1,721,183 research outputs found
Episodic slow slip events and seaward flank motion at Mt. Etna volcano (Italy)
No full textEpisodic aseismic slip events have recently been detected at a variety of tectonic and volcanic environments, sparking the curiosity of seismic and geodetic communities. Here, a sequence of 7 slow slip events occurring at Mt. Etna since mid-2009 has been analyzed. Observed displacement fields evidence that the sequence involves two contiguous sectors of the unstable eastern flank, delimited by the Timpe faults. The tectonic control played by these faults can also be recognized on the long-term (2003–2015) velocity field. Elastic modelling of the long-term velocity field infers a sub-horizontal plane slightly dipping eastward and located within the sedimentary basement at shallow depth. Slip distribution models for each slow-slip event highlight how the largest slip values were centred on the SE edge of the sub-horizontal plane during 4 events and on the NE edge during the remaining 3 ones. The recognized events do not appear correlated with volcanic activity, although there is a possible correlation between slow-slip events and inflating episodes of the volcano.Published8-141V. Storia e struttura dei sistemi vulcaniciJCR Journalrestricte
On the present-day crustal stress, strain-rate fields and mantle anisotropy pattern of Italy
No full textWe present an up-to-date high resolution picture of the ongoing crustal deformation field of Italy, based on an extensive combination of permanent and non-permanent GPS observations carried out since 1994. In addition, we present an updated map of contemporary SHmax orientations computed by a multidisciplinary data set of well-constrained stress indicators, including both published results and novel analyses. The comparison of stress and geodetic strain-rates directions reveals that both patterns are near-parallel over a large part of the investigated area, highlighting that crustal stress and surface deformation are driven by the same mechanism. The comparison of the azimuthal patterns of surface strain and mantle deformation shows a modest correlation on the Alps and a low correlation along the Apennines chain and the Calabro-Peloritan Arc. Along the Apennines chain, this feature suggests the occurrence of significant strain partitioning and crust–mantle mechanical decoupling. Along the Calabro-Peloritan Arc, the apparent low correlation reflects a different mantle–crust mechanism of deformation to the ongoing subduction and rollback of the Ionian slab. In addition, the superposition of regional/local effects related to second-order sources (crustal lateral density changes, strength contrasts), which at regional/local scale modulate the crustal stress/strain-rate pattern, cannot be ruled out.Published969-9851T. Geodinamica e interno della TerraJCR Journalrestricte
Mt. Etna 2001 eruption: New insights into the magmatic feeding system and the mechanical response of the western flank from a detailed geodetic dataset
Full text linkIn the last decades, the increasing availability of comprehensive geodetic datasets has allowed for more detailed constraints on subsurface magma storage and conduits at several active volcanoes worldwide. Here, by using a large dataset of geodetic measurements collected between early January 2001 and August 2001, we identified at least six different deformation stages that allow us to quantify the surface deformation patterns before, during and after the 2001 Mt. Etna volcanic eruption. Our results are largely in agreement with previous works (e.g. the presence of a deep inflating source and a shallow dike located beneath the north-western and upper southern flanks of the volcano, respectively). However, we provide (1) finer resolution of the temporal activity of these magmatic sources, leading to (2) new evidence related to the evolution of the magmatic system and the mechanical response of the western flank, in particular during the pre-eruptive phase. Results and analysis show a clear change in the ground deformation pattern of the volcano in response to the 20-24 April 2001 seismic swarm that occurred beneath the western flank, evolving from a volcano-wide inflation to a slight deflation of the summit area. We suggest that the source responsible for the volcano-wide inflation, beginning in the fall of 2000, experienced a drastic reduction in the inflation rate in response to this seismic swarm. Moreover, we provide evidence for the presence of a new inflating source located beneath the upper southern flank at a depth of similar to 7.0 km bsl that triggered both the occurrence of the 20-24 April 2001 seismic swarm and led to the rapid ascent of magma upward to the surface after 12 July (the Lower Vents system was fed by fresh magma rising from this source). The presence of this inflating source is inferred by (1) seismological and volcanological observations coming from the 2001 eruption and (2) seismological constraints coming from a previous similar episode that occurred at Etna during the 1993-1998 period. Furthermore, both shallow deflations observed after the 20-24 April 2001 seismic swarm and during the first day of the eruption also could be due to the deflation of two adjacent portions of the same shallow (similar to 2 km bsl) reservoir. Such reservoirs would feed the activity that occurred at the South-East Crater after January 2001 and the activity of the Upper Vents system during the July-August eruption, in agreement with petrochemical observations. Through an updated revision of the available data, we shed some light on the relevance of pre-eruptive activity patterns, an important element for an effective volcano monitoring. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Current stress and strain-rate fields across the Dead Sea Fault System: Constraints from seismological data and GPS observations
Full text linkThe stress and strain-rate fields characterizing the Dead Sea Fault System are investigated by using seismological and geodetic observations. In order to assess spatial variations in the regional stress field, we compiled a multidisciplinary dataset of well-constrained horizontal indicators, by merging all available data reported in literature with the data obtained in this study through weighted stress inversions of focal plane solutions. Our findings indicate that the state of stress is characterized by the coexistence of a normal faulting stress regime with the primarily strike-slip one, according to the regional frame illustrated by previous geological and seismological observations. An updated velocity field computed from new observations and earlier published data depicts the general left-lateral motion of the Dead Sea Fault System well. In agreement with previous studies, we detected some differences in the slip-rate pattern between the northern and the southern sectors of the fault system. The geodetic strain-rate field highlights how much of the deformation is accommodated along the fault system itself in a narrow region. The comparison between the stress and the strain-rate directions reveals that both orientations are near-parallel, clearly indicating that present-day crustal stress and ground deformation patterns are chiefly driven by the same tectonic processes. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Strain and stress fields along the Gibraltar Orogenic Arc: Constraints on active geodynamics
No full textThe Gibraltar Orogenic Arc, in the Western Mediterranean, represents a complex region of active deformation related to the oblique Nubia-Eurasia convergence process. To increase the knowledge on the ongoing active processes in this region, we have used the most up-to-date and comprehensive geodetic crustal motion and stress fields. To this end, we analyzed both continuous and campaign-mode GPS data collected between 1999.00 and 2011.00 across the area and compiled a multidisciplinary dataset of well-constrained stress indicators to be compared with the geodetic results. The main results highlight the oblique nature of the Nubia-Eurasia convergence, which provides the largest component of the observed stress-pattern and is responsible for a significant strain-rate field along the Gibraltar Orogenic Arc. We discuss our findings with respect to available geological, seismological and geophysical data in order to verify their coherency compared to more relevant geodynamical models proposed in literature. According to previous studies, we confirmed how much of the secondary stress-pattern can be related to the gravitational potential energy field, which may also be responsible for some 2D stress-strain-rate angular discrepancies observed in large areas of the Betics. In addition, taking into account the sub-orthogonal azimuthal relationship between the S-Hmax and epsilon(hmin) directions and the Fast Polarization Directions, we conjectured a deep dynamic process controlling both the crustal stress field and the surface deformation on large areas of the orogenic arc. Finally, although the models proposed to explain the geodynamic pattern of the Gibraltar Orogenic Arc are supported by a discrete number of geological and geophysical observations, it is only the back-arc extension and westward rollback model that is able to adequately account for the vast majority of the observations. Based on our findings and other evidences, we retain that this process could still be active beneath the Gibraltar Orogenic Arc. (C) 2012 International Association for Gondwana Research. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Geometric and kinematic variations along the active Pernicana fault: Implication for the dynamics of Mount Etna NE flank (Italy)
Full text linkGeological and structural analyses and ground deformation measurements performed along the eastern portion of the Pernicana fault system and its splay segments allow the structural setting and the kinematic behaviour of the fault to be defined. In addition, the interrelationship between the deformation style of fault segments and the variations of the volcanic pile thickness along the fault strike are investigated using detailed sedimentary basement data. Brittle deformation dominates the N105 degrees fault segment, where the volcanic pile is more than 200 m thick, with the development of a well-defined fault plane characterised by main left-lateral kinematics. The transtensive deformation of the N105 degrees fault is partitioned eastward at Rocca Campana to a main N120 degrees segment. Here, this segment crosses a culmination of the sedimentary basement close to Vena village where the deformation pattern of the thin volcanic pile, less than 100 m thick, is influenced by the more ductile behaviour of the basement generating local short structures with different orientation and kinematics in the southern block of the fault. On the northern one, short E-W trending faults show left-lateral displacements with a minor reverse component on south-dipping planes. This kinematics is related to the oblique orientation of the N120 degrees segment with respect to the seaward motion of the NE flank of Etna. On the whole, the compressive component of the deformation affecting the N120 degrees segment of the Pernicana fault system generates a positive flower structure. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Defining Geodetic Reference Frame Using Matlab®: PlatEMotion 2.0
No full textWe describe the main features of the developed software tool, namely PlatE-Motion 2.0 (PEM2), which allows inferring the Euler pole parameters by inverting the observed velocities at a set of sites located on a rigid block (inverse problem). PEM2 allows also calculating the expected velocity value for any point located on the Earth providing an Euler pole (direct problem). PEM2 is the updated version of a previous software tool initially developed for easy-to-use file exchange with the GAMIT/GLOBK software package. The software tool is developed in Matlab® framework and, as the previous version, includes a set of MATLAB functions (m-files), GUIs (fig-files), map data files (mat-files) and user’s manual as well as some example input files. New changes in PEM2 include (1) some bugs fixed, (2) improvements in the code, (3) improvements in statistical analysis, (4) new input/output file formats. In addition, PEM2 can be now run under the majority of operating systems. The tool is open source and freely available for the scientific community.Published937–9441T. Geodinamica e interno della TerraJCR Journalrestricte
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
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