Articles | Volume 12, issue 7
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1661-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1661-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
21 Jul 2021
Research article |
| 21 Jul 2021
Present-day geodynamics of the Western Alps: new insights from earthquake mechanisms
Marguerite Mathey
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
University Grenoble Alpes, University Savoie Mont
Blanc, CNRS, IRD, IFSTTAR, ISTerre, Grenoble, 38000, France
Christian Sue
University Grenoble Alpes, University Savoie Mont
Blanc, CNRS, IRD, IFSTTAR, ISTerre, Grenoble, 38000, France
Chrono-Environnement Besançon, OSU THETA, University Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Besançon, 25000, France
Colin Pagani
Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Ens de Lyon, CNRS, Lyon, 69000,
France
Stéphane Baize
IRSN, PSE-ENV/SCAN/BERSSIN, BP 17, Fontenay-aux-Roses,
92262, France
Andrea Walpersdorf
University Grenoble Alpes, University Savoie Mont
Blanc, CNRS, IRD, IFSTTAR, ISTerre, Grenoble, 38000, France
Thomas Bodin
Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Ens de Lyon, CNRS, Lyon, 69000,
France
Laurent Husson
University Grenoble Alpes, University Savoie Mont
Blanc, CNRS, IRD, IFSTTAR, ISTerre, Grenoble, 38000, France
Estelle Hannouz
University Grenoble Alpes, University Savoie Mont
Blanc, CNRS, IRD, IFSTTAR, ISTerre, Grenoble, 38000, France
Bertrand Potin
Departamento de Geofìsica, Universidad de Chile, Blanco
Encalada 2002, Santiago, 8320000, Chile
Related authors
No articles found.
Roberto Basili, Laurentiu Danciu, Céline Beauval, Karin Sesetyan, Susana Pires Vilanova, Shota Adamia, Pierre Arroucau, Jure Atanackov, Stephane Baize, Carolina Canora, Riccardo Caputo, Michele Matteo Cosimo Carafa, Edward Marc Cushing, Susana Custódio, Mine Betul Demircioglu Tumsa, João C. Duarte, Athanassios Ganas, Julián García-Mayordomo, Laura Gómez de la Peña, Eulàlia Gràcia, Petra Jamšek Rupnik, Hervé Jomard, Vanja Kastelic, Francesco Emanuele Maesano, Raquel Martín-Banda, Sara Martínez-Loriente, Marta Neres, Hector Perea, Barbara Šket Motnikar, Mara Monica Tiberti, Nino Tsereteli, Varvara Tsironi, Roberto Vallone, Kris Vanneste, Polona Zupančič, and Domenico Giardini
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-2023-118, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-2023-118, 2023
Preprint under review for NHESS
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents the European Fault-Source Model 2020 (EFSM20), a dataset of 1,248 geologic crustal faults and four subduction systems, each having the necessary parameters to forecast long-term earthquake occurrences in the European continent. This dataset constituted one of the main inputs for the recently released European Seismic Hazard Model 2020, a key instrument to mitigate seismic risk in Europe. EFSM20 adopts recognized open-standard formats, and it is openly accessible and reusable.
Veleda Astarte Paiva Muller, Pietro Sternai, and Christian Sue
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1711, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1711, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
High uplift rates measured in the Southern Patagonian Icefield reflect 10 % of ice loss since the Little Ice Age (LIA), a remain of the ice sheet that covered the Patagonian Andes in the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Using numerical modelling we estimate that the mantle potential temperature due to a slab window needs to be 150–200 °C higher than in normal subduction zones to generate the measured uplift rates, and that both LIA and LGM deglaciation contribute to the modern uplift rate budget.
Marion Roger, Arjan de Leeuw, Peter van der Beek, Laurent Husson, Edward R. Sobel, Johannes Glodny, and Matthias Bernet
Solid Earth, 14, 153–179, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-153-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-153-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We study the construction of the Ukrainian Carpathians with LT thermochronology (AFT, AHe, and ZHe) and stratigraphic analysis. QTQt thermal models are combined with burial diagrams to retrieve the timing and magnitude of sedimentary burial, tectonic burial, and subsequent exhumation of the wedge's nappes from 34 to ∼12 Ma. Out-of-sequence thrusting and sediment recycling during wedge building are also identified. This elucidates the evolution of a typical wedge in a roll-back subduction zone.
Christian Vincent, Diego Cusicanqui, Bruno Jourdain, Olivier Laarman, Delphine Six, Adrien Gilbert, Andrea Walpersdorf, Antoine Rabatel, Luc Piard, Florent Gimbert, Olivier Gagliardini, Vincent Peyaud, Laurent Arnaud, Emmanuel Thibert, Fanny Brun, and Ugo Nanni
The Cryosphere, 15, 1259–1276, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1259-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1259-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In situ glacier point mass balance data are crucial to assess climate change in different regions of the world. Unfortunately, these data are rare because huge efforts are required to conduct in situ measurements on glaciers. Here, we propose a new approach from remote sensing observations. The method has been tested on the Argentière and Mer de Glace glaciers (France). It should be possible to apply this method to high-spatial-resolution satellite images and on numerous glaciers in the world.
Hervé Jomard, Edward Marc Cushing, Luigi Palumbo, Stéphane Baize, Claire David, and Thomas Chartier
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 1573–1584, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-17-1573-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-17-1573-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The French Institute of Radioactive Protection and Nuclear Safety, with the support of the Ministry of Environment, compiled a database (BDFA) in order to define and characterize known potentially active faults of metropolitan France. The general structure of BDFA is presented, containing to date a total of 136 faults (581 fault segments). BDFA represents a first step toward the implementation of seismic source models for both deterministic and probabilistic seismic hazard calculations.
Thomas Chartier, Oona Scotti, Christophe Clément, Hervé Jomard, and Stéphane Baize
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 1585–1593, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-17-1585-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-17-1585-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
We perform a fault-based PSHA exercise in the Upper Rhine Graben to quantify the relative influence of fault parameters on the hazard at the Fessenheim nuclear power plant site. Sensitivity tests show that the
uncertainty on the slip rate of the Rhine River fault is the dominant factor controlling the variability of the seismic hazard level, greater than the epistemic uncertainty due to ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs).
H. Brenot, A. Walpersdorf, M. Reverdy, J. van Baelen, V. Ducrocq, C. Champollion, F. Masson, E. Doerflinger, P. Collard, and P. Giroux
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 7, 553–578, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-553-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-553-2014, 2014
B. Guillaume, L. Husson, F. Funiciello, and C. Faccenna
Solid Earth, 4, 179–200, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-4-179-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-4-179-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Subject area: Tectonic plate interactions, magma genesis, and lithosphere deformation at all scales | Editorial team: Seismics, seismology, paleoseismology, geoelectrics, and electromagnetics | Discipline: Seismology
A New Seismicity Catalogue of the Eastern Alps Using the Temporary Swath-D Network
Two subduction-related heterogeneities beneath the Eastern Alps and the Bohemian Massif imaged by high-resolution P-wave tomography
Basin inversion: reactivated rift structures in the central Ligurian Sea revealed using ocean bottom seismometers
Moho and uppermost mantle structure in the Alpine area from S-to-P converted waves
COVID-19 lockdown effects on the seismic recordings in Central America
Seismicity and seismotectonics of the Albstadt Shear Zone in the northern Alpine foreland
Seismicity during and after stimulation of a 6.1 km deep enhanced geothermal system in Helsinki, Finland
Seismic gaps and intraplate seismicity around Rodrigues Ridge (Indian Ocean) from time domain array analysis
Rupture-dependent breakdown energy in fault models with thermo-hydro-mechanical processes
Potential influence of overpressurized gas on the induced seismicity in the St. Gallen deep geothermal project (Switzerland)
Seismicity characterization of oceanic earthquakes in the Mexican territory
Seismic waveform tomography of the central and eastern Mediterranean upper mantle
Influence of reservoir geology on seismic response during decameter-scale hydraulic stimulations in crystalline rock
Lithospheric and sublithospheric deformation under the Borborema Province of northeastern Brazil from receiver function harmonic stripping
Induced seismicity in geologic carbon storage
Moment magnitude estimates for central Anatolian earthquakes using coda waves
Event couple spectral ratio Q method for earthquake clusters: application to northwest Bohemia
Laurens Jan Hofman, Jörn Kummerow, Simone Cesca, and the AlpArray-Swath-D Working Group
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-806, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-806, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We present an earthquake catalogue for the Eastern and Southern alps, based on data from a local temporary monitoring network. The methods we developed for the detection and localisation focus especially on very small earthquakes. This provides insight in the local geology and tectonics and provides an important base for future research in this part of the Alps.
Jaroslava Plomerová, Helena Žlebčíková, György Hetényi, Luděk Vecsey, Vladislav Babuška, and AlpArray-EASI and AlpArray working
groups
Solid Earth, 13, 251–270, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-251-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-251-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We present high-resolution tomography images of upper mantle structure beneath the E Alps and the adjacent Bohemian Massif. The northward-dipping lithosphere, imaged down to ∼200 km beneath the E Alps without signs of delamination, is probably formed by a mixture of a fragment of detached European plate and the Adriatic plate subductions. A detached high-velocity anomaly, sub-parallel to and distinct from the E Alps heterogeneity, is imaged at ∼100–200 km beneath the southern part of the BM.
Martin Thorwart, Anke Dannowski, Ingo Grevemeyer, Dietrich Lange, Heidrun Kopp, Florian Petersen, Wayne C. Crawford, Anne Paul, and the AlpArray Working Group
Solid Earth, 12, 2553–2571, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2553-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2553-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We analyse broadband ocean bottom seismometer data of the AlpArray OBS network in the Ligurian Basin. Two earthquake clusters with thrust faulting focal mechanisms indicate compression of the rift basin. The locations of seismicity suggest reactivation of pre-existing rift structures and strengthening of crust and uppermost mantle during rifting-related extension. Slightly different striking directions of faults may mimic the anti-clockwise rotation of the Corsica–Sardinia block.
Rainer Kind, Stefan M. Schmid, Xiaohui Yuan, Benjamin Heit, Thomas Meier, and the AlpArray and AlpArray-SWATH-D Working Groups
Solid Earth, 12, 2503–2521, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2503-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2503-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
A large amount of new seismic data from the greater Alpine area have been obtained within the AlpArray and SWATH-D projects. S-to-P converted seismic phases from the Moho and from the mantle lithosphere have been processed with a newly developed method. Examples of new observations are a rapid change in Moho depth at 13° E below the Tauern Window from 60 km in the west to 40 km in the east and a second Moho trough along the boundary of the Bohemian Massif towards the Western Carpathians.
Mario Arroyo-Solórzano, Diego Castro-Rojas, Frédérick Massin, Lepolt Linkimer, Ivonne Arroyo, and Robin Yani
Solid Earth, 12, 2127–2144, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2127-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2127-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We present the first seismic noise variation levels during COVID-19 in Central America using 10 seismometers. We study the impact of the seismic noise reduction on the detectability of earthquakes and on the felt reports. Our results show maximum values (~50 % decrease) at seismic stations near airports and densely inhabited cities. The decrease in seismic noise improved earthquake locations and reports. Seismic noise could also be useful to verify compliance with lockdown measures.
Sarah Mader, Joachim R. R. Ritter, Klaus Reicherter, and the AlpArray Working Group
Solid Earth, 12, 1389–1409, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1389-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1389-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The Albstadt Shear Zone, SW Germany, is an active rupture zone with sometimes damaging earthquakes but no visible surface structure. To identify its segmentations, geometry, faulting pattern and extension, we analyze the continuous earthquake activity in 2011–2018. We find a segmented N–S-oriented fault zone with mainly horizontal and minor vertical movement along mostly NNE- and some NNW-oriented rupture planes. The main horizontal stress is oriented NW and due to Alpine-related loading.
Maria Leonhardt, Grzegorz Kwiatek, Patricia Martínez-Garzón, Marco Bohnhoff, Tero Saarno, Pekka Heikkinen, and Georg Dresen
Solid Earth, 12, 581–594, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-581-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-581-2021, 2021
Manvendra Singh and Georg Rümpker
Solid Earth, 11, 2557–2568, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2557-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2557-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Using seismic array methods, 63 events were located in the Rodrigues–CIR region, not reported by any global network, most of them being off the ridge axis. The lack of seismicity along this section of the CIR, as observed from global data and this study, can possibly be attributed to the presence of partially molten mantle beneath Rodrigues Ridge. The results will be of interest for a broad range of geoscientists interested in the tectonic evolution of Indian Ocean and plume–crust interaction.
Valère Lambert and Nadia Lapusta
Solid Earth, 11, 2283–2302, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2283-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2283-2020, 2020
Dominik Zbinden, Antonio Pio Rinaldi, Tobias Diehl, and Stefan Wiemer
Solid Earth, 11, 909–933, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-909-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-909-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The deep geothermal project in St. Gallen, Switzerland, aimed at generating electricity and heat. The fluid pumped into the underground caused hundreds of small earthquakes and one larger one felt by the local population. Here we use computer simulations to study the physical processes that led to the earthquakes. We find that gas present in the subsurface could have intensified the seismicity, which may have implications for future geothermal projects conducted in similar geological conditions.
Quetzalcoatl Rodríguez-Pérez, Víctor Hugo Márquez-Ramírez, and Francisco Ramón Zúñiga
Solid Earth, 11, 791–806, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-791-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-791-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We analyzed reported oceanic earthquakes in Mexico. We used data from different agencies. By analyzing the occurrence of earthquakes, we can extract relevant information such as the level of seismic activity, the size of the earthquakes, hypocenter depths, etc. We also studied the focal mechanisms to classify the different types of earthquakes and calculated the stress in the region. The results will be useful to understand the physics of oceanic earthquakes.
Nienke Blom, Alexey Gokhberg, and Andreas Fichtner
Solid Earth, 11, 669–690, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-669-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-669-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We have developed a model of the Earth's structure in the upper 500 km beneath the central and eastern Mediterranean. Within this model, we can see parts of the African tectonic plate that have sunk underneath the European plate over the past tens of millions of years. This model was constructed using seismic waveform tomography by matching the seismograms from many earthquakes recorded at the surface to synthetic seismograms that were generated by simulating earthquake wave propagation.
Linus Villiger, Valentin Samuel Gischig, Joseph Doetsch, Hannes Krietsch, Nathan Oliver Dutler, Mohammadreza Jalali, Benoît Valley, Paul Antony Selvadurai, Arnaud Mignan, Katrin Plenkers, Domenico Giardini, Florian Amann, and Stefan Wiemer
Solid Earth, 11, 627–655, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-627-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-627-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Hydraulic stimulation summarizes fracture initiation and reactivation due to high-pressure fluid injection. Several borehole intervals covering intact rock and pre-existing fractures were targets for high-pressure fluid injections within a decameter-scale, crystalline rock volume. The observed induced seismicity strongly depends on the target geology. In addition, the severity of the induced seismicity per experiment counter correlates with the observed transmissivity enhancement.
Gaelle Lamarque and Jordi Julià
Solid Earth, 10, 893–905, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-893-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-893-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Our goal is to better understand the evolution of the Earth's outer shell in northeast Brazil. We analyze the propagation properties (anisotropy) of distant seismic waves in order to look for subsurface, large-scale deformation structures. Results show that structures visible at the surface can be traced down to ~100 km depth, that the imprint of the opening of the Atlantic Ocean can be detected along the coast and that the continental interior is anomalous due to a complex deformation history.
Víctor Vilarrasa, Jesus Carrera, Sebastià Olivella, Jonny Rutqvist, and Lyesse Laloui
Solid Earth, 10, 871–892, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-871-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-871-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
To meet the goal of the Paris Agreement to limit temperature increase below 2 ºC, geologic carbon storage (GCS) will be necessary at the gigatonne scale. But to successfully deploy GCS, seismicity induced by CO2 injection should be controlled and maintained below a threshold that does not generate nuisances to the population. We conclude that felt induced seismicity can be minimized provided that a proper site characterization, monitoring and pressure management are performed.
Tuna Eken
Solid Earth, 10, 713–723, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-713-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-713-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Proper magnitude estimates for earthquakes can give insight into the seismic energy released at an earthquake source. This is, in fact, essential for better seismic hazard assessments in tectonically active regions. In the present work, I examine local earthquakes in central Anatolia to estimate their moment magnitudes. The main outcome of this study is an empirical relation that can provide a direct physical quantity of seismic energy in the study region.
Marius Kriegerowski, Simone Cesca, Matthias Ohrnberger, Torsten Dahm, and Frank Krüger
Solid Earth, 10, 317–328, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-317-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-317-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We developed a method that allows to estimate the acoustic attenuation of seismic waves within regions with high earthquake source densities. Attenuation is of high interest as it allows to draw conclusions on the origin of seismic activity. We apply our method to north-west Bohemia, which is regularly affected by earthquake swarms during which thousands of earthquakes are registered within a few days. We find reduced attenuation within the active volume, which may indicate high fluid content.
Cited articles
Alvarez-Gómez, J. A.: FMC – Earthquake focal mechanisms data management,
cluster and classification, SoftwareX, 9, 299–307,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.softx.2019.03.008, 2019.
Baran, R., Friedrich, A. M., and Schlunegger, F.: The late Miocene to
Holocene erosion pattern of the Alpine foreland basin reflects Eurasian slab
unloading beneath the western Alps rather than global climate change,
Lithosphere, 6, 124–131, 2014.
Baroux, E., Béthoux, N., and Bellier, O.: Analyses of the stress field in
southeastern France from earthquake focal mechanisms, Geophys. J. Int.,
145, 336–348, https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-246x.2001.01362.x, 2001.
Bauve, V., Plateaux, R., Rolland, Y., Sanchez, G., Bethoux, N., Delouis, B., and Darnault, R.: Long-lasting transcurrent tectonics in SW Alps evidenced
by Neogene to present-day stress fields, Tectonophysics, 621, 85–100,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2014.02.006, 2014.
Bertrand, A. and Sue, C.: Reconciling late faulting over the whole Alpine
belt: from structural analysis to geochronological constrains, Swiss J.
Geosci., 110, 565–580, 2017.
Béthoux, N., Fréchet, J., Guyoton, F., Thouvenot, F., Cattaneo, M.,
Eva, C., Nicolas, M., and Granet, M.: A closing Ligurian Sea?, Pure Appl.
Geophys., 139, 179–194, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00876326, 1992.
Bilau, A., Rolland, Y., Schwartz, S., Godeau, N., Guihou, A., Deschamps, P., Brigaud, B., Noret, A., Dumont, T., and Gautheron, C.: Extensional reactivation of the Penninic frontal thrust 3 Myr ago as evidenced by U–Pb dating on calcite in fault zone cataclasite, Solid Earth, 12, 237–251, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-237-2021, 2021.
Bodin, T., Salmon, M., Kennett, B. L. N., and Sambridge, M.: Probabilistic
surface reconstruction from multiple data sets: An example for the
Australian Moho, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 117, B10307,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JB009547, 2012.
Calais, E., Nocquet, J.-M., Jouanne, F., and Tardy, M.: Current strain regime
in the Western Alps from continuous Global Positioning System measurements,
1996–2001, Geology, 30, 651–654,
https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0651:CSRITW>2.0.CO;2,
2002.
Cara, M., Cansi, Y., Schlupp, A., Arroucau, P., Béthoux, N., Beucler,
E., Bruno, S., Calvet, M., Chevrot, S., Deboissy, A., Delouis, B., Denieul,
M., Deschamps, A., Doubre, C., Fréchet, J., Godey, S., Golle, O.,
Grunberg, M., Guilbert, J., Haugmard, M., Jenatton, L., Lambotte, S.,
Leobal, D., Maron, C., Mendel, V., Merrer, S., Macquet, M., Mignan, A.,
Mocquet, A., Nicolas, M., Perrot, J., Potin, B., Sanchez, O., Santoire,
J.-P., Sèbe, O., Sylvander, M., Thouvenot, F., Woerd, J. V. D., and
Woerd, K. V. D.: SI-Hex: a new catalogue of instrumental seismicity for
metropolitan France, Bull. Société Géologique Fr., 186,
3–19, https://doi.org/10.2113/gssgfbull.186.1.3, 2015.
Cauzzi, C. and Clinton, J.: A high- and low-noise model for high-quality
strong-motion accelerometer stations, Earthq. Spectra, 29, 85–102,
https://doi.org/10.1193/1.4000107, 2013.
Champagnac, J. D., Sue, C., Delacou, B., Tricart, P., Allanic, C., and
Burkhard, M.: Miocene lateral extrusion in the inner western Alps revealed
by dynamic fault analysis, Tectonics, 25, TC3014, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004TC001779, 2006.
Champagnac, J. D., Molnar, P., Anderson, R. S., Sue, C., and Delacou, B.:
Quaternary erosion-induced isostatic rebound in the western Alps, Geology,
35, 195–198, https://doi.org/10.1130/G23053A.1, 2007.
Champagnac, J.-D., Molnar, P., Sue, C., and Herman, F.: Tectonics, climate,
and mountain topography, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 117, B02403, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JB008348, 2012.
Chéry, J., Genti, M., and Vernant, P.: Ice cap melting and low-viscosity
crustal root explain the narrow geodetic uplift of the Western Alps,
Geophys. Res. Lett., 43, 3193–3200, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL067821, 2016.
Choblet, G., Husson, L., and Bodin, T.: Probabilistic surface
reconstruction of coastal sea level rise during the twentieth century,
J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 119, 9206–9236, 2014.
Coward, M. and Dietrich, D.: Alpine tectonics – an overview, Geol. Soc.
Lond. Spec. Publ., 45, 1–29, 1989.
D'Agostino, N., Avallone, A., Cheloni, D., D'Anastasio, E., Mantenuto, S., and Selvaggi, G.: Active tectonics of the Adriatic region from GPS and
earthquake slip vectors, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 113, B12413,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JB005860, 2008.
D'Amico, S.: Moment tensor solutions: A useful tool for seismotectonics,
Springer, Cham, Switzerland, 2018.
Delacou, B., Sue, C., Champagnac, J.-D., and Burkhard, M.: Present-day
geodynamics in the bend of the western and central Alps as constrained by
earthquake analysis, Geophys. J. Int., 158, 753–774,
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.2004.02320.x, 2004.
Delacou, B., Sue, C., Champagnac, J.-D., and Burkhard, M.: Origin of the
current stress field in the western/central Alps: role of gravitational
re-equilibration constrained by numerical modelling, Geol. Soc. Lond. Spec.
Publ., 243, 295–310, 2005.
Devoti, R., Riguzzi, F., Cuffaro, M., and Doglioni, C.: New GPS constraints
on the kinematics of the Apennines subduction, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.,
273, 163–174, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2008.06.031, 2008.
Diehl, T., Husen, S., Kissling, E., and Deichmann, N.: High-resolution
3-DP-wave model of the Alpine crust, Geophys. J. Int., 179, 1133–1147, 2009.
Diehl, T., Clinton, J., Deichmann, N., Cauzzi, C., Kästli, P., Kraft, T., Molinari, I., Böse, M., Michel., C., Hobiger, M., Haslinger, F., Fäh, D., and Wiemer, S.: Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions
during 2015 and 2016, Swiss J. Geosci., 111, 221–244, 2018.
Diehl, T., Clinton, J., Cauzzi, C., Kraft, T., Kästli, P., Deichmann, N., Massin, F., Grigoli, F., Molinari, I., Böse, M., Hobiger, M., Haslinger, F., Fäh, D., and Wiemer, S.: Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions
during 2017 and 2018, Swiss J. Geosci., 114, 1–29, 2021.
Eva, E., Solarino, S., Eva, C., and Neri, G.: Stress tensor orientation
derived from fault plane solutions in the southwestern Alps, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 102, 8171–8185, https://doi.org/10.1029/96JB02725, 1997.
Eva, E., Pastore, S., and Deichmann, N.: Evidence for ongoing extensional
deformation in the western Swiss Alps and thrust-faulting in the
southwestern Alpine foreland, J. Geodyn., 26, 27–43,
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0264-3707(97)00022-7, 1998.
Eva, E., Malusà, M., and Solarino, S.: Seismotectonics at the transition
between opposite-dipping slabs (western Alpine region), Tectonics,
39, e2020TC006086, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020TC006086, 2020.
Faccenna, C. and Becker, T. W.: Topographic expressions of mantle
dynamics in the Mediterranean, Earth-Sci. Rev., 209, 103327, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103327, 2020.
Fox, M., Herman, F., Kissling, E., and Willett, S. D.: Rapid exhumation in
the Western Alps driven by slab detachment and glacial erosion, Geology,
43, 379–382, 2015.
Frohlich, C.: Triangle diagrams: ternary graphs to display similarity and
diversity of earthquake focal mechanisms, Phys. Earth Planet. Inter.,
75, 193–198, 1992.
Gephart, J. W.: FMSI: A fortran program for inverting fault/slickenside and
earthquake focal mechanism data to obtain the regional stress tensor,
Comput. Geosci., 16, 953–989, https://doi.org/10.1016/0098-3004(90)90105-3, 1990.
Gudmundsson, G.: An order-of-magnitude estimate of the current uplift-rates
in Switzerland caused by the Würm Alpine deglaciation, Eclogae Geol.
Helv., 87, 545–557, 1994.
Handy, M. R., M. Schmid, S., Bousquet, R., Kissling, E., and Bernoulli, D.:
Reconciling plate-tectonic reconstructions of Alpine Tethys with the
geological–geophysical record of spreading and subduction in the Alps,
Earth-Sci. Rev., 102, 121–158, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2010.06.002,
2010.
Hanks, T. C. and Kanamori, H.: A moment magnitude scale, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 84, 2348–2350, https://doi.org/10.1029/JB084iB05p02348, 1979.
Hardebeck, J. L. and Hauksson, E.: Stress Orientations Obtained from
Earthquake Focal Mechanisms: What Are Appropriate Uncertainty Estimates?,
Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., 91, 250–262, https://doi.org/10.1785/0120000032, 2001.
Hardebeck, J. L. and Michael, A. J.: Damped regional-scale stress
inversions: Methodology and examples for southern California and the
Coalinga aftershock sequence, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 111, B11310,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JB004144, 2006.
Hardebeck, J. L. and Shearer, P. M.: A New Method for Determining
First-Motion Focal Mechanisms, Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., 92, 2264–2276,
https://doi.org/10.1785/0120010200, 2002.
Hawkins, R., Husson, L., Choblet, G., Bodin, T., and Pfeffer, J.: Virtual
tide gauges for predicting relative sea level rise, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 124, 13367–13391, 2019a.
Hawkins, R., Bodin, T., Sambridge, M., Choblet, G., and Husson, L.:
Trans-dimensional surface reconstruction with different classes of
parameterization, Geochem. Geophy. Geosy., 20, 505–529,
2019b.
Husson, L., Bodin, T., Spada, G., Choblet, G., and Kreemer, C.: Bayesian
surface reconstruction of geodetic uplift rates: Mapping the global
fingerprint of Glacial Isostatic Adjustment, J. Geodyn., 122, 25–40,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jog.2018.10.002, 2018.
Kästle, E. D., El-Sharkawy, A., Boschi, L., Meier, T., Rosenberg, C.,
Bellahsen, N., Cristiano, L., and Weidle, C.: Surface Wave Tomography of the
Alps Using Ambient-Noise and Earthquake Phase Velocity Measurements, J.
Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 123, 1770–1792, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JB014698,
2018.
Kastrup, U., Zoback, M. L., Deichmann, N., Evans, K. F., Giardini, D., and
Michael, A. J.: Stress field variations in the Swiss Alps and the northern
Alpine foreland derived from inversion of fault plane solutions, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 109, B01402, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JB002550, 2004.
Kissling, E., Schmid, S. M., Lippitsch, R., Ansorge, J., and
Fügenschuh, B.: Lithosphere structure and tectonic evolution of the
Alpine arc: new evidence from high-resolution teleseismic tomography,
Geological Society, London, Memoirs, 32, 129–145, 2006.
Kostrov, V. V.: Seismic moment and energy of earthquakes, and seismic flow
of rock, Izv. Acad. Sci. USSR Phys. Solid Earth Engl. Transl., 1, 23–44, 1974.
Larroque, C., Delouis, B., Sage, F., Régnier, M., Béthoux, N.,
Courboulex, F., and Deschamps, A.: The sequence of moderate-size earthquakes
at the junction of the Ligurian basin and the Corsica margin (western
Mediterranean): The initiation of an active deformation zone revealed?,
Tectonophysics, 676, 135–147, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2016.03.027, 2016.
Laurendeau, A., Clement, C., and Scotti, O.: A unified Mw-based earthquake catalog for metropolitan France consistent with European catalogs,
Montréal, available at:
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02635592 (last access: 16 August 2020), 2019.
Lippitsch, R., Kissling, E., and Ansorge, J.: Upper mantle structure beneath
the Alpine orogen from high-resolution teleseismic tomography, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 108, 2376, https://doi.org/10.1029/2002JB002016, 2003.
Lund, B. and Townend, J.: Calculating horizontal stress orientations with
full or partial knowledge of the tectonic stress tensor, Geophys. J. Int.,
170, 1328–1335, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.2007.03468.x, 2007.
Lyon-Caen, H. and Molnar, P.: Constraints on the deep structure and dynamic
processes beneath the Alps and adjacent regions from an analysis of gravity
anomalies, Geophys. J. Int., 99, 19–32, 1989.
Malinverno, A. and Briggs, V. A.: Expanded uncertainty quantification in
inverse problems: Hierarchical Bayes and empirical Bayes, Geophysics, 69,
1005–1016, 2004.
Malusà, M. G., Zhao, L., Eva, E., Solarino, S., Paul, A., Guillot, S.,
Schwartz, S., Dumont, T., Aubert, C., Salimbeni, S., Pondrelli, S., Wang, Q., and Zhu, R.: Earthquakes in the western Alpine mantle wedge, Gondwana Res.,
44, 89–95, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2016.11.012, 2017.
Marchant, R. H. and Stampfli, G. M.: Subduction of continental crust in the
Western Alps, Tectonophysics, 269, 217–235,
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-1951(96)00170-9, 1997.
Martínez-Garzón, P., Kwiatek, G., Ickrath, M., and Bohnhoff, M.:
MSATSI: A MATLAB Package for Stress Inversion Combining Solid Classic
Methodology, a New Simplified User-Handling, and a Visualization Tool,
Seismol. Res. Lett., 85, 896–904, https://doi.org/10.1785/0220130189, 2014.
Masson, C., Mazzotti, S., Vernant, P., and Doerflinger, E.: Extracting small deformation beyond individual station precision from dense Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) networks in France and western Europe, Solid Earth, 10, 1905–1920, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1905-2019, 2019.
Mathey, M., Walpersdorf, A., Sue, C., Baize, S., and Deprez, A.: Seismogenic
potential of the High Durance Fault constrained by 20 yr of GNSS
measurements in the Western European Alps, Geophys. J. Int., 222,
2136–2146, https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggaa292, 2020.
Maurer, H. R., Burkhard, M., Deichmann, N., and Green, A. G.: Active
tectonism in the central Alps: contrasting stress regimes north and south of
the Rhone Valley, Terra Nova, 9, 91–94,
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3121.1997.tb00010.x, 1997.
Mazzotti, S., Jomard, H., and Masson, F.: Processes and deformation rates
generating seismicity in metropolitan France and conterminous Western
Europe, BSGF – Earth Sci. Bull., 191, 19, https://doi.org/10.1051/bsgf/2020019, 2020.
Mey, J., Scherler, D., Wickert, A. D., Egholm, D. L., Tesauro, M.,
Schildgen, T. F., and Strecker, M. R.: Glacial isostatic uplift of the
European Alps, Nat. Commun., 7, 13382, https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms13382, 2016.
Nocquet, J.-M. and Calais, E.: Geodetic Measurements of Crustal Deformation
in the Western Mediterranean and Europe, Pure Appl. Geophys., 161,
661–681, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-003-2468-z, 2004.
Nocquet, J.-M., Sue, C., Walpersdorf, A., Tran, T., Lenôtre, N.,
Vernant, P., Cushing, M., Jouanne, F., Masson, F., Baize, S., Chéry, J., and van der Beek, P. A.: Present-day uplift of the western Alps, Sci. Rep.,
6, 28404, https://doi.org/10.1038/srep28404, 2016.
Paul, A., Cattaneo, M., Thouvenot, F., Spallarossa, D., Béthoux, N., and
Fréchet, J.: A three-dimensional crustal velocity model of the
southwestern Alps from local earthquake tomography, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 106, 19367–19389, https://doi.org/10.1029/2001JB000388, 2001.
Piromallo, C. and Faccenna, C.: How deep can we find the traces of Alpine
subduction?, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L06605, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003GL019288, 2004.
Potin, B.: Les Alpes occidentales: tomographie, localisation de séismes
et topographie du Moho, thesis, Grenoble Alpes, 1 July, available
at: http://www.theses.fr/2016GREAU022 (last access: 27 February 2020), 2016.
RESIF: RESIF-RLBP French Broad-band network, RESIF-RAP strong motion network
and other seismic stations in metropolitan France [data set], RESIF –
Réseau Sismologique et géodésique Français,
https://doi.org/10.15778/RESIF.FR, 1995.
Sánchez, L., Völksen, C., Sokolov, A., Arenz, H., and Seitz, F.: Present-day surface deformation of the Alpine region inferred from geodetic techniques, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 10, 1503–1526, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-10-1503-2018, 2018.
Scafidi, D., Barani, S., De Ferrari, R., Ferretti, G., Pasta, M., Pavan, M., Spallarossa, D., and Turino, C.: Seismicity of Northwestern Italy during the last 30 years, J. Seismol., 19, 201–218, 2015.
Serpelloni, E., Anzidei, M., Baldi, P., Casula, G., and Galvani, A.: Crustal
velocity and strain-rate fields in Italy and surrounding regions: new
results from the analysis of permanent and non-permanent GPS networks,
Geophys. J. Int., 161, 861–880, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.2005.02618.x,
2005.
Serpelloni, E., Vannucci, G., Pondrelli, S., Argnani, A., Casula, G.,
Anzidei, M., Baldi, P., and Gasperini, P.: Kinematics of the Western
Africa-Eurasia plate boundary from focal mechanisms and GPS data, Geophys.
J. Int., 169, 1180–1200, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.2007.03367.x, 2007.
Serpelloni, E., Faccenna, C., Spada, G., Dong, D., and Williams, S. D. P.:
Vertical GPS ground motion rates in the Euro-Mediterranean region: New
evidence of velocity gradients at different spatial scales along the
Nubia-Eurasia plate boundary, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 118,
6003–6024, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JB010102, 2013.
Smith, W. H. F. and Wessel, P.: Gridding with continuous curvature
splines in tension, Geophysics, 55, 293–305, 1990.
Solarino, S., Malusà, M. G., Eva, E., Guillot, S., Paul, A., Schwartz,
S., Zhao, L., Aubert, C., Dumont, T., Pondrelli, S., Salimbeni, S., Wang,
Q., Xu, X., Zheng, T., and Zhu, R.: Mantle wedge exhumation beneath the
Dora-Maira (U)HP dome unravelled by local earthquake tomography (Western
Alps), Lithos, 296–299, 623–636, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2017.11.035, 2018.
Spada, M., Bianchi, I., Kissling, E., Agostinetti, N. P., and Wiemer, S.:
Combining controlled-source seismology and receiver function information to
derive 3-D Moho topography for Italy, Geophys. J. Int., 194, 1050–1068,
https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggt148, 2013.
Stampfli, G., Mosar, J., Marquer, D., Marchant, R., Baudin, T., and Borel,
G.: Subduction and obduction processes in the Swiss Alps, Tectonophysics,
296, 159–204, 1998.
Sternai, P., Herman, F., Champagnac, J.-D., Fox, M., Salcher, B., and
Willett, S. D.: Pre-glacial topography of the European Alps, Geology,
40, 1067–1070, https://doi.org/10.1130/G33540.1, 2012.
Sternai, P., Sue, C., Husson, L., Serpelloni, E., Becker, T. W., Willett, S.
D., Faccenna, C., Di Giulio, A., Spada, G., Jolivet, L., Valla, P., Petit,
C., Nocquet, J.-M., Walpersdorf, A., and Castelltort, S.: Present-day uplift
of the European Alps: Evaluating mechanisms and models of their relative
contributions, Earth-Sci. Rev., 190, 589–604,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2019.01.005, 2019.
Sue, C. and Tricart, P.: Late alpine brittle extension above the Frontal
Pennine Thrust near Briançon, western Alps, Eclogae Geol. Helv.,
92, 171–181, 1999.
Sue, C. and Tricart, P.: Neogene to ongoing normal faulting in the inner
western Alps: A major evolution of the late alpine tectonics, Tectonics,
22, 1050, https://doi.org/10.1029/2002TC001426, 2003.
Sue, C., Thouvenot, F., Fréchet, J., and Tricart, P.: Widespread
extension in the core of the western Alps revealed by earthquake analysis,
J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 104, 25611–25622,
https://doi.org/10.1029/1999JB900249, 1999.
Sue, C., Grasso, J. R., Lahaie, F., and Amitrano, D.: Mechanical behavior of
western alpine structures inferred from statistical analysis of seismicity,
Geophys. Res. Lett., 29, 65-1-65–4, https://doi.org/10.1029/2001GL014050, 2002.
Sue, C., Delacou, B., Champagnac, J.-D., Allanic, C., and Burkhard, M.:
Aseismic deformation in the Alps: GPS vs. seismic strain quantification,
Terra Nova, 19, 182–188, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3121.2007.00732.x, 2007a.
Sue, C., Delacou, B., Champagnac, J.-D., Allanic, C., Tricart, P., and
Burkhard, M.: Extensional neotectonics around the bend of the
Western/Central Alps: an overview, Int. J. Earth Sci., 96, 1101–1129,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-007-0181-3, 2007b.
Swiss Seismological Service (SED): National Seismic Networks of Switzerland, ETH Zürich, https://doi.org/10.12686/sed/networks/ch, 1983.
Thouvenot, F. and Fréchet, J.: Seismicity Along The Northwestern Edge Of
The Adria Microplate, in: The Adria Microplate: GPS Geodesy, Tectonics and
Hazards, edited by: Pinter, N., Gyula, G., Weber, J., Stein, S., and Medak, D., Springer Netherlands, Dordrecht, the Netherlands, 335–349, 2006.
Thouvenot, F., Fréchet, J., Guyoton, F., Guiguet, R., and Jenatton, L.:
Sismalp: an automatic phone-interrogated seismic network for the western
Alps, Cah. Cent. Eur. Géodynamique Séismologie, 1, p. 10, 1990.
Thouvenot, F., Fréchet, J., Jenatton, L., and Gamond, J.-F.: The
Belledonne Border Fault: identification of an active seismic strike-slip
fault in the western Alps, Geophys. J. Int., 155, 174–192,
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-246X.2003.02033.x, 2003.
Thouvenot, F., Jenatton, L., and Sanchez, O.: Région Alpes: Contribution
OSUG, OSUG observatory, Grenoble, France, report, Annexe A–V, 94–123, 2013.
Tricart, P.: From passive margin to continental collision; a tectonic
scenario for the Western Alps, Am. J. Sci., 284, 97–120, 1984.
University of Genoa: Regional Seismic Network of North Western Italy, International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks [data set], https://doi.org/10.7914/SN/GU, 1967.
Vavryčuk, V.: Iterative joint inversion for stress and fault
orientations from focal mechanisms, Geophys. J. Int., 199, 69–77,
https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggu224, 2014.
Vernant, P., Hivert, F., Chéry, J., Steer, P., Cattin, R., and Rigo, A.:
Erosion-induced isostatic rebound triggers extension in low convergent
mountain ranges, Geology, 41, 467–470, https://doi.org/10.1130/G33942.1, 2013.
Walpersdorf, A., Sue, C., Baize, S., Cotte, N., Bascou, P., Beauval, C.,
Collard, P., Daniel, G., Dyer, H., Grasso, J.-R., Hautecoeur, O.,
Helmstetter, A., Hok, S., Langlais, M., Menard, G., Mousavi, Z., Ponton, F.,
Rizza, M., Rolland, L., Souami, D., Thirard, L., Vaudey, P., Voisin, C., and
Martinod, J.: Coherence between geodetic and seismic deformation in a
context of slow tectonic activity (SW Alps, France), J. Geodyn., 85, 58–65,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jog.2015.02.001, 2015.
Walpersdorf, A., Pinget, L., Vernant, P., Sue, C., Deprez, A., and the RENAG
team: Does Long-Term GPS in the Western Alps Finally Confirm Earthquake
Mechanisms?, Tectonics, 37, 3721–3737, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018TC005054, 2018.
Zhao, L., Paul, A., Solarino, S., Aubert, C., Zheng, T., Salimbeni, S.,
Guillot, S., Wang, Q., Ai, Y., Zangelmi, P., He, Y., Lainé, R., Chen,
L., Xu, W., Lin, W., Margheriti, L., Pondrelli, S., and Zhu, R.: First
results of a new seismic profile across the southwestern Alps, CIFALPS,
15, EGU General Assembly, 7–12 April 2013, Vienna, Austria, EGU2013-6436, 2013.
Zhao, L., Paul, A., Guillot, S., Solarino, S., Malusà, M. G., Zheng, T.,
Aubert, C., Salimbeni, S., Dumont, T., Schwartz, S., Zhu, R., and Wang, Q.:
First seismic evidence for continental subduction beneath the Western Alps,
Geology, 43, 815–818, https://doi.org/10.1130/G36833.1, 2015.
Zhao, L., Paul, A., Solarino, S., and RESIF: Seismic network YP: CIFALPS temporary experiment (China-Italy-France Alps seismic transect) [data set], RESIF – Réseau Sismologique et géodésique Français, https://doi.org/10.15778/RESIF.YP2012, 2016a.
Zhao, L., Paul, A., Malusà, M. G., Xu, X., Zheng, T., Solarino, S., Guillot, S., Schwartz, S., Dumont, T., Salimbeni, S., Aubert, C., Pondrelli, S., Wang, Q., and Zhu, R.: Continuity of the Alpine slab unraveled by high-resolution P
wave tomography, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 121, 8720–8737, 2016b.
Short summary
This work features the highest-resolution seismic stress and strain fields available at the present time for the analysis of the active crustal deformation of the Western Alps. In this paper, we address a large dataset of newly computed focal mechanisms from a statistical standpoint, which allows us to suggest a joint control from far-field forces and from buoyancy forces on the present-day deformation of the Western Alps.
This work features the highest-resolution seismic stress and strain fields available at the...
