Abstract
Focal solutions of four strong earthquakes and P signals of twenty-four smaller shocks of the active Mur-Mürz Valley, the Semmering Pass and the Vienna Basin. An ‘equivalent slip rate’ of 0.03 This feature agrees with the model of a subsiding Pannonian Basin. An ‘equivalent slip rate’ of 0.03 cm/year is roughly estimated from earthquake data 1903–1978. This rate does not include the creep rate, but it gives an idea of the magnitude of speed of geological processes in this area.
Refraction seismic data from the Alpine Longitudinal Profile 75 shows a low velocity zone in the upper crust of the seismic active East Alpine area but not in the aseismic part of the Pannonian Basin.
The eastern margin of the Eastern Alps and the Carpathians limits the Pannonian Basin, which has a special and interesting geological history. Many authors (Szadezky-Kardoss, 1966;Stegena, Ceszy andHorvàth, 1975) presented models of the genesis of the Pannonian Basin. They apply the concept of the ‘mantle diapirs’ to explain the following facts:
subsiding of the Pannonian Plate in comparison to the Alps, high terrestrial heat flow within the Pannonian Plate, decrease of the Moho depth from 40 km below the Eastern border of the Alps to 27 km below the Pannonian Basin. They claim that the Alpine-Carpathian interarc and basin represent the final stage of an orogenetic system where ‘subcrustal erosion’ leads to a thinning of the crust. Consequently the surface subsides and is covered by young sediments. They proved that this subsidence and sedimentation is more or less in isostatic equilibrium. The aim of this paper is to provide new arguments using focal solutions and refraction seismic investigations.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aric, K., andGutdeutsch, R.,Erste Ergebnisse des Alpenlängsprofiles (Schußpunkt E, F und I) (Vortrag DGG, Braunschweig 1977).
Aric, K., Gutdeutsch, R., Albu, I., Mituch, E., andPosgay, K. (1979),Deutung der refraktion-sseismischen Messungen auf dem östlichen Abschnitt des Alpenlängsprofiles, Acta Geodaet., Geophys. et Montanist. Acad. Sci. Hung.14 (1–2), 237–245.
Aric, K., Gutdeutsch, R., andSailer, A. (1980),Computation of Traveltimes and Rays in a Medium of Two-dimensional Velocity Distribution, Pure appl. Geophys.118, 796–806.
Brune, J. N. (1968),Seismic Moment, Seismicity and Rate of Slip Along Major Fault Zones, J. Geophys. Res.73, 777.
Drimmel, J., Gangl, G., andTrapp, E. (1971),Kartenmäßige Darstellung der Seismizität Österreichs, Mitt. Erdb-Kommn Wien70.
Franke, A., andGutdeutsch, R. (1974),Makroseismische Abschätzungen von Herdparametern österreichischer Erdbeben aus den Jahren 1905–1973, J. Geophys.40, 173–188.
Gangl, G. (1974),Seismotectonic Investigations of the Western Part of the Inneralpine Pannonian Basin (Eastern Alps and Dinarides). XIVth General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission, Trieste, 16–22 Sept. 1974.
Gangl, G. (1975),Seismotektonische Untersuchungen am Alpenostrand, Mitt. Geol. Ges. Wien, 66–67 Band, 1973–1974.
Gutdeutsch, R., andAric, K. (1976),Erdbeben im ostalpinen Raum, Arb.a.d.ZA f.Met.u.Geodyn., Heft19, Wien.
Gutdeutsch, R., andAric, K. (1977),Eine Diskussion geophysikalischer Modelle des Grenzbereiches zwischen Ostalpen und Pannonischem Becken, Acta Geodalt., Geophys. et Montanist. Acad. Sci. Hung.,21, 287–296.
Jahrbücher der Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik ab 1971, Abschnitte E (Seismologie).
Landisman, M., andMüller, St. (1966),Seismic Studies of the Earth's Crust in Continents II, Geophys. J. R. Astr. Soc., 539–548.
Mituch, E., andPosgay, K. (1972)The Crustal Structure of Central and Southeastern Europe Based on the Results of Explosion Seismology, 28 Hungary, Geophys. Trans. Hungar. Geophys. Inst. Roland Eötvös, 118–129.
Posgay, K. (1975),Mit Reflexionsmessungen bestimmte Horizonte und Geschwindigkeitsverteilung in der Erdkruste und im Erdmantel, Geophys. Trans. Hungar. Geophys. Inst. Roland Eötvös, 13–17.
Stegena, L., Ceczy, B., andHorvàth, F. (1975),Late Cenozoic Evolution of the Pannonian Basin, Tectonophysics26, 71–90.
Szadeczky-Kardoss, E. (1966),Magmachemismus, Magmatektonik und Unterströmungen im Karpatenbeckensystem, Acta Geol. Hung.X, 371–395.
Toperczer, M., andTrapp, E. (1950),Ein Beitrag zur Erdbebengeographie Österreichs nebst Erdbebenkatalog 1904–1948 und Chronik der Starkbeben, Mitt. Erdb-Kommn Wien65
Trapp, E. (1961),Die Erdbeden Österreichs 1949–1960, Mitt. Erdb-Kommn Wien67
Trapp, E. (1973),Die Erdbeben Österreichs 1961–1970, Mitt. Erdb-Kommn Wien72
Tollmann, A. (1970),Ostalpentektonik. Die bruchtektonische Zyklenordnung im Orogen am Beispiel der Ostalpen, Geotekt. Forsch.34.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Aric, K., Gutdeutsch, R. Seismotectonic and refraction seismic investigations in the border region between the Eastern Alps and the Pannonian Basin. PAGEOPH 119, 1125–1133 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00876691
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00876691