Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The 1992 Tafilalt seismic crisis (Anti-Atlas, Morocco)

  • Original article
  • Published:
Journal of Seismology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Tafilalt region, located at the eastern end of the Anti-Atlas chain in Morocco, was shaken on 23 and 30 October 1992 by two moderate earthquakes of magnitude mb ∼ 5 and intensity ∼ VI MSK64, which caused two deaths and great damage in the area between Erfoud and Rissani. The review of data available on the seismic crisis allowed us to improve the knowledge on the macroseismic, instrumental and source parameters of the earthquakes. The main results of the present study are: (1) location of the epicentres with the help of data from a close portable network allowed us to propose new epicentral coordinates at 31.361° N, 4.182° W (23 October) and 31.286° N, 4.347° W (30 October); both events have focal depths of 2 km; (2) the shock of 30 October was followed by a series of 305 aftershocks, most of which were located west of Rissani; the 61 best-constrained events had focal depths of 5 to 19 km and magnitudes 0.7 to 3; (3) the largest damage was located in an area between the two epicentres within the Tafilalt valley and was probably amplified by site effects due to the proximity of the water table within the Quaternary sediments; (4) focal mechanisms of the main events correspond to strike-slip faulting with fault planes oriented N–S (left lateral) and E–W (right lateral); the only mechanism available for the aftershocks also corresponds to strike-slip faulting; (5) spectral analysis shows that the scalar seismic moment (Mo) of the first event is slightly larger than the second; the corresponding values of Mw are 5.1 and 5.0, respectively; (6) the dimensions of the faults for a circular fault model are 7.7 ± 1.4 and 7.4 ± 1.2 km, respectively; the average displacement is 4 cm for the first event and 3.7 cm for the second; the stress drop is 0.4 and 0.3 MPa, respectively, in agreement with standard values; (7) the Coulomb Stress test performed for both earthquakes suggests a relationship between both events only when the used location is at the limit of the horizontal uncertainty; (8) finally, the occurrence of these shocks suggests that the Anti-Atlas is undergoing tectonic deformation in addition to thermal uplift as suggested by recent publications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baidder L (2007) Structuration de la bordure septentrionale du Craton Ouest-Africain du Cambrien à l’Actuel: cas de l’Anti-Atlas oriental du Maroc. Thèse d’Etat Univ Hassan II-Aïn Chock, Fac Sci Casablanca

  • Baidder L, Raddi Y, Tahiri M, Michard A (2008) Devonian extension of the Pan-African crust north of the West African craton, and its bearing on the Variscan foreland deformation: evidence from eastern Anti-Atlas (Morocco). In: Ennih N, Liégeois JP (eds) The boundaries of the West African Craton. Geol Soc, London, pp 453–465, sp pub 297

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben Sari D (1978) Connaissance géophysique du Maroc. Thèse d’Etat, Grenoble

    Google Scholar 

  • Bensaid I, Medina F, Cherkaoui T-E, Buforn E, Hahou Y (2009) New P-wave first motion solutions for the focal mechanisms of the Rissani (Morocco) earthquakes of October 23d and 30th, 1992. Bull Inst Sci, Rabat, sect Sci Terre 31:55–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Bezzeghoud M, Buforn E (1999) Source parameters of the 1992 Melilla (Spain, Mw = 4.8), 1994 Alhoceima (Morocco, Mw = 5.8) and 1994 Mascara (Algeria, Mw = 5.7) earthquakes and seismotectonic implications. Bull Seismol Soc Am 89:359–372

    Google Scholar 

  • Brillinger DR, Udias A, Bolt BA (1980) A probability model for regional focal mechanism solutions. Bull Seism Soc Am 70:149–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Brune JN (1970) Tectonic stress and the spectra of seismic shear waves from earthquakes. J Geophys Res 75(26):4997–5009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buforn E, Udias A (2010) Azores-Tunisia, a tectonically complex boundary. In: Dmowska R (ed) Adv Geophys, 52, pp 139–182

  • Buforn E, Sanz de Galdeano C, Udias A (1995) Seismotectonics of the Ibero-Maghrebian region. Tectonophysics 152:89–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buforn E, Bezzeghoud M, Udias A, Pro C (2004) Seismic sources on the Iberia-African plate boundary and their tectonic implications. Pure Appl Geophys 161(3):623–646

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chalouan A, Galindo-Zaldívar J, Akil M, Marín C, Chabli A, Ruano P, Bargach K, Sanz de Galdeano C, Benmakhlouf M, Ahmamou M, Gourari L (2006) Tectonic wedge escape in the southwestern front of the Rif Cordillera (Morocco). In: Moratti G, Chalouan A (ed) Tectonics of the Western Mediterranean and North Africa. Geological Society of London, special publication 262, pp 101–118

  • Cherkaoui T-E (1988) Fichier des séismes du Maroc et des régions voisines 1901–1984. Trav Inst Sci, sér Géol Géogr phys 17:1–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Cherkaoui T-E (1991) Contribution à l’étude de l’aléa sismique au Maroc. Thesis. University Joseph Fourier, Grenoble (France)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cherkaoui T-E (1993) Etude sismologique du séisme du 30 octobre 1992 à Rissani. Rapport inédit, Dpt Phys Globe, Inst Sci, Univ. Mohammed V, Rabat

  • Choubert G, Fallot P, Marçais G, Suter G, Tilloy R (1946–1955) Carte géologique du Maroc au 1/500.000. Service géologique du Maroc

  • de Vicente G, Cloetingh S, Muñoz-Martın A, Olaiz, A, Stich D, Vegas R, Galindo-Zaldıvar J, Fernandez-Lozano J (2008) Inversion of moment tensor focal mechanisms for active stresses around the microcontinent Iberia: Tectonic implications. Tectonics, 27, TC1009, doi:10.1029/2006TC002093

  • DeMets C, Gordon RG, Argus DF (2010) Geologically current plate motions. Geophys J Intern 181:1–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Destombes J, Hollard H (1986) Carte géologique du Maroc au 1/200000, feuille Tafilalt-Taouz. Notes Mém Serv Géol Maroc, 244

  • El Alami SO, Tadili B, Aït Brahim L, Mouayn I (2004) Seismicity of Morocco for the period 1987–1994. Pure appl Geophys 161:969–982

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elmrabet T (2005) Les tremblements de terre majeurs dans la région du Maghreb, et leurs conséquences sur l’homme et l’environnement. Ed. CNRST-LAG, Rabat [in arabic]

  • Fadil A, Vernant P, McClusky S, Reilinger R, Gomez F, Ben Sari D, Mourabit T, Feigl K, Barazangi M (2006) Active tectonics of the western Mediterranean: geodetic evidence for rollback of a delaminated subcontinental lithospheric slab beneath the Rif Mountains, Morocco. Geology 34(7):529–532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freed AM, Lin J (2001) Delayed triggering of the 1999 Hector Mine earthquake by viscoelastic stress transfer. Nature 411:180–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frizon de Lamotte D, Leturmy P, Missenard Y, Khomsi S, Ruiz G, Saddiqi O, Guillocheau F, Michard A (2009) Mesozoic and Cenozoic vertical movements in the Atlas system (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia): An overview. Tectonophysics 475:9–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frogneux M (1980). La sismicité marocaine de 1972 à 1978. Etude des paramètres à la source des séismes proches. Thèse de Troisième Cycle, Univ Grenoble

  • Gasquet D, Ennih N, Liégeois J-P., Soulaimani A, Michard A (2008) The Pan-African belt. In: Michard A, Saddiqi O, Chalouan A, Frizon de Lamotte D (eds) Continental evolution: the Geology of Morocco. Structure, stratigraphy and tectonics of the Africa-Atlantic-Mediterranean triple junction. Springer, Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences, 116, pp 33–64

  • Giese P, Jacoshagen V (1992) Inversion tectonics of intracontinental ranges: High and Middle Atlas, Morocco. Geol Rundsch 81:249–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hahou Y (2005) Sismicité du Maroc; apport de l’étude des séismes d’Al Hoceima et de Rissani et évaluation du risque sismique. Thèse de Doctorat, Univ Mohammed V-Agdal, Fac Sci Rabat

  • Hahou Y, Jabour N, Oukemeni D, El Wartiti M (2003) The October 23; 30, 1992 Rissani earthquakes in Morocco: Seismological, macroseismic data. Bull Int Inst Seismol Earthq Eng, Special Edition, pp 85–94

  • Harris RA, Simpson RW, Reseanberg PA (1995) Influence of static stress changes on earthquake locations in Southern California. Nature 375:221–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hatzfeld D (1978) Etude sismotectonique de la zone de collision Ibéro-Maghrébine. Thèse d’Etat. University Joseph Fourier, Grenoble

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatzfeld D, Frogneux M (1981) Intermediate depth seismicity in the western Mediterranean unrelated to subduction of oceanic lithosphere. Nature 292:443–445

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henares J, López Casado C, Sanz de Galdeano C, Delgado J, Peláez JA (2003) Stress fields in the Iberian-Maghrebi region. J Seismol 7:65–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • International Seismological Centre (1992) Bulletin, October 1992, Kew (U.K.), pp 202–203, 353–355

  • Jabour N (1993) Source process of earthquakes in the Atlantic Ocean and Morocco. Intern Inst Seismol Earthq Engineering, individual studies, course 1992–1993, vol 29, 13 p

  • Joly F (1962) Etudes sur le Relief du Sud-Est marocain. Trav Inst Sci, sér Géol Géogr phys 10:1–578

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanamori H, Anderson DL (1975) Theoretical basis of some empirical relations in seismology. Bull Seismol Soc Am 65(5):1073–1095

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee WHK, Valdés CM (1985) HYPO71PC: a personal computer version of the HYPO71 earthquake location program. US Geol Surv Open-File Report 85–749

  • Lin J, Stein RS (2004) Stress triggering in thrust and subduction earthquakes, and stress interaction between the southern San Andreas and nearby thrust and strike-slip faults. J Geophys Res 109:B02303. doi:10.1029/2003JB002607

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malusà MG, Polino R, Cerrina Feroni A, Ellero A, Ottria G, Baidder L, Musumeci G (2007) Post-Variscan tectonics in eastern Anti-Atlas (Morocco). Terra Nova 19(6):481–489

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Margat J (1960) Carte hydrogéologique de la plaine du Tafilalt. I- Géologie et piézométrie. Publ Serv Géol Maroc, n 150

  • Margat J, Destombes J, Hollard H (1962) Mémoire explicatif de la Carte hydrogéologique au 1/50000 de la plaine de Tafilalt. Notes Mém Serv géol Maroc, n 150 bis

  • McClusky S, Reilinger R, Mahmoud S, Ben Sari D, Tealeb A (2003) GPS constraints on Africa (Nubia) and Arabia plate motions. Geophys J Int 155:126–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Medina F (1995) Present-day state of stress in northern Morocco from focal mechanism analysis. J Struct Geol 17:1035–1046

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Medina F (2008) Catalogue of focal mechanisms of the Moroccan earthquakes for the period 1959–2007. Doc Inst Sci 22:1–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Medina F, Cherkaoui TE (1992) Mécanismes au foyer des séismes du Maroc et des régions voisines (1959–1986). Conséquences tectoniques Eclogae Geol Helv 85(2):433–457

    Google Scholar 

  • Medina F, El Alami SO (2006) Focal mechanisms and state of stress in the Al Hoceima area (Central Rif, Morocco). Bull Inst Sci, Rabat, sect Sci Terre 28:19–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Métivier L, Viron O, Conrad CP, Renault S, Diament M, Patau G (2009) Evidence of earthquake triggering by the solid earth tides. Earth Planet Sci Lett 278:370–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michard A, Hoepffner C, Soulaimani A, Baidder L (2008) The Variscan belt. In: Michard A, Saddiqi O, Chalouan A, Frizon de Lamotte D (eds) Continental evolution: the Geology of Morocco. Structure, stratigraphy and tectonics of the Africa-Atlantic-Mediterranean triple junction. Springer, ser. Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences 116:65–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Missenard T, Zeyen H, Frizon de Lamotte D, Leturmy P, Petit C, Sébrier M, Saddiqi O (2006) Crustal versus asthenospheric origin of relief of the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. J Geophys Res 111:B03401. doi:10.1029/2005JB003708

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pedrera A, Ruiz-Constán A, Galindo-Zaldívar J, Chalouan A, Sanz de Galdeano C, Marín-Lechado C, Ruano P, Benmakhlouf M, Akil M, López-Garrido AC, Chabli A, Ahmamou M, González-Castillo L (2011) Is there an active subduction beneath the Gibraltar orogenic arc? Constraints from Pliocene to present-day stress field. J Geodyn (in press)

  • Plaziat J-C, Aberkan M, Ahmamou M, Choukri R (2008) The Quaternary deposits of Morocco. In: Michard A, Saddiqi O, Chalouan A, Frizon de Lamotte D (eds): Continental evolution: the Geology of Morocco. Structure, stratigraphy and tectonics of the Africa-Atlantic-Mediterranean triple junction. Springer, ser. Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences 116:359–376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robert-Charrue C, Burkhard M (2008) Inversion tectonics interference pattern and extensional fault-related folding in the Eastern Anti-Atlas, Morocco. Swiss J Geosci 101:397–408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rousseau L, Beauchamp J, Bahain J-J, Boudad L, Deschamps P, Falguères C, Ghaleb B, Lartigot A-S, Pozzi J-P (2006) Premiers résultats d’une étude pluridisciplinaire menée sur des travertins quaternaires du Maroc. Quaternaire 17(4):343–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Roux G (1934) Notes sur les tremblements de terre ressentis au Maroc avant 1933. Mém Soc Sci Nat Maroc, XXXIX:42–71

  • Ruhard J-P (1977) Le bassin quaternaire du Tafilalt. In: Ressources en eau du Maroc, tome 3: Domaines atlasique et sud-atlasique. Notes Mém Serv géol Maroc 231:352–415

    Google Scholar 

  • Scholz CH (1990) The Mechanics of Earthquakes and Faulting. Cambridge Univ Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwarz G, Wigger PJ (1988) Geophysical studies of the Earth’s crust and upper mantle in the Atlas system of Morocco. In: Jacobshagen VH (Ed) The Atlas system of Morocco; studies on its geodynamic evolution. Springer-Verlag, Lecture Notes in. Geosciences 15:339–357

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwarz G, Mehl HG, Ramdani F, Rath V (1992) Electrical resistivity structure of the eastern Moroccan Atlas system and its tectonic implications. Geol Rundsch 81(1):221–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seber D, Barazangi M, Tadili BA, Ramdani M, Ibenbrahim A, Ben Sari D (1996) Three dimensional upper mantle structure beneath the intraplate Atlas and interplate Rif mountains of Morocco. J Geophys Res 101:3125–3138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sébrier M, Siame L, Zouine EM, Winter T, Missenard Y, Leturmy P (2006) Active tectonics in the Moroccan High Atlas. CR Geosciences 338(1–2):65–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stein RS, King GCP, Lin J (1994) Stress triggering of the 1994 M = 6.7 Northridge, California, earthquake by its predecessors. Science 265:1432–1435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stich D, Serpelloni E, Mancilla F, Morales J (2006) Kinematics of the Iberia—Maghreb plate contact from seismic moment tensors and GPS observations. Tectonophysics 426:295–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tahayt A, Feigl KL, Mourabit T, Rigo A, Reilinger R, McClusky S, Fadil A, Berthier E, Dorbath L, Serroukh M, Gomez F, Ben Sari D (2009) The Al Hoceima (Morocco) earthquake of 24 February 2004, analysis and interpretation of data from ENVISAT ASAR and SPOT5 validated by ground-based observations. Rem Sens Environ 113:306–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teixell A, Ayarza P, Zeyen H, Fernandez M, Arboleya ML (2005) Effects of mantle upwelling in a compressional setting: the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Terra Nova 17:456–461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toda S, Stein RS, Richards-Dinger K, Bozkurt S (2005) Forecasting the evolution of seismicity in southern California: Animations built on earthquake stress transfer. J Geophys Res, B05S16, doi:10.1029/2004JB003415

  • Toto EA, Kaabouben F, Zouhri L, Belarbi M, Benammi M, Hafid M, Boutib L (2007) Geological evolution and structural style of the Palaeozoic Tafilalt sub-basin, eastern Anti-Atlas (Morocco, North Africa). Geol J. doi:10.1002/gj.1098

  • Udias A (1999) Principles of Seismology. Cambridge University Press

  • Vernant P, Fadil A, Mourabit T, Ouazar D, Koulali A, Davila JM, Garate J, McClusky S, Reilinger R (2010) Geodetic constraints on active tectonics of the Western Mediterranean: Implications for the kinematics and dynamics of the Nubia-Eurasia plate boundary zone. J Geodyn 49(3–4):123–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wigger P, Asch G, Giese P, Heinsohn W-D, El Alami SO, Ramdani F (1992) Crustal structure along a traverse across the Middle and High Atlas mountains derived from seismic refraction studies. Geol Rundsch 81(1):237–248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zouhri S, Kchikach A, Saddiqi O, El Haïmer FZ, Baidder L, Michard A (2008) The Cretaceous-Tertiary plateaus. In: Michard A, Saddiqi O, Chalouan A, Frizon de Lamotte D (eds) Continental evolution: the Geology of Morocco. Structure, stratigraphy and tectonics of the Africa-Atlantic-Mediterranean triple junction. Springer, ser. Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences, 116, pp 331–358

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study has been partially supported by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, project AE1/09-16586 to I. Bensaid and E. Buforn. We are particularly indebted to Pr. Denis Hatzfeld (IRIGM, Observatory of Grenoble) for providing the seismograms of the microseismic campaign carried out in the Khénifra province in collaboration with the Scientific Institute (T.-E. Cherkaoui), to two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments which helped improving the manuscript, and to Prof. Lahsen Baidder (University Hassan II–Casablanca) for sending us useful documentation. We acknowledge the help of several colleagues in Tunisia, Ivory Coast and France, who gently provided copies of seismograms. We thank M’hamed Bikraoui, Mohamed Laami (technicians) and Abderrahim El Alaoui and Lakbir El Bekraoui for their help in the fieldwork during the survey of 1992. The local authorities and the Royal Gendarmery provided valuable help in the field. Finally, Hind El Hachimi and Nadia Mhammdi kindly helped us in preparing the first draft of the structural map of Tafilalt.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département des Sciences de la Terre, Institut Scientifique, Laboratoire de Physique du Globe, Equipe Sismologie et Magnétisme, Université Mohammed V-Agdal, Rabat, Morocco

    Ihsane Bensaid

  2. Ecole Mohammedia d’Ingénieurs, Université Mohammed V-Agdal, Rabat, Morocco

    Ihsane Bensaid

  3. Département des Sciences de la Terre, Institut Scientifique, Rabat, Morocco

    Taj-Eddine Cherkaoui

  4. Département des Sciences de la Terre, Institut Scientifique, Laboratoire de Géologie et Télédetection (associé CNRST URAC 46), Equipe Télédétection, Ressources et Risques naturels, Université Mohammed V-Agdal, Rabat, Morocco

    Fida Medina & Anas Emran

  5. Centro Geofísico, Universidade de Evora, Evora, Portugal

    Bento Caldeira

  6. Departamento de Geofisica y Meteorologia, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain

    Elisa Buforn

  7. Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique, Institut National de Géophysique, Rabat, Morocco

    Youssef Hahou

Authors
  1. Ihsane Bensaid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Taj-Eddine Cherkaoui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fida Medina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bento Caldeira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Elisa Buforn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Anas Emran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Youssef Hahou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fida Medina.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bensaid, I., Cherkaoui, TE., Medina, F. et al. The 1992 Tafilalt seismic crisis (Anti-Atlas, Morocco). J Seismol 16, 35–53 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-011-9248-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-011-9248-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation