Publication Date:
2017-04-04
Description:
In a recent paper, important issues were raised about the identification of the fault responsible
for the 1908 Messina Straits earthquake. Starting with a reanalysis of the available original
geodetic data, the authors aimed to demonstrate that both of the fault–plane orientations
derived by the focal mechanism are compatible with the measurements. On these grounds, and
based on geological considerations, they argued in favour of the Armo fault—a high-angled
structure on the Calabrian side of the Messina Straits—as responsible for the 1908 earthquake.
We indicate here that their analysis has some pitfalls that produce questionable results, and that
render their conclusions unreliable. Moreover, especially when dealing with such old events
and data, we consider that it is more prudent not to derive conclusions on the basis of a single
data set, as all of the available information should be included in any interpretation. Indeed,
when the joint results of the seismological and geodetic analyses are taken into account, a
consistent and robust source model can be derived that indicates that a low-angle, east-dipping
fault is the most likely source of this 1908 Messina Straits earthquake
Description:
Published
Description:
1399-1402
Description:
4T. Fisica dei terremoti e scenari cosismici
Description:
JCR Journal
Description:
restricted
Keywords:
Earthquake source observations; Seismicity and tectonics; Europe
;
04. Solid Earth::04.06. Seismology::04.06.03. Earthquake source and dynamics
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
article
