After several years of neotectonic, morphotectonic and seismotectonic researches it is now possible to draw a detailed map of the major active faults affecting Thessaly, a large region of continental Greece. For many of these faults, where specific studies have been carried out, it is also possible to assign the degree of fault activity (i.e. the long term slip rate). In the present work, a brief description of the main morphotectonic features and seismotectonic characteristics of the more important faults is presented, while the recent fault activity is compared with the seismic activity of the area. The map of epicenter distribution for of both major (M>6.0) and minor (M<6.0) earthquakes occurred during the present century clearly shows that seismicity is concentrated in the southern sector of Thessaly and almost absent in the northern one. In contrast, according to geological and geomorphological criteria, the recent (Late Quaternary) tectonic evolution of the region does not seem to differ in the two sectors. Although palaeoseismological researches will be necessary in order to estimate the slip rate during the last few thousand years and geodetic survey together with the record of the microseismic activity will further enhance our knowledge on this problem, it is likely the northern sector of Thessaly represents a large seismic gap. The effects on the estimate of the seismic hazard of one of the more populated regions of Greece are also discussed.
The seismic gap of Northern Thessaly, Greece, as inferred from geological data
CAPUTO, Riccardo
1994
Abstract
After several years of neotectonic, morphotectonic and seismotectonic researches it is now possible to draw a detailed map of the major active faults affecting Thessaly, a large region of continental Greece. For many of these faults, where specific studies have been carried out, it is also possible to assign the degree of fault activity (i.e. the long term slip rate). In the present work, a brief description of the main morphotectonic features and seismotectonic characteristics of the more important faults is presented, while the recent fault activity is compared with the seismic activity of the area. The map of epicenter distribution for of both major (M>6.0) and minor (M<6.0) earthquakes occurred during the present century clearly shows that seismicity is concentrated in the southern sector of Thessaly and almost absent in the northern one. In contrast, according to geological and geomorphological criteria, the recent (Late Quaternary) tectonic evolution of the region does not seem to differ in the two sectors. Although palaeoseismological researches will be necessary in order to estimate the slip rate during the last few thousand years and geodetic survey together with the record of the microseismic activity will further enhance our knowledge on this problem, it is likely the northern sector of Thessaly represents a large seismic gap. The effects on the estimate of the seismic hazard of one of the more populated regions of Greece are also discussed.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
