Active seismic deformation in the Italian peninsula and Sicily

Abstract

Recent and historical seismicity as well as reliable fault plane solutions are used in order to perform a moment tensor analysis and estimate the active crustal and sub-crustal deformation of the Italian peninsula and Sicily. The results show that in Northern Italy, along the Alps, the deformation is taken up by compression at N162°E and a rate of 1 mm/yr. The thickening of the seismogenic layer is taking place at a rate of 0.1 mm/yr. In Central Italy, along the Apennines, extension is prevailing at N28°E and a rate of 3 mm/yr which causes thinning of the seismogenic layer at a rate 0.5 mm/yr. In Southern Italy, at Calabria, the deformation is taken up as extension at N40°E and a rate of 11 mm/yr. At the island of Sicily, compression is occurring at N25°E and a rate of 1 mm/yr. These results are in agreement with plate motion models for the area. The analysis of the deep seismicity of the Tyrrhenian Sea showed that the descending slab is in a state of down dip compression at N146°E and a rate of 2 mm/yr.