The results of the Taormina 2006 seismic survey: Possible implications for active tectonics in the Messina Straits

Argnani, Andrea; Brancolini, Giuliano; Bonazzi, C.; Rovere, Marzia; Accaino, F.; Zgur, F.; Lodolo, Emanuele

doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2008.10.029

Cited by 50 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Argnani et al, 2009a and references therein). The disastrous historical earthquakes that struck eastern Sicily several times, and in particular Catania and Messina, as well as southern Calabria, were quite likely originated by marine tectonic structures (Argnani and Bonazzi, 2005).…”

Section: Geological Setting Of the Eastern Sicily Slopementioning

confidence: 99%

Active tectonics along the submarine slope of south-eastern Sicily and the source of the 11 January 1693 earthquake and tsunami

Argnani

Armigliato

Pagnoni

et al. 2012

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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South-eastern Sicily has been affected by large historical earthquakes, including the 11 January 1693 earthquake, considered the largest magnitude earthquake in the history of Italy (Mw = 7.4). This earthquake was accompanied by a large tsunami (tsunami magnitude 2.3 in the Murty-Loomis scale adopted in the Italian tsunami catalogue by Tinti et al., 2004), suggesting a source in the near offshore. The fault system of the eastern Sicily slope is characterised by NNW–SSE-trending east-dipping extensional faults active in the Quaternary. The geometry of a fault that appears currently active has been derived from the interpretation of seismic data, and has been used for modelling the tsunamigenic source. Synthetic tide-gauge records from modelling this fault source indicate that the first tsunami wave polarity is negative (sea retreat) in almost all the coastal nodes of eastern Sicily, in agreement with historical observations. The outcomes of the numerical simulations also indicate that the coastal stretch running from Catania to Siracusa suffered the strongest tsunami impact, and that the highest tsunami waves occurred in Augusta, aslo in agreement with the historical accounts. A large-size submarine slide (almost 5 km3) has also been identified along the slope, affecting the footwall of the active fault. Modelling indicates that this slide gives non-negligible tsunami signals along the coast; though not enough to match the historical observations for the 1693 tsunami event. The earthquake alone or a combination of earthquake faulting and slide can possibly account for the large run up waves reported for the 11 January 1693 event

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Section: Geological Setting Of the Eastern Sicily Slopementioning

confidence: 99%

Active tectonics along the submarine slope of south-eastern Sicily and the source of the 11 January 1693 earthquake and tsunami

Argnani

Armigliato

Pagnoni

et al. 2012

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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“…A causative fault located offshore southern Calabria was proposed by Galli et al (2007) based on structural studies and arrival times of the 1908 tsunami on the Sicilian and Calabrian coasts (Tinti, 2007). Argnani et al (2009b) described a fault scarp close to southern Calabria (their Fig. 9) but consider it unlikely that this low angle fault might create an earthquake with the macroseismic intensity observed along the Calabria coast; they propose that during the 1908 earthquake more than one fault may have been activated with their "southern Calabria fault", producing the tsunami wave.…”

Section: Correlation With Historical Earthquakesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Active faults and historical earthquakes in the Messina Straits area (Ionian Sea)

Polonia

Torelli

Gasperini

et al. 2012

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. The Calabrian Arc (CA) subduction complex is located at the toe of the Eurasian Plate in the Ionian Sea, where sediments resting on the lower plate have been scraped off and piled up in the accretionary wedge due to the African/Eurasian plate convergence and back arc extension. The CA has been struck repeatedly by destructive historical earthquakes, but knowledge of active faults and source parameters is relatively poor, particularly for seismogenic structures extending offshore. We analysed the fine structure of major tectonic features likely to have been sources of past earthquakes: (i) the NNW-SSE trending Malta STEP (Slab Transfer Edge Propagator) fault system, representing a lateral tear of the subduction system; (ii) the out-of-sequence thrusts (splay faults) at the rear of the salt-bearing Messinian accretionary wedge; and (iii) the Messina Straits fault system, part of the wide deformation zone separating the western and eastern lobes of the accretionary wedge.Our findings have implications for seismic hazard in southern Italy, as we compile an inventory of first order active faults that may have produced past seismic events such as the 1908, 1693 and 1169 earthquakes. These faults are likely to be source regions for future large magnitude events as they are long, deep and bound sectors of the margin characterized by different deformation and coupling rates on the plate interface.

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“…In particular, tectonic activity in this area is testified by the presence of regional fault sets, striking W-E, NW-SE, and NNW-SSE, and some authors recognized uplift signs at several marine terraces occurring along the coast, with an average rate of 1.7 mm/year in the study area (e.g., [34,35] and references therein). According to Argnani et al [36] and references therein, large and destructive earthquakes can be associated with fault activity along southeastern Sicily and southern Calabria faults, testifying to the link between tectonics and seismic activity in the study area. Moreover, tectonics is usually a predisposing factor to slope instability (e.g., [37] and references therein) due to the degree of fracturing of outcrops resulting from the mechanical response of the rock to field stresses.…”

Section: The Saracen Castle Of Taormina: a MIX Of History And Geologymentioning

confidence: 77%

Rockfall Analysis for Preliminary Hazard Assessment of the Cliff of Taormina Saracen Castle (Sicily)

et al. 2018

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Abstract:A rockfall analysis at one of the most relevant cultural heritage sites of northeastern Sicily (Italy) is presented herein with the aim of assessing the hazard arising from the unstable conditions of the rock cliff of Taormina city, upon which the Saracen Castle is perched on its top. Several rockfalls affected this area in the latest years, representing a serious threat for the safety of inhabitants and tourists. Therefore, the qualitative Evolving Rockfall Hazard Assessment (ERHA) was applied for the hazard zonation, supported by rock mass surveys and Terrestrial Laser Scanner prospecting. Kinematic analysis revealed that the unstable rock failure patterns are represented by planar/wedge sliding and toppling, while simulation of potential rockfalls allowed studying the impact of future events in terms of trajectory and energy. This is higher at the foot of scarps and in steeper sectors, where the application of ERHA identified a critical zone close to the inhabited center, which is one of the main elements at risk, along with a pedestrian tourist path. Achieved results represent a starting point for the definition of risk management strategies and provide a scientific contribution to the study of hazard and risk arising from rockfall occurrence.

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The results of the Taormina 2006 seismic survey: Possible implications for active tectonics in the Messina Straits

Cited by 50 publications

References 38 publications

Active tectonics along the submarine slope of south-eastern Sicily and the source of the 11 January 1693 earthquake and tsunami

Active tectonics along the submarine slope of south-eastern Sicily and the source of the 11 January 1693 earthquake and tsunami

Active faults and historical earthquakes in the Messina Straits area (Ionian Sea)

Rockfall Analysis for Preliminary Hazard Assessment of the Cliff of Taormina Saracen Castle (Sicily)

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