Evidence for localized active extension in the central Apennines (Italy) from global positioning system observations

Abstract

Research Article| April 01, 2011 Evidence for localized active extension in the central Apennines (Italy) from global positioning system observations Nicola D'Agostino; Nicola D'Agostino * 1Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Centro Nazionale Terremoti, Via di Vigna Murata 605, 00143 Rome, Italy *E-mail: [e-mail]. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Sergio Mantenuto; Sergio Mantenuto 2Leica Geosystems Spa, Via Elio Lampridio Cerva 110, 00143 Rome, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Elisabetta D'Anastasio; Elisabetta D'Anastasio 1Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Centro Nazionale Terremoti, Via di Vigna Murata 605, 00143 Rome, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Roberta Giuliani; Roberta Giuliani 3Dipartimento Protezione Civile, Ufficio Rischio Sismico, Via Vitorchiano 2, 00189 Rome, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Maurizio Mattone; Maurizio Mattone 3Dipartimento Protezione Civile, Ufficio Rischio Sismico, Via Vitorchiano 2, 00189 Rome, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stefano Calcaterra; Stefano Calcaterra 4Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, Via Curtatone 3, 00185 Rome, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Piera Gambino; Piera Gambino 4Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, Via Curtatone 3, 00185 Rome, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Luciano Bonci Luciano Bonci 4Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, Via Curtatone 3, 00185 Rome, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Nicola D'Agostino * 1Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Centro Nazionale Terremoti, Via di Vigna Murata 605, 00143 Rome, Italy Sergio Mantenuto 2Leica Geosystems Spa, Via Elio Lampridio Cerva 110, 00143 Rome, Italy Elisabetta D'Anastasio 1Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Centro Nazionale Terremoti, Via di Vigna Murata 605, 00143 Rome, Italy Roberta Giuliani 3Dipartimento Protezione Civile, Ufficio Rischio Sismico, Via Vitorchiano 2, 00189 Rome, Italy Maurizio Mattone 3Dipartimento Protezione Civile, Ufficio Rischio Sismico, Via Vitorchiano 2, 00189 Rome, Italy Stefano Calcaterra 4Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, Via Curtatone 3, 00185 Rome, Italy Piera Gambino 4Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, Via Curtatone 3, 00185 Rome, Italy Luciano Bonci 4Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, Via Curtatone 3, 00185 Rome, Italy *E-mail: [e-mail]. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 30 Sep 2010 Revision Received: 21 Oct 2010 Accepted: 23 Oct 2010 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2011 Geological Society of America Geology (2011) 39 (4): 291–294. https://doi.org/10.1130/G31796.1 Article history Received: 30 Sep 2010 Revision Received: 21 Oct 2010 Accepted: 23 Oct 2010 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Nicola D'Agostino, Sergio Mantenuto, Elisabetta D'Anastasio, Roberta Giuliani, Maurizio Mattone, Stefano Calcaterra, Piera Gambino, Luciano Bonci; Evidence for localized active extension in the central Apennines (Italy) from global positioning system observations. Geology 2011;; 39 (4): 291–294. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G31796.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract To assess how contemporary crustal extension is accommodated in the central Apennines, we use a new continuous and survey-style global positioning system velocity solution and model the velocity field using a bicubic spline interpolation method. The partitioning of contemporary deformation over the ∼100-km-wide central Apennines belt reveals a pattern of strain accumulation that largely reflects the spatial distribution of historic and recent seismicity. The highest gradients of horizontal velocities are observed across those faults associated with M > 6 historical earthquakes. Dislocation modeling shows that interseismic elastic loading, in which creep occurs below the seismogenic upper crust on the downdip extensions of historically active faults, reproduces the observed velocity gradients. The current resolution level of Quaternary fault slip rates estimates hinders the comparison with past deformation patterns and, in particular, the discrimination between (1) migrating episodes of short-term focused activity, (2) a distributed pattern of simultaneous deformation on parallel fault systems, or (3) long-term localization of active extension. Taking into account geomorphological evidence, we propose that the geodetically observed deformation spatially corresponds with a long-term localization of strain along the long-wavelength (>100 km) topographic bulge caused by its highest gravitation potential energy relative to surrounding lowlands. 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