Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Seismotectonic outline of South-Eastern Sicily: an evaluation of available options for the earthquake fault rupture scenario

  • Published:
Journal of Seismology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Seismotectonic information and interpretations available for SE Sicily suggest three groups of possible sources for the M=7.1-7.5 mainshock of 1693 and its strong foreshock: (1) normal faults belonging to the Ibleo Maltese Escarpment (also: Malta Escarpment); (2) normal faults associated with the two adjacent Simeto and Scordia-Lentini structures; (3) a transfer structure between the Sicily Straits rift system and the two grabens to the north. We use a new kinematic model to invert the data sets of macroseismic intensities of the two earthquakes to retrieve information on their sources. For this, we invert point observations, or intensities tessellated with the Voronoi polygons technique, and treat residuals of inversion in the matrix of points, or in the tessellated plane. Our inversions of the regional intensity patterns using this technique show that family N°3 is a good candidate for the foreshock of 9 January, 1693. For the mainshock of 11 January, 1693, an almost perfect synthesis of its intensity IX area was obtained with our model and a source belonging to family N°3. However, all information considered (tsunami included), this earthquake could have been produced either by (3) or by a fault located along the Ibleo-Maltese Escarpment, and tangential to the Augusta and Siracusa promontories.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amato, A., Azzara, R., Basili, A., Chiarabba, C., Cocco, M., Di Bona, M. and Selvaggi, G., 1995, Main shock and aftershocks of the December 13, 1990, eastern Sicily earthquake, Annali di Geofisica 38(2) 255–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ambrosetti, P., Bosi, C., Carraro, F., Ciaranfi, N., Panizza, M., Vezzani, L. and Zanferrari, A., 1983, Neotectonic Map of Italy, Quaderni della Ricerca Scientifica 114, 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Avedik, F., Nicolich R., Hirn, A., Maltezou, F., Mc Bride, J. and the STREAMER PROFILES GROUP, 1995, Appraisal of a new high-energy low frequency seismic pulse generating method on a deep seismic reflection profile in the Central Mediterranean Sea, First Break 13, 277–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Azzaro, R. and Barbano, M. S., 1996, E' possibile ipotizzare faglie attive in Sicilia sud-orientale? (in Italian). In: Slejko, D. and Stucchi, M. (eds), Verso la definizione delle caratteristiche dei terremoti attesi, Workshop Gruppo Nazionale Difesa dai Terremoti of the National Council for Research of Italy, Milano, Oct. 10-11 1996, (extended abstract).

  • Barbano, M. S. and Cosentino, M., 1981, Il terremoto siciliano dell' 11 gennaio 1693 (in Italian), Rend. Soc. Geol. It. 4, 517–522.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Avraham, Z. and Grasso, M., 1990, Collisional zone segmentation in Sicily and surrounding areas in the Central Mediterranean. Annales Tectonicæ, Spec. Issue 4(2) 131–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bianca, M., Monaco, C., Tortorici, L. and Cernobori, L., 1997, Active tectonics in eastern Sicily: the 1693 Hyblean earthquakes. EUG 9, Strasbourg, France, (abstracts), 33/4A14, 305.

  • Bigi, G., Cosentino, M., Parotto, M., Sartori, M. and Scandone, P., 1990, Structural Model of Italy, 1:500,000, PFG-CNR, Quad. Ric. Sci. 114, 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boschi, E., Ferrari, G., Gasperini, P., Guidoboni, E., Smriglio, G. and Valensise, G., 1995a, Catalogo dei forti terremoti in Italia dal 461 a. C. al 1980 (in Italian), Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica-SGA storia geofisica ambientale. Roma, CD and paper versions.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boschi, E., Guidoboni and Mariotti, D., 1995b, Seismic effects of the strongest historical earthquakes in the Syracuse area, Annali di Geofisica 38(2) 223–254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Camassi, R. and Stucchi, M., 1997, NT4.1, un catalogo parametrico di terremoti di area italiana, al di sopra della soglia del danno (in Italian), Web site: http://emidius.itim.mi.cnr.it/NT/home.html.

  • Carbone, S., Grasso, M. and Lentini, F., 1982, Considerazioni sull'evoluzione geodinamica della Sicilia sud-orientale dal Cretacico al Quaternario (in Italian), Mem. Soc. Geol. It. 24, 367–386.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carbone, S., Grasso, M. and Lentini, F., 1989, Lineamenti geologici del Plateau Ibleo (Sicilia S.E.), presentazione delle carte geologiche della Sicilia sud-orientale (in Italian), Proc. Nat. Conf. Sistemi Avanfossa-Avampaese, Naxos-Pergusa, 22-25 April 1987, Mem. Soc. Geol. It. 38, 127–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciaranfi, N., Ghisetti, F., Guida, M., Iaccarino, G., Lambiase, S., Pieri, P., Rapisardi, L., Ricchetti, G., Torre, M., Tortorici, L. and Vezzani, L., 1983, Carta neotettonica dell'Italia meridionale (in Italian), P. F. Geodinamica, Pub. N. 515, Bari, Italia.

  • Cristofolini, R., Ghisetti, F., Scarpa, R. and Vezzani, L., 1985, Character of the stress fiels in the Calabrian Arc and Southern Apennines (Italy) as deduced by geological, seismological and volcanological information, Tectonophysics 117, 39–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • D'Addezio, G. and Valensise, G., 1991, Metodologie per l'individuazione della struttura sismogenetica responsabile del terremoto del 13 dicembre 1990 (in Italian), Publication of the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica, Roma, N° 537, pp. 115–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Del Pezzo, E., Guerra, I. and Scarpa, R., 1981, The crust and upper mantle structure beneath Southern Italy by earthquakes and DSS data, Pure Appl. Geophys. 119, 1134–1143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Di Geronimo, I., Ghisetti, F., Grasso, M., Lentini, F., Scamarda, G. and Vezzani, L., 1980, Dati preliminari sulla neotettonica della Sicilia sud-orientale. Fogli 273 (Caltagirone), 274 (Siracusa), 275 (Scoglitti), 276 (Ragusa) e 277 (Noto) (in Italian), Publication of the Progetto Finalizzato Geodinamica, Roma, N° 356, pp. 747–773.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finetti, I., 1982, Structure, stratigraphy and evolution of central Mediterranean, Boll. Geof. Teor. Appl. 24, 96, 247-312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardiner, W. Grasso, M. and Sedgeley, D., 1995, Plio-Pleistocene fault movement as evidence for mega-block kinematics within the Hyblean-Malta Plateau, Central Mediterranean, J. Geodynamics 19, 35–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giardini, D., Palombo, B. and Pino, N. A., 1995, Long-period modelling of MedNet waveforms for the December 13, 1990 eastern Sicily earthquake, Annali di Geofisica, XXXVIII 2, 267–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghisetti, F. and Vezzani, L., 1980, The structural features of the Iblean Plateau and of the Mount Judica area (south-eastern Sicily): a microtectonic contribution to the deformational history of the Calabrian Arc, Boll. Soc. Geol. It. 99, 57–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghisetti, F. and Vezzani, L., 1982, Different style of deformation in the Calabrian Arc (Southern Italy): implications for a seismotectonic zoning, Tectonophysics 85, 149–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • GNDT, 1996, Modalità di Attenuazione dell'Intensità Macrosismica (by L. Peruzza; in Italian), Report available on the Web site http://emidius.itim.mi.cnr.it/GNDT/home.html, p. 8.

  • Grandori, G., Perotti, F. and Tagliani, A., 1987, On the attenuation of macroseismic intensity with epicentral distance. In: Cakmak, A. S. (ed.), Ground Motion and Engineering Seismology. Developments in Geotechnical Engineering, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 44, 581–594.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grasso, M., 1993, Pleistocene structures along the Ionian side of the Hyblean Plateau (SE Sicily): implications for the tectonic evolution of the Malta Escarpment, Proceedings of the International Scientific Meeting of Urbino, 4-6 Nov. 1992, UNESCO Report Marine Science 58, pp. 49–54.

  • Grasso, M. and Reuther, C. D., 1988, The western margin of the Hyblean Plateau: a neotectonic transform system on the SE Sicilian foreland, Annales Tectonicæ 2(2) 107–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grasso, M., Lentini, F., Lombardo, G. and Scamarda. G., 1979, Distribuzione delle facies Cretaceo-Miocenich lungo l'allineamento Augusta-M. Lauro (Sicilia orientale) (in Italian), Boll. Soc. Geol. It. 98, 175–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grasso, M., Miuccio, G., Maniscalco, R., Garofalo, P., La Manna, F. and Stamilla, R., 1995, Plio-Pleistocene structural evolution of the western margin of the Hyblean Plateau and the Maghrebian foredeep, SE Sicily. Implications for the deformational history of the Gela Nappe, Annales Tectonicæ 9, 7–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutenberg, B. and Richter, C. F., 1954, Seismicity of the Earth and Associated Phenomena, Princeton University Press, New Jersey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanks, T. C. and Kanamori, H., 1979, A moment-magnitude scale, J. Geophis. Res. 84, 2348–2350.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirn, A., Nicolich, R., Gallart, J., Laigle, M., Cernobori, L. and the ETNASEIS scientific group, 1997, Roots of Etna volcano in faults of great earthquakes, Earth and Planetary Science Letters 148, 171–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jongsma, D. and van Hinte, J. E., 1985, Geologic structure and neotectonics of the North African Continental Margin south of Sicily, Marine and Petroleum Geology 2, 156–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lentini, F., Carbone, S. and Catalano, S., 1994, Main structural domains of the central Mediterranean region and their Neogene tectonic evolution, Boll. Geof. Teor. Appl. 36, 103–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monaco, C. and Tortorici, L., 1995, Tettonica estensionale quaternaria nell'Arco Calabro e in Sicilia orientale (in Italian), Studi Geologici Camerti, Volume speciale, 1995.

  • Monaco, C., Tapponnier, P., Tortorici, L. and Gillot, P. Y., 1997, Late Quaternary slip rates on the Acireale-Piedimonte normal faults and tectonic origin of Mt. Etna (Sicily), E.P.S.L. 147, 125–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montone, P., Amato, A., Frepoli, A., Mariucci, M. T. and Cesaro, M., 1996, Faulting regime and state of stress in Italy, Proceedings of the XXV General Assembly of E. S. C., Reykjavik, Sept. 9-14 1996, pp. 60–65.

  • Mulargia, F., Achilli, V., Broccio, F. and Baldi, P., 1991, Is a destructive earthquake imminent in southeastern Sicily?, Tectonophysics 188, 399–402.

    Google Scholar 

  • Omori, F., 1909, Preliminary report on the Messina-Reggio earthquake of Dec. 28, 1908, Bull. Imperial Earth. Invest. Comm. 3, 37–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pantosti, D. and Valensise, G., 1995, Investigating active faulting in Italy. In: Valensise, G. and Pantosti, D. (eds), Active Faulting Studies for Seismic Hazard Assessment, Sept.-Oct. 1995, Erice, Sicily.

  • Patanè, G. and Imposa, S., 1989, Tentativo di applicazione di un modello reologico per l'Avampaese Ibleo ed aree limitrofe (in Italian). Atti Convegno Sistemi Avanfossa-Avampaese, Naxos-Pergusa, 22-25 April 1987, Mem. Soc. Geol. It. 38, 341–359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedley, H.M. and Grasso, M., 1992, Miocene syntectonic sedimentation along the western margins of the Hyblean-Malta Platform: a guide to plate-margin processes in the Central Mediterranean, J. Geodynamics 15, 19–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peruzza, L., 1996, Attenuating intensities, Annali di Geofisica 34, 1079–1093.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pettenati, F, Cavallini, F and Sirovich, L., 1998, Quantitative treatment of macroseismic intensity and objective evaluation of synthetic results. In Bisch Philippe, Labbé Pierre and Pecker Alain (eds), Proc. 11th Europ. Conf. on Earthq. Engng., Paris, Sep. 6-11 1998, Balkema, Rotterdam, CD-ROM (pp. 10; file PETQTO.PDF).

  • Piatanesi, A and Tinti, S., 1998, A revision of the 1693 eastern Sicily earthquake and tsunami, J. Geophys. Res. 103, 2749–2758.

    Google Scholar 

  • Preparata, F. P. and Shamos, M. I., 1985, Computational Geometry: an Introduction, Springer Verlag, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Priolo, E., 1999, 2D spectral element simulations of destructive ground shaking in Catania, J. Seismology, this issue.

  • Ragg, S., Grasso, M. and Müller, B., 1995, 3–D F. E. computation of tectonic stress in Sicily combined with results of breakout analysis, Terra Abstracts 7, 170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ragg, S., Grasso, M. and Müller, B., 1996, Pattern of tectonic stress in Sicily from borehole breakout observations and F. E. modelling, Tectonics, in press.

  • Reuther, C.-D., Ben-Avraham, Z. and Grasso, M., 1993, Origin and role of major strike-slip transfers during plate collision in the central Mediterranean, Terra Nova 5, 249–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossi, S. and Sartori, R., 1981, A seismic reflection study of the external Calabrian Arc in the northern Ionian Sea Eastern Mediterranean, Mar. Geoph. Res. 4, 403–426.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sartori, R., Colalongo, M. L., Gabbianelli, G., Bonazzi, C., Carbone, S., Curzi, P. V., Evangelisti, D., Grasso, M., Lentini, F., Rossi, S. and Selli, L., 1991, Note stratigrafiche e tettoniche sul «Rise di Messina» (Ionio nord occidentale) (in Italian), Giornale di Geologia 53, 49–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scandone, P., Patacca, E., Radoicic, R., Ryan, W. B. F., Cita, M. B., Rawson, R., Chezar, H., Miller, E., McKenzie, J. and Rossi, S., 1981, Mesozoic and Cenozoic rocks from Malta Escarpment (Central Mediterranean), Am. Ass. Petroleum Geol. Bull. 65, 299–1319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schick, R., 1977, Eine seismotektonische Bearbeitung des Erdbebens von Messina im Jahre 1908 (in German), Geol. Jb. E 11, 3–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmiedt, G. (ed.), 1972, Il livello antico del Mar Tirreno (in Italian), L. Olschki, Firenze, (quoted in Mulargia et al., 1991.)

  • Sirovich, L., 1996a, A simple algorithm for tracing out synthetic isoseismals, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 86, 1019–1027.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sirovich, L., 1996b, Synthetic Isoseismals of two Californian Earthquakes, Natural Hazards 14, 23–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sirovich, L., 1997, Synthetic isoseismals of three earthquakes in California-Nevada, Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 16, 353–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sirovich, L. and Pettenati, F., 1998, Retrieving information on the source of the Dec. 13 1990, M = D 5:4, earthquake in SE Sicily from macroseismic intensity data, Proc. XVI ESC Gen. Assembly, Tel Aviv, August 23-28, 1998 (abstract).

  • Sirovich, L, Pettenati, F. and Bobbio, M., 1998, Searching for source effects, of the 1693 (M = D 7.3 – 7.5) earthquake in SE Sicily, in the seismic responses of Sicilian towns, and their tessellated synthesis. In: Geotechnical Hazards, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 349–358.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sponheuer, W., 1960, Berechnungsverfahren mit schrittweiser Näherung. In: Sponheuer, W. (ed.), Methoden zur Herdtiefen Bestimmung in der Makroseismik (in German), Freiberger Forschungshefte C88, Akademie Verlag, Berlin, pp. 16–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, I. S., Cundy, A., Kershaw, S. and Firth, C., 1997, Holocene coastal uplift in the Taormina area, northern Sicily: implications for the southern prolongation of the Calabrian seismogenic belt, J. Geodynamics 24, 37–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tortorici, L., Tapponnier, P. and Winter, T., 1986, Faulting during the 1783 Calabria earthquake and tectonics of the Messina Strait, EOS Trans. Am. Geophys. Union 67, 1188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tortorici, L., Monaco, C., Tansi, C. and Cocina, O., 1995, Recent and active tectonics in the Calabrian arc (Southern Italy), Tectonophysics 243, 37–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valensise, G. and Pantosti, D., 1992, A 125 Kyr-long geological record of seismic source repeatability: the Messina Straits (southern Italy) and the 1908 earthquake (Ms = D 7; 5), Terra Nova 4, 472–483.

    Google Scholar 

  • Westaway, R., 1992, Seismic moment summation for historical earthquakes in Italy: tectonic implications, J. Geophys. Res. 97, 15,437-15,464.

    Google Scholar 

  • Westaway, R., 1993, Quaternary uplift of southern Italy, J. Geophys. Res. 98, 21,741-21,772.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zollo, A., Emolo, A., Herrero, A. and Improta, L., 1999, High frequency strong ground motion modelling in the Catania area associated to the Ibleo-Maltese fault system, J. Seismology, this issue.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Osservatorio Geofisico Sperimentale, PO Box 2011, 34016, Opicina Trieste, Italy

    L. Sirovich

  2. G.N.D.T. at Osservatorio Geofisico Sperimentale, The Netherlands

    F. Pettenati

Authors
  1. L. Sirovich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. Pettenati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sirovich, L., Pettenati, F. Seismotectonic outline of South-Eastern Sicily: an evaluation of available options for the earthquake fault rupture scenario. Journal of Seismology 3, 213–233 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009859608837

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009859608837

Search

Navigation