Recognition of earthquake-prone areas (M ≥ 5.0) in the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract

Seismogenic nodes capable of earthquakes with M C 5.0 or I 0 C VII have been identified in the Iberian Peninsula using the pattern recognition approach. Recognition objects, morphostructural nodes, have been delineated with the morphostructural zoning method. Most of the recognized seismogenic nodes (D) are scattered at the periphery of the Peninsula, while in its internal part, apart from the northern part of the Iberian Chain, there is no indication for the existence of D nodes. The performed recognition pinpoints a number of D nodes where moderate events have not been recorded to date, specifically, in the Cantabrian Mts, Portuguese basin, westernmost termination of the Betics, and in the area around Valencia. Some of the recognized D nodes are potential sources of seismic risk for nuclear and water power plants and large metropolitan areas.

Recognition of Earthquake-Prone Areas in the Himalaya: Validity of the Results

“…Apart from the Himalaya, seismogenic nodes for different target magnitudes have been previously recognized in many seismic regions of the world (e.g., [9][10][11][12]). After 1992 four earthquakes with M ≥ 6.5 occurred in the Himalaya.…”

Recognition of earthquake-prone areas in the Altai-Sayan-Baikal region based on the morphostructural zoning

“…Each intersection of morphostructural lineaments shown in Figure 1 we treat as a node. As it was demonstrated in some previously studied regions [Gorshkov et al, 2009b;Gvishiani et al, 1988;Rantsman, 1979], node is an area of some extent, the natural boundaries of which can be mapped during the time consuming field works. When field works were not performed, we threat as a node the circle of a certain radius centered at the point of lineament intersection.…”

“…As a result of the algorithm application, the conditions for the values of the characteristics (recognition rule) are formulated, which allow us to classify the vectors corresponding to nodes and classification is obtained in accordance with this rule of all nodes into two classes: seismogenic nodes D where the target events may occur and nodes N, at which only the earthquakes of < 0 are possible. The approach described above was successfully applied to determine the strong earthquake-prone areas in many seismically active regions [e.g., Bhatia et al, 1992;Caputo etal., 1980;Chunga et al, 2010;Cisternas et al, 1985;Gelfand et al, 1972Gelfand et al, , 1976Gorshkov et al, 2000Gorshkov et al, , 2002Gorshkov et al, , 2003bGorshkov et al, , 2004Gorshkov et al, , 2009aGorshkov et al, , 2009bGorshkov et al, , 2010Gorshkov et al, , 2012Gorshkov et al, , 2017Gorshkov et al, , 2019Gorshkov et al, , 2020Gorshkov and Gaudemer, 2019;Gvishiani and Soloviev, 1984;Gvishiani et al, 1987Gvishiani et al, , 1988Kossobokov, 1983;Soloviev et al, 2013Soloviev et al, , 2016. The locations of the earthquake epicenters that occurred in these regions after obtaining the corresponding results provide arguments in favor of the fact that these re-sults are reliable: about 87% of these epicenters fall in the recognized earthquake-prone areas Soloviev et al, 2014].…”

On the seismic potential of the Corsica–Sardinia block

“…In the Corsica-Sardinia block, we define nodes prone to M5+ earthquakes exploiting the existing characteristic features (criteria of seismicity) that were selected in Iberia (Gorshkov et al 2010) and in the Western Alps (Cisternas et al 1985) by the pattern recognition of seismogenic nodes capable of generating M5+ earthquakes. We use criteria from these two regions to examine the Corsica-Sardinia nodes for M5+ relying on modern models of the geodynamic evolution of western Mediterranean which suggest that the Corsica-Sardinia block originates from the eastern Iberian margin or from Provence adjacent to the Western Alps.…”