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The subduction structure of the Northern Apennines: results from the RETREAT seismic deployment
Author(s)
Issued date
August 2006
Issue/vol(year)
4-5/49 (2006)
Language
English
Abstract
The project Retreating-trench, extension, and accretion tectonics, RETREAT, is a multidisciplinary study of the
Northern Apennines (earth.geology.yale.edu/RETREAT/), funded by the United States National Science Foundation
(NSF) in collaboration with the Italian Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) and the Grant Agency
of the Czech Academy of Sciences (GAAV). The main goal of RETREAT is to develop a self-consistent dynamic
model of syn-convergent extension, using the Northern Apennines as a natural laboratory. In the context of this project
a passive seismological experiment was deployed in the fall of 2003 for a period of three years. RETREAT seismologists
aim to develop a comprehensive understanding of the deep structure beneath the Northern Apennines, with
particular attention on inferring likely patterns of mantle flow. Specific objectives of the project are the crustal and
lithospheric thicknesses, the location and geometry of the Adriatic slab, and the distribution of seismic anisotropy
laterally and vertically in the lithosphere and asthenosphere. The project is collecting teleseismic and regional earthquake
data for 3 years. This contribution describes the RETREAT seismic deployment and reports on key results
from the first year of the deployment. We confirm some prior findings regarding the seismic structure of Central Italy,
but our observations also highlight the complexity of the Northern Apennines subduction system.
Northern Apennines (earth.geology.yale.edu/RETREAT/), funded by the United States National Science Foundation
(NSF) in collaboration with the Italian Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) and the Grant Agency
of the Czech Academy of Sciences (GAAV). The main goal of RETREAT is to develop a self-consistent dynamic
model of syn-convergent extension, using the Northern Apennines as a natural laboratory. In the context of this project
a passive seismological experiment was deployed in the fall of 2003 for a period of three years. RETREAT seismologists
aim to develop a comprehensive understanding of the deep structure beneath the Northern Apennines, with
particular attention on inferring likely patterns of mantle flow. Specific objectives of the project are the crustal and
lithospheric thicknesses, the location and geometry of the Adriatic slab, and the distribution of seismic anisotropy
laterally and vertically in the lithosphere and asthenosphere. The project is collecting teleseismic and regional earthquake
data for 3 years. This contribution describes the RETREAT seismic deployment and reports on key results
from the first year of the deployment. We confirm some prior findings regarding the seismic structure of Central Italy,
but our observations also highlight the complexity of the Northern Apennines subduction system.
References
BABUSˇKA, V. and J. PLOMEROVÁ (1992): The lithosphere in
Central Europe-seismological and petrological aspects,
Tectonophysics, 207, 141-163.
BURCHFIEL, B.C., Z. CHEN, K.V. HODGES, Y. LIU, L.H. ROYDEN,
C. DENG and J. JIENE (1992): The South Tibetan detachment
system, Himalayan orogen; extension contemporaneous
with and parallel to shortening in a collisional
mountain belt, Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap., 269, pp. 41.
CARMIGNANI, L. and R. KLIGFIELD (1990) Crustal extension
in the Northern Apennines; the transition from compression
to extension in the Alpi Apuane core complex,
Tectonics, 9 (6), 1275-1303.
CARMIGNANI, L., F.A. DECANDIA, P.L. FANTOZZI, A. LAZZAROTTO,
D. LIOTTA and M. MECCHERI (1994): Tertiary
extensional tectonics in Tuscany (Northern Apennines,
Italy), Tectonophysics, 238 (1-4), 295-315.
CIVELLO, S. and L. MARGHERITI (2004): Toroidal mantle
flow around the Calabrian slab (Italy) from SKS splitting,
Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L10601, doi: 10.1029/
2004GL019607.
CRESPI, J.M., Y.-C. CHAN and M.S. SWAIM (1996). Synorogenic
extension and exhumation of the Taiwan hinterland,
Geology, 24 (3), 247-250.
DI STEFANO, R., C. CHIARABBA, F. LUCENTE and A. AMATO
(1999): Crustal and uppermost mantle structure in Italy
from the inversion of P-wave arrival times: geodynamic
implications, Geophys. J. Int., 139, 483-498.
JOLIVET, L., B. GOFFE, P. MONIE, C. TRUFFERT-LUXEY, M.
PATRIAT and M. BONNEAU (1996): Miocene detachment
in Crete and exhumation P-T-t paths of high-pressure
metamorphic rocks, Tectonics, 15 (6), 1129-1153.
JOLIVET, L., B. GOFFE, R. BOUSQUET, R. OBERHAENSLI and
A. MICHARD (1998): Detachments in high-pressure
mountain belts, tethyan examples, Earth Planet. Sci.
Lettr., 160 (1-2), 31-47.
LEVIN, V.,W. MENKE and J. PARK (1999): Shear wave splitting
in Appalachians and Urals: a case for multilayered
anisotropy, J. Geophys. Res., 104, 17975-17994.
LEVIN, V., L. MARGHERITI, J. PARK and A. AMATO (2002):
Anisotropic seismic structure of the lithosphere beneath
the Adriatic coast of Italy constrained with
mode-converted body waves, Geophys. Res. Lett., 29
(22), 2058, doi:10.1029/2002GL015438.
LISTER, G.S., G. BANGA and A. FEENSTRA (1984): Metamorphic
core complexes of cordilleran type in the Cyclades,
Aegean Sea, Greece, Geology, 12 (4), 221-225.
LUCENTE, F.P. and F. SPERANZA (2001): Belt bending associated
with lateral bending of subducting lithospheric
slab: geophysical evidences from the Northern Apennines
(Italy), Tectonophysics, 337, 53-67.
LUCENTE, F.P., C. CHIARABBA and G. CIMINI (1999): Tomographic
constraints on the geodynamic evolution of the
Italian region, J. Geophys. Res., 104 (B9), 20307-20327.
LUCENTE, F.P., L. MARGHERITI, C. PIROMALLO and G. BARRUOL
(2006): Mapping the long route of the Tyrrhenian
slab through the mantle, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 241
(3-4), 517-529, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2005.10.041.
MALINVERNO, A. andW.B.F. RYAN (1986): Extension in the
Tyrrhenian sea and shortening in the apennines as result
of arc migration driven by sinking of the lithosphere,
Tectonics, 5 (2), 227-245.
MARGHERITI, L., C. NOSTRO, M. COCCO and A. AMATO
(1996): Seismic anisotropy beneath the Northern Apennines
(Italy) and its tectonic implications, Geophys.
Res. Lett., 23, 2721-2724.
MARGHERITI, L., F.P. LUCENTE and S. PONDRELLI (2003):
SKS splitting measurements in the Apenninic-Tyrrhenian
domain (Italy) and their relation with lithospheric
subduction and mantle convection, J. Geophys. Res.,
108 (B4), 2218, doi: 10.1029/2002JB001793.
MELE, G. and E. SANDVOL (2003): Deep crustal roots beneath
the Northern Apennines inferred from teleseismic receiver
functions, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 211, 69-78.
MELE, G., A. ROVELLI, D. SEBER and M. BARAZANGI (1997):
Shear wave attenuation in the lithosphere beneath Italy
and surrounding regions, J. Geophys. Res., 102, 11863-
11875.
MELE, G., A. ROVELLI, D. SEBER, T.M. HEARN and M. BARAZANGI
(1998): Compressional velocity structure and
anisotropy in the uppermost mantle beneath Italy and surrounding
regions, J. Geophys. Res., 103, 12529-12543.
MOLNAR, P., P. ENGLAND and J. MARTINOD (1993): Mantle
dynamics, uplift of the Tibetan plateau, and the Indian
monsoon, Rev. Geophys., 31 (4), 357-396.
PARK, J. and V. LEVIN (2000): Receiver functions from multiple-
taper spectral correlation estimates, Bull. Seismol.
Soc. Am., 90, 1507-1520.
PIANA AGOSTINETTI, N., F.P. LUCENTE, G. SELVAGGI and M.
DI BONA (2002): Crustal structure and Moho geometry
beneath the Northern Apennines (Italy), Geophys. Res.
Lett., 29 (20), 1999, doi: 10.1029/2002GL015109.
PIROMALLO, C. and A. MORELLI (2003): P-wave tomography
of the mantle under the Alpine-Mediterranean
area, J. Geophys. Res., 108 (B2), 2099, doi: 10.1029/
2002JB001757.
PLOMEROVÁ, J. (1997): Seismic anisotropy in tomographic
studies of the upper mantle beneath Southern Europe,
Ann. Geofis., XL (1), 111-121.
PLOMEROVÁ, J., V. BABUSˇKA and R. SCARPA (1998): Teleseismic
P-residual study in the Italian region – Inferences
on large scale anisotropic structure of the subcrustal
listhosphere, Ann. Geofis., 41 (1), 33-48.
PLOMEROVÁ, J., R. ARVIDSSON, V. BABUSˇKA, M. GRANET, O.
KULHÁNEK, G. POUPINET and J. SˇÍLENY´ (2001): An array
study of lithospheric structure across the Protogine
Zone,Varmland, south-central Sweden; signs of a paleocontinental
collision, Tectonophysics, 332, 1-21.
PLOMEROVÁ, J., L. MARGHERITI, J. PARK, V. BABUSˇKA, S.
PONDRELLI, L. VECSEY, D. PICCININI, V. LEVIN, P. BACCHESCHI
and S. SALIMBENI (2006): Seismic anisotropy
beneath the Northern Apennines (Italy) – mantle flow
and/or lithosphere fabric, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 247,
157-170.
REDDY, S.M., J. WHEELER and R.A. CLIFF (1999): The
geometry and timing of orogenic extension; an example
from the Western Italian Alps, J. Metamorphic Geol.,
17 (5), 573-589.
SANDVOL, E. and T. HEARN (1994): Bootstrapping shearwave
splitting errors, Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., 85,
1971-1977.
SAVAGE, M.K. (1998): Lower crustal anisotropy of dipping
boundaries? Effects on receiver functions and a case
study in New Zealand, J. Geophys. Res., 103, 15069-
15087.
Sˇ
ÍLENY´, J. and J. PLOMEROVÁ (1996): Inversion of shearwave
splitting parameters to retrieve three-dimensional
orientation of anisotropy in continental lithosphere,
Phys. Earth Planet. Int., 95, 277-292.
WORTEL, M. and W. SPAKMAN (2000): Subduction and slab
detachment in the Mediterranean-Carpathian region,
Science, 290, 1910-1917.
ZATTIN, M., V. PICOTTI and G.G. ZUFFA (2002): Fissiontrack
reconstruction of the front of the Northern Apennine
thrust wedge and overlying Ligurian Unit, Am. J.
Sci., 302, 346-379.
Central Europe-seismological and petrological aspects,
Tectonophysics, 207, 141-163.
BURCHFIEL, B.C., Z. CHEN, K.V. HODGES, Y. LIU, L.H. ROYDEN,
C. DENG and J. JIENE (1992): The South Tibetan detachment
system, Himalayan orogen; extension contemporaneous
with and parallel to shortening in a collisional
mountain belt, Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap., 269, pp. 41.
CARMIGNANI, L. and R. KLIGFIELD (1990) Crustal extension
in the Northern Apennines; the transition from compression
to extension in the Alpi Apuane core complex,
Tectonics, 9 (6), 1275-1303.
CARMIGNANI, L., F.A. DECANDIA, P.L. FANTOZZI, A. LAZZAROTTO,
D. LIOTTA and M. MECCHERI (1994): Tertiary
extensional tectonics in Tuscany (Northern Apennines,
Italy), Tectonophysics, 238 (1-4), 295-315.
CIVELLO, S. and L. MARGHERITI (2004): Toroidal mantle
flow around the Calabrian slab (Italy) from SKS splitting,
Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L10601, doi: 10.1029/
2004GL019607.
CRESPI, J.M., Y.-C. CHAN and M.S. SWAIM (1996). Synorogenic
extension and exhumation of the Taiwan hinterland,
Geology, 24 (3), 247-250.
DI STEFANO, R., C. CHIARABBA, F. LUCENTE and A. AMATO
(1999): Crustal and uppermost mantle structure in Italy
from the inversion of P-wave arrival times: geodynamic
implications, Geophys. J. Int., 139, 483-498.
JOLIVET, L., B. GOFFE, P. MONIE, C. TRUFFERT-LUXEY, M.
PATRIAT and M. BONNEAU (1996): Miocene detachment
in Crete and exhumation P-T-t paths of high-pressure
metamorphic rocks, Tectonics, 15 (6), 1129-1153.
JOLIVET, L., B. GOFFE, R. BOUSQUET, R. OBERHAENSLI and
A. MICHARD (1998): Detachments in high-pressure
mountain belts, tethyan examples, Earth Planet. Sci.
Lettr., 160 (1-2), 31-47.
LEVIN, V.,W. MENKE and J. PARK (1999): Shear wave splitting
in Appalachians and Urals: a case for multilayered
anisotropy, J. Geophys. Res., 104, 17975-17994.
LEVIN, V., L. MARGHERITI, J. PARK and A. AMATO (2002):
Anisotropic seismic structure of the lithosphere beneath
the Adriatic coast of Italy constrained with
mode-converted body waves, Geophys. Res. Lett., 29
(22), 2058, doi:10.1029/2002GL015438.
LISTER, G.S., G. BANGA and A. FEENSTRA (1984): Metamorphic
core complexes of cordilleran type in the Cyclades,
Aegean Sea, Greece, Geology, 12 (4), 221-225.
LUCENTE, F.P. and F. SPERANZA (2001): Belt bending associated
with lateral bending of subducting lithospheric
slab: geophysical evidences from the Northern Apennines
(Italy), Tectonophysics, 337, 53-67.
LUCENTE, F.P., C. CHIARABBA and G. CIMINI (1999): Tomographic
constraints on the geodynamic evolution of the
Italian region, J. Geophys. Res., 104 (B9), 20307-20327.
LUCENTE, F.P., L. MARGHERITI, C. PIROMALLO and G. BARRUOL
(2006): Mapping the long route of the Tyrrhenian
slab through the mantle, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 241
(3-4), 517-529, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2005.10.041.
MALINVERNO, A. andW.B.F. RYAN (1986): Extension in the
Tyrrhenian sea and shortening in the apennines as result
of arc migration driven by sinking of the lithosphere,
Tectonics, 5 (2), 227-245.
MARGHERITI, L., C. NOSTRO, M. COCCO and A. AMATO
(1996): Seismic anisotropy beneath the Northern Apennines
(Italy) and its tectonic implications, Geophys.
Res. Lett., 23, 2721-2724.
MARGHERITI, L., F.P. LUCENTE and S. PONDRELLI (2003):
SKS splitting measurements in the Apenninic-Tyrrhenian
domain (Italy) and their relation with lithospheric
subduction and mantle convection, J. Geophys. Res.,
108 (B4), 2218, doi: 10.1029/2002JB001793.
MELE, G. and E. SANDVOL (2003): Deep crustal roots beneath
the Northern Apennines inferred from teleseismic receiver
functions, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 211, 69-78.
MELE, G., A. ROVELLI, D. SEBER and M. BARAZANGI (1997):
Shear wave attenuation in the lithosphere beneath Italy
and surrounding regions, J. Geophys. Res., 102, 11863-
11875.
MELE, G., A. ROVELLI, D. SEBER, T.M. HEARN and M. BARAZANGI
(1998): Compressional velocity structure and
anisotropy in the uppermost mantle beneath Italy and surrounding
regions, J. Geophys. Res., 103, 12529-12543.
MOLNAR, P., P. ENGLAND and J. MARTINOD (1993): Mantle
dynamics, uplift of the Tibetan plateau, and the Indian
monsoon, Rev. Geophys., 31 (4), 357-396.
PARK, J. and V. LEVIN (2000): Receiver functions from multiple-
taper spectral correlation estimates, Bull. Seismol.
Soc. Am., 90, 1507-1520.
PIANA AGOSTINETTI, N., F.P. LUCENTE, G. SELVAGGI and M.
DI BONA (2002): Crustal structure and Moho geometry
beneath the Northern Apennines (Italy), Geophys. Res.
Lett., 29 (20), 1999, doi: 10.1029/2002GL015109.
PIROMALLO, C. and A. MORELLI (2003): P-wave tomography
of the mantle under the Alpine-Mediterranean
area, J. Geophys. Res., 108 (B2), 2099, doi: 10.1029/
2002JB001757.
PLOMEROVÁ, J. (1997): Seismic anisotropy in tomographic
studies of the upper mantle beneath Southern Europe,
Ann. Geofis., XL (1), 111-121.
PLOMEROVÁ, J., V. BABUSˇKA and R. SCARPA (1998): Teleseismic
P-residual study in the Italian region – Inferences
on large scale anisotropic structure of the subcrustal
listhosphere, Ann. Geofis., 41 (1), 33-48.
PLOMEROVÁ, J., R. ARVIDSSON, V. BABUSˇKA, M. GRANET, O.
KULHÁNEK, G. POUPINET and J. SˇÍLENY´ (2001): An array
study of lithospheric structure across the Protogine
Zone,Varmland, south-central Sweden; signs of a paleocontinental
collision, Tectonophysics, 332, 1-21.
PLOMEROVÁ, J., L. MARGHERITI, J. PARK, V. BABUSˇKA, S.
PONDRELLI, L. VECSEY, D. PICCININI, V. LEVIN, P. BACCHESCHI
and S. SALIMBENI (2006): Seismic anisotropy
beneath the Northern Apennines (Italy) – mantle flow
and/or lithosphere fabric, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 247,
157-170.
REDDY, S.M., J. WHEELER and R.A. CLIFF (1999): The
geometry and timing of orogenic extension; an example
from the Western Italian Alps, J. Metamorphic Geol.,
17 (5), 573-589.
SANDVOL, E. and T. HEARN (1994): Bootstrapping shearwave
splitting errors, Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., 85,
1971-1977.
SAVAGE, M.K. (1998): Lower crustal anisotropy of dipping
boundaries? Effects on receiver functions and a case
study in New Zealand, J. Geophys. Res., 103, 15069-
15087.
Sˇ
ÍLENY´, J. and J. PLOMEROVÁ (1996): Inversion of shearwave
splitting parameters to retrieve three-dimensional
orientation of anisotropy in continental lithosphere,
Phys. Earth Planet. Int., 95, 277-292.
WORTEL, M. and W. SPAKMAN (2000): Subduction and slab
detachment in the Mediterranean-Carpathian region,
Science, 290, 1910-1917.
ZATTIN, M., V. PICOTTI and G.G. ZUFFA (2002): Fissiontrack
reconstruction of the front of the Northern Apennine
thrust wedge and overlying Ligurian Unit, Am. J.
Sci., 302, 346-379.
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