Time seismicity patterns affecting local and regional fault systems in the Etna region: preliminary results for the period 1874–1913

An analysis of time correlation function and fractal dimension has been performed on the seismic activity that affected Mt Etna Volcano (Italy) during 1874–1913 in order to investigate the behaviour of some suspected magma controlling regional fault systems. The time span considered has been characterized by intense seismic and volcanic activity, with eight flank eruptions mainly occurring along the same north–south fissure system. The analysis of historical sources has been used to revise and improve the seismic catalogue; all macroseismic information has been reinterpreted using the new European Macroseismic Scale 1998 (EMS). The results contribute to the definition of the seismic behaviour of some regional fault systems relevant to the geodynamics of the area and provide some insights into the dynamic processes of Mt Etna volcano.

[1]  M. S. Barbano,et al.  Analysis of the seismicity of Southeastern Sicily: a proposed tectonic interpretation , 2000 .

[2]  M. S. Barbano,et al.  Clustering properties of Etna seismicity during 1981–1991 , 2000 .

[3]  R. Azzaro.  Earthquake surface faulting at Mount Etna volcano (Sicily) and implications for active tectonics , 1999 .

[4]  V. Latora,et al.  Identifying seismicity patterns leading flank eruptions at Mt. Etna Volcano during 1981–1996 , 1999 .

[5]  D. Sornette,et al.  Renormalization of earthquake aftershocks , 1999, cond-mat/9905314.

[6]  V. Latora,et al.  A fractal approach to the temporal distribution of microseismicity at the low eastern flank of Mt. Etna during 1989–1994 , 1998 .

[7]  V. Latora,et al.  Time Correlation Analysis of the Microseismicity of the Low Eastern Flank of Mt. Etna Volcano (Italy) , 1998 .

[8]  S. Vinciguerra,et al.  Time clustering properties of seismicity in the Etna Region between 1874 and 1913 , 1997 .

[9]  S. Imposa,et al.  Recent deep earthquake occurrence at Mt. Etna (Sicily, Italy) , 1997 .

[10]  A. Hirn,et al.  Roots of Etna volcano in faults of great earthquakes , 1997 .

[11]  P. Tapponnier,et al.  Late Quaternary slip rates on the Acireale-Piedimonte normal faults and tectonic origin of Mt. Etna (Sicily) , 1997 .

[12]  G. Vilardo,et al.  Multifractal Approach to Time Clustering of Earthquakes. Application to Mt. Vesuvio Seismicity , 1997 .

[13]  M. S. Barbano,et al.  Relationship between seismicity and eruptive activity at Mt. Etna volcano (Italy) as inferred from historical record analysis: the 1883 and 1971 case histories , 1996 .

[14]  Ian G. Main,et al.  Statistical physics, seismogenesis, and seismic hazard , 1996 .

[15]  M. Di Bona,et al.  Main shock and aftershocks of the December 13, 1990, Eastern Sicily earthquake , 1995 .

[16]  F. Ferrucci,et al.  Upwards migration of seismic focii: A forerunner of the 1989 eruption of Mt Etna (Italy) , 1993 .

[17]  Warner Marzocchi,et al.  Statistical identification of physical patterns which accompany eruptive activity on Mount Etna, Sicily , 1992 .

[18]  F. Ghisetti.  Fault parameters in the Messina Strait (southern Italy) and relations with the seismogenic source , 1992 .

[19]  E. L. Giudice,et al.  Very shallow earthquakes and brittle deformation in active volcanic areas: The Eatnean region as an example , 1992 .

[20]  M. Imoto,et al.  Multifractal analysis of spatial distribution of microearthquakes in the Kanto region , 1991 .

[21]  A. Nercessian,et al.  A correlation between earthquakes and eruptive phases at Mt Etna: an example and past occurrences , 1991 .

[22]  Warner Marzocchi,et al.  Pattern recognition applied to volcanic activity: Identification of the precursory patterns to Etna recent flank eruptions and periods of rest , 1991 .

[23]  S. Gresta,et al.  Geodynamic behaviour of eastern and western sides of Mount Etna , 1990 .

[24]  F. Mulargia,et al.  Statistical analysis of seismic and eruptive activities at Mt. Etna during 1978–1987 , 1990 .

[25]  P. Bak,et al.  Earthquakes as a self‐organized critical phenomenon , 1989 .

[26]  W. McGuire,et al.  Location and orientation of eruptive fissures and feederdykes at Mount Etna; influence of gravitational and regional tectonic stress regimes , 1989 .

[27]  Klein,et al.  Nonclassical nucleation and growth of cohesive tensile cracks. , 1989, Physical review letters.

[28]  Aldo Zollo,et al.  A Linear Intensity Model to Investigate the Causal Relation Between Calabrian and North-Aegean Earthquake Sequences , 1988 .

[29]  Jean-Luc Chatelain,et al.  A fractal approach to the clustering of earthquakes: Applications to the seismicity of the New Hebrides , 1987 .

[30]  Aldo Zollo,et al.  Statistical analysis and clustering features of the Phlegraean Fields earthquake sequence (May 1983-May 1984) , 1986 .

[31]  G. Patané,et al.  Earthquake activity during the 1983 Etna eruption , 1984 .

[32]  Benoit B. Mandelbrot,et al.  Fractal Geometry of Nature , 1984 .

[33]  G. Lombardo,et al.  Correlation between eruptions of Mount Etna, Sicily, and regional earthquakes as seen in historical records from AD 1582 , 1981 .

[34]  Yan Y. Kagan,et al.  Spatial distribution of earthquakes: the two-point correlation function , 1980 .

[35]  M. Nafi Toksöz,et al.  A clustering model for earthquake occurrences , 1970 .

[36]  B. Mandelbrot.  How Long Is the Coast of Britain? Statistical Self-Similarity and Fractional Dimension , 1967, Science.

[37]  T. Utsu.  A statistical study on the occurrence of aftershocks. , 1961 .

[38]  R. Fisher.  The Advanced Theory of Statistics , 1943, Nature.

[39]  M. S. Barbano,et al.  Macroseismic catalogue of Mt. Etna earthquakes from 1832 to 1998 , 2000 .

[40]  S. Saunders,et al.  Intra-volcanic rifting at Mount Etna in the context of regional tectonics , 1997 .

[41]  R. Azzaro,et al.  Aseismic creep on faults and flank instability at Mount Etna volcano, Sicily , 1996, Geological Society, London, Special Publications.

[42]  V. Latora,et al.  Time clustering properties of the microseismicity affecting the low eastern flank of Mt. Etna between 1989-1994 , 1996 .

[43]  G. Patané,et al.  Recent seismicity of Mount Etna: implications for flank instability , 1996, Geological Society, London, Special Publications.

[44]  P. Gasperini,et al.  Catalogo dei forti terremoti in Italia dal 461 a.C. , 1995 .

[45]  A. Borgia,et al.  Importance of gravitational spreading in the tectonic and volcanic evolution of Mount Etna , 1992, Nature.

[46]  Yan Y. Kagan,et al.  Long-term earthquake clustering , 1991 .

[47]  Stefano Tinti,et al.  Completeness analysis of a seismic catalog , 1985 .

[48]  S. Tinti,et al.  An improved method for the analysis of the completeness of a seismic catalogue , 1985 .

[49]  F. Ghisetti,et al.  The structural features of the Iblean Plateau and of the Mount Judica area (southeastern Sicily); a microtectonic contribution to the deformational history of the Calabrian Arc , 1980 .

[50]  D. Vere-Jones.  Stochastic Models for Earthquake Occurrence , 1970 .

[51]  F. Omori,et al.  On the after-shocks of earthquakes , 1894 .