Active Faulting in Source Region of 2016–2017 Central Italy Event Sequence

Abstract

The Central Italy earthquake sequence produced three main shocks: M6.1 24 August, M5.9 26 October, and M6.5 30 October 2016. Additional M5–5.5 events struck this territory on 18 January 2017 in the Campotosto area. Fault plane solutions for the main shocks exhibit normal faulting (characteristic of crustal extension occurring in the inner central Apennines). Significant evidence, including hypocenter locations, strike and dip angles of the moment tensors, inverted finite fault models (using GPS, interferometric aperture radar, and ground motion data), and surface rupture patterns, all point to the earthquakes having been generated on the Mt. Vettore–Mt. Bove fault system (all three main shocks) and on the Amatrice fault, in the northern sector of the Laga Mountains (portion of 24 August event). The earthquake sequence provides examples of both synthetic and antithetic ruptures on a single fault system (30 October event) and rupture between two faults (24 August event). We describe active faults in the region and their segmentation and present understanding of the potential for linkages between segments (or faults) in the generation of large earthquakes.