Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-2021-141
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-2021-141
14 Dec 2021
 | 14 Dec 2021
Status: this preprint was under review for the journal SE. A final paper is not foreseen.

Postglacial strain rate – stress paradox, example of the Western Alps active faults

Juliette Grosset, Stéphane Mazzotti, and Philippe Vernant

Abstract. The understanding of the origins of seismicity in intraplate regions is crucial to better characterize seismic hazards. In formerly glaciated regions such as Fennoscandia North America or the Western Alps, stress perturbations from Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) have been proposed as a major cause of large earthquakes. In this study, we focus on the Western Alps case using numerical modeling of lithosphere response to the Last Glacial Maximum icecap. We show that the flexural response to GIA induces present-day stress perturbations of ca. 1–2 MPa, associated with horizontal extension rates up to ca. 2.5 × 10−9 yr−1. The latter is in good agreement with extension rates of ca. 2 × 10−9 yr−1 derived from high-resolution geodetic (GNSS) data and with the overall seismicity deformation pattern. In the majority of simulations, stress perturbations induced by GIA promote fault reactivation in the internal massifs and in the foreland regions (i.e., positive Coulomb Failure Stress perturbation), but with predicted rakes systematically incompatible with those from earthquake focal mechanisms. Thus, although GIA explains a major part of the GNSS strain rates, it tends to inhibit the observed seismicity in the Western Alps. A direct corollary of this result is that, in cases of significant GIA effect, GNSS strain rate measurements cannot be directly integrated in seismic hazard computations, but instead require detailed modeling of the GIA transient impact.

This preprint has been withdrawn.

Juliette Grosset, Stéphane Mazzotti, and Philippe Vernant

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on se-2021-141 by Grosset et al.', Anonymous Referee #1, 25 Jan 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Juliette Grosset, 03 Feb 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on se-2021-141', Björn Lund, 22 Feb 2022

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on se-2021-141 by Grosset et al.', Anonymous Referee #1, 25 Jan 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Juliette Grosset, 03 Feb 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on se-2021-141', Björn Lund, 22 Feb 2022
Juliette Grosset, Stéphane Mazzotti, and Philippe Vernant
Juliette Grosset, Stéphane Mazzotti, and Philippe Vernant

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This preprint has been withdrawn.

Short summary
Glacial Isostatic Adjustment is considered as a major process of seismicity in intraplate regions such as Scandinavia and eastern North America. We show that GIA associated with the alpine icecap induces a present-day response in vertical motion and horizontal deformation seen in GNSS strain rate field. We show that GIA induced stress is opposite to strain rate, with the paradoxical consequence that postglacial rebound in the Western Alps can explain the strain rate field but not the seismicity.