NOISE MEASUREMENTS ALONG FAULT ZONES IN CENTRAL APPENINES

Abstract

Normal fault systems, outcropping or hidden below Quaternary covers in intermountain basins, are the expression of the Neogene-Quaternary evolution of central Italy, characterized by an extensional tectonic regime following the fold and thrust structuring of the Appenninic orogen. The presence of these features plays an important role in seismic risk evaluation of an area. In this work we deal with the use of single-station seismic noise measurements to detect sudden lateral variations of the geometries and/or properties of subsoil connected to the presence of tectonic elements (fault zones). Ambient noise data were collected along transects perpendicular to the strike of hypothetical fault lines for 3 test sites within the Abruzzi Region. The proposed approach is suitable for detecting in a fast and simple way local lateral changes in the subsoil characteristics close to geological structures and can be very effective to properly address more expensive and time consuming classical geophysical and paleoseismological approaches.