 80% being shallower than 5 km) with a mediumlow magnitude (magnitude seldom exceeding 4; [38,41,42]). In general, being very shallow, they cause significant damage relative to the magnitude (epicentral macroseismic intensity up to IX), even though in very narrow areas, they are often accompanied by coseismic surface fracturing [8,10,42]. In the south-eastern sector of the volcano, the NW-SE-trending Fiandaca, Linera-Santa Tecla and Santa Venerina faults [32] connect by right-lateral motion the Timpe Fault System with the upper slope of the volcano, where the recent eruptive activity has concentrated along the southern and north-eastern rift zones [2][3][4]6,11].…”

“…It is worth noting that fault reactivation can be triggered by the sudden upraise of feeding dikes [43][44][45][46]. macroseismic intensity up to IX), even though in very narrow areas, they are often accompanied by coseismic surface fracturing [8,10,42]. In the south-eastern sector of the volcano, the NW-SE-trending Fiandaca, Linera-Santa Tecla and Santa Venerina faults [32] connect by right-lateral motion the Timpe Fault System with the upper slope of the volcano, where the recent eruptive activity has concentrated along the southern and north-eastern rift zones [2][3][4]6,11].…”

“…Figure 1. Tectonic sketch-map of eastern Sicily and the Ionian offshore (from [8] modified). The main tectonic features are from Polonia et al [9] and Gutscher et al [10].…”

“…Etna in the geodynamic framework of the eastern Mediterranean, at the southern edge of the subducting Ionian slab (dashed lines with numbers indicate its depth in km). [8] modified). The main tectonic features are from Polonia et al [9] and Gutscher et al [10].…”

The enigmatic 1693 AD tsunami in the eastern Mediterranean Sea: new insights on the triggering mechanisms and propagation dynamics

“…AFS, Alfeo Fault System 17 , 18 ; AEF, Alfeo-Etna Fault 19 ; ( b ) main tectonic structures of Western Ionian basin. NAF, North Alfeo Fault; SAF, South Alfeo Fault (modified after Gambino et al 20 ). The maps were obtained by co-authors through QGIS—software (version 3.14.16); https://www.qgis.org/it/site/ , license Creative Commons.…”