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Geosciences
Special Issues
Active Tectonics and Earthquakes
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Active Tectonics and Earthquakes

A special issue of Geosciences (ISSN 2076-3263). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Hazards".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 20585

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Bruno Massa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Science and Technology (DST), University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy
Interests: structural geology; tectonics; volcanology
Dr. Daniela Di Bucci

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Civil Protection Department, 00193 Rome, Italy
Interests: structural geology; geohazards; disaster risk reduction
Prof. Dr. Zhonghai Wu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Interests: structural geology; tectonics; earthquake
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute a paper to an upcoming Special Issue entitled "Active Tectonics and Earthquakes".

In a widely accepted definition, active tectonics is a discipline approaching the study of those tectonic processes that produce the deformation of the Earth’s crust on a time scale of significance to society. Active faults and in general active structures (e.g., active folding or wide-scale warping) can be responsible for processes likely to cause damage to societies within a timespan of decades to hundred years. However, a full understanding of an active tectonic process requires a time span of hundreds of thousands to millions of years. The study of a specific geological structure or a specific active tectonic region, aimed at deducing its evolution, can contribute to the knowledge of related geological hazards and consequently to assessing and reducing their risk.

This Special Issue invites contributions from a wide range of disciplines such as structural geology, seismology, geomorphology, geodynamics, field geology, and seismic hazard assessment, linked by a common key: active tectonics and its relationship to earthquakes. Contributions are encouraged that approach different techniques, such as classical geological field studies, space geodesy (e.g., InSAR and GNSS), seismology, geochemistry, stratigraphy, paleoseismology, stress field analyses, and analog and numerical modeling. Work based on new and novel methods is welcome.

Submissions can include original research articles or comprehensive reviews relating to the title/description above. Each submission will undergo a formal peer review process, and acceptance or rejection of the submitted article will be evaluated upon reception of the reviews.

Special Call for “The 2023 Great Anatolian Earthquake”

On 6 February 2023, the border region between Turkey and Syria was devastated by two major earthquakes (Mw 7.8 and 7.5). Two weeks later, another Mw 6.5 earthquake hit the area. Subsequently, more than 5,000 aftershocks were recorded. All events were generated along the southeastern sector of the East Anatolian fault zone. Due to the broad approach of our Special Issue, we strongly encourage authors to submit contributions relating to the Turkey–Syria region, with a particular focus on the recent ongoing seismicity. All aspects of this topic are welcome, including geological s.l., seismological and seismic risk assessment, and last but not least, disaster management.

Dr. Bruno Massa
Dr. Daniela Di Bucci
Prof. Dr. Zhonghai Wu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Geosciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • active tectonics
  • seismotectonics
  • earthquake geology
  • fault
  • surface deformation

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 22779 KiB  
Article
Impacts of a Moderate-Sized Earthquake: The 2023 Magnitude (Mw) 4.7 Leyte, Leyte Earthquake, Philippines
by Jeffrey S. Perez, Deo Carlo E. Llamas, Daniel Jose L. Buhay, Ryan Christian C. Constantino, Crystel Jade M. Legaspi, Kristine Dionne B. Lagunsad, Rhommel N. Grutas and Marc Marion Y. Quimson
Geosciences 2024, 14(3), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14030061 - 23 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5870
Abstract
On 15 January 2023, a shallow, moderate earthquake with a magnitude (Mw) of 4.7 and a depth of one kilometer struck the northern part of Leyte Island in the central Philippines. Originating along the northern Leyte segment of the Philippine [...] Read more.
On 15 January 2023, a shallow, moderate earthquake with a magnitude (Mw) of 4.7 and a depth of one kilometer struck the northern part of Leyte Island in the central Philippines. Originating along the northern Leyte segment of the Philippine Fault, a well-established creeping fault, the earthquake caused significant geologic, structural, and socio-economic impacts despite its low magnitude. Probable surface rupture and landslides were reported, leading to a comprehensive field investigation. Our investigation revealed an ~8 km discontinuous surface rupture along the northern Leyte segment of the Philippine Fault, with a maximum left-lateral displacement of 2 cm. This was the first documented occurrence of such a phenomenon associated with an earthquake of a magnitude less than 6, particularly along a creeping fault segment. The maximum ground shaking felt was reported on the PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS) to be VI (very strong), equivalent to a Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) of VI along the fault strike. However, strong motion accelerographs recorded a peak ground acceleration (PGA) of 0.407 g, equivalent to PEIS VIII (very destructive), attributed to local site amplification influenced by subsurface geology. In the area where the local site amplification occurred, limited liquefaction was observed on marshlands with recent and alluvial deposits. Two landslides were observed in the mountainous area west of the fault. Structural damages were noted in areas with PEIS VI intensity and areas transected by the surface rupture. Despite the earthquake’s low magnitude, the event documented significant impacts, including surface ruptures, liquefaction, landslides, and severe structural damage. The peculiarities of this event are attributed to the shallowness of the earthquake source, and local site conditions, including geology, geomorphology, and soil properties, contributed to the severity of the impacts. Moderate in size, this earthquake emphasizes the importance of documenting moderate-sized earthquakes as a tool and guide for medium- and long-term earthquake risk assessment and resiliency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Active Tectonics and Earthquakes)
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19 pages, 5223 KiB  
Article
Is the Mesochori Fault a Key Structure for Understanding the Earthquake Activity during the 2021 Damasi Earthquakes in Northern Thessaly, Greece?
by Ioannis K. Koukouvelas, Riccardo Caputo, Konstantinos G. Nikolakopoulos, Aggeliki Kyriou and Nicola Angelo Famiglietti
Geosciences 2023, 13(11), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13110331 - 30 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2105
Abstract
On 3 March 2021, an important seismic sequence started in northern Thessaly, Greece. The Damasi Seismic Sequence (DSS) deformed the western sector of the Tyrnavos Graben, which includes a major blind normal fault and the Titarisios River Graben (TRG). In this contribution, we [...] Read more.
On 3 March 2021, an important seismic sequence started in northern Thessaly, Greece. The Damasi Seismic Sequence (DSS) deformed the western sector of the Tyrnavos Graben, which includes a major blind normal fault and the Titarisios River Graben (TRG). In this contribution, we provide fieldwork observations across the TRG and satellite radar interferometry of the faults controlling the graben. In addition, we provide a map of the active faults exposed in the TRG and palaeoseismological analyses of the Mesochori Fault, which together contribute to unravelling the seismic history of the area. DInSAR provides clear evidence of the Mesochori Fault surface rupture during the main shocks, while our palaeoseismological analyses document a long seismic history of the fault, with a mean recurrence interval of 1.0–1.5 ka and a mean slip per event of ~15 cm for the last four events reactivating the scarp. Quantitative geomorphological analyses based on real-time kinematic (RTK) measurements with global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers and data from UAV flight campaigns also provide evidence of postseismic activity across the Mesochori Fault. Based on these results showing that (at least) the Mesochori Fault has been reactivated several times in the latest Quaternary the seismotectonics of the TRG are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Active Tectonics and Earthquakes)
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33 pages, 13952 KiB  
Article
Earthquake Environmental Effects and Building Properties Controlling Damage Caused by the 6 February 2023 Earthquakes in East Anatolia
by Spyridon Mavroulis, Ioannis Argyropoulos, Emmanuel Vassilakis, Panayotis Carydis and Efthymis Lekkas
Geosciences 2023, 13(10), 303; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13100303 - 9 Oct 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4960
Abstract
On 6 February 2023, East Anatolia was devastated by two major earthquakes resulting in hundreds of thousands of collapses and tens of thousands of human casualties. This paper investigates the factors related to building properties and earthquake environmental effects (EEEs) that contributed to [...] Read more.
On 6 February 2023, East Anatolia was devastated by two major earthquakes resulting in hundreds of thousands of collapses and tens of thousands of human casualties. This paper investigates the factors related to building properties and earthquake environmental effects (EEEs) that contributed to the building damage grade and distribution in southeastern Turkey. In regards to the building construction properties, the loose enforcement of the building code, the random urban planning solutions and the poor construction standards are the main construction deficiencies that led to one of the largest disasters in Turkey’s recent history. Regarding geological factors, the triggering of primary and secondary EEEs largely shaped the grade and distribution of damage. Where coseismic surface ruptures intersected with the built environment, heavy to very heavy structural damage was observed. This was evident in many cases along the ruptured segments of the East Anatolian Fault Zone (EAFZ). Liquefaction observed close to waterbodies caused damage typical of building foundation load-bearing capacity loss. The earthquake-triggered landslides affected mainly mountainous and semi-mountainous settlements characterized with pre-earthquake high related susceptibility. The high susceptibility to generation of EEEs was extensively confirmed in many cases resulting in extensive damage. The provided information highlights the importance of such studies for hazard mitigation and disaster risk reduction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Active Tectonics and Earthquakes)
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15 pages, 28823 KiB  
Article
What Have We Learned from the Past? An Analysis of Ground Deformations in Urban Areas of Palermo (Sicily, Italy) by Means of Multi-Temporal Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry Techniques
by Nicola Angelo Famiglietti, Pietro Miele, Luigi Petti, Domenico Guida, Francesco Maria Guadagno, Raffaele Moschillo and Annamaria Vicari
Geosciences 2023, 13(10), 298; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13100298 - 2 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1893
Abstract
This study focuses on analyzing and monitoring urban subsidence, particularly in the city of Palermo, Italy. Land subsidence, induced by natural and human factors, poses threats to infrastructure and urban safety. Remote sensing (RS), specifically synthetic-aperture radar interferometry (In-SAR), is employed due to [...] Read more.
This study focuses on analyzing and monitoring urban subsidence, particularly in the city of Palermo, Italy. Land subsidence, induced by natural and human factors, poses threats to infrastructure and urban safety. Remote sensing (RS), specifically synthetic-aperture radar interferometry (In-SAR), is employed due to its ability to detect ground displacements over large areas with great precision. The persistent scatterer InSAR (PS-InSAR) technique is utilized to identify stable targets and track millimeter-level surface deformations. This research spans from October 2014 to October 2021, using Sentinel-1 satellite data to capture ground deformation from various angles. The findings are integrated into an accessible web app (ArcGIS) for local authorities that could be used aiding in urban planning and enhancing safety measures. This study’s results offer updated deformation maps, serving as an operational tool to support decision-making and community resilience, emphasizing risk awareness and responsible practices. This study highlights that the exponential expansion of urban areas, which does not take into account historical information, can gravely jeopardize both the integrity of urban infrastructure and the well-being of its inhabitants. In this context, remote sensing technologies emerge as an invaluable ally, used in monitoring and safeguarding the urban landscape. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Active Tectonics and Earthquakes)
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Review

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42 pages, 8069 KiB  
Review
Definitions, Classification Schemes for Active Faults, and Their Application
by Zhonghai Wu and Mengmeng Hu
Geosciences 2024, 14(3), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14030068 - 4 Mar 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4612
Abstract
Active faults are generally defined as faults that have moved in the past and will continue to be active in the future. They are expected to cause deformation and potential disasters if they are localized close to human activities. The definition and classification [...] Read more.
Active faults are generally defined as faults that have moved in the past and will continue to be active in the future. They are expected to cause deformation and potential disasters if they are localized close to human activities. The definition and classification of active faults are important bases for evaluating the risk. This paper summarizes and compares the history, status, and progress of their definition and classification schemes used in representative countries and regions, as well as in some relevant standards, in active fault mapping, in the construction of spatial databases, and in some other aspects. It is concluded that the current geodynamic setting, existing technical means, geological operability, application purpose, and social acceptability of active faulting hazard in a specific area comprehensively determine the selection of the definition and classification. The key parameter in defining active faults is the time limit. It usually involves four time scales, i.e., Neotectonic (post-Neogene), Quaternary, Late Quaternary, and Holocene. The definition using a short time scale, such as Late Quaternary and Holocene, is usually suitable for the plate boundary zone, which has a high strain rate, but active faults in the intraplate deformation region and stable continental region should be defined with a long time scale, such as the Quaternary and Neotectonics. In addition, the magnitude standard can determine the activity intensity of active faults, which most generally includes three classes, namely, M ≥ 5.0 damaging earthquakes, M ≥ 6.0 strong earthquakes, and M ≥ 6.5 earthquakes that may produce surface displacement or deformation. The M ≥ 5.0 earthquake is generally applicable to regional earthquake prevention and risk mitigation in many countries or regions, but the M ≥ 6.5 earthquake magnitude benchmark is generally used as the standard in rules or regulations regarding active fault avoidance. The most common classification schemes in many countries or regions are based on fault activity, which is reflected mainly by the fault slip rate and fault recurrence interval (FRI), as well as by the last activation time. However, when determining the specific quantitative parameters of the different activity levels of faults, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the differences in activity and ages of the faults in the study region, as well as the amount and validity of existing data for the purpose of classifying different active levels of faults effectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Active Tectonics and Earthquakes)
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