A significant step in the field of deep geodynamics of the Mediterranean region
By observing data from distant earthquakes (i.e. those that occurred more than 1000 km away from the observation site), a team of seismologists from the Etna Observatory of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV - OE) obtained new information on the the architecture of the upper mantle of southern Italy and, above all, on the possible correlations between seismogenic faults already known at the level of the earth's crust and deep structures affecting the upper mantle.
In the study Seismic anisotropy to investigate lithospheric-scale tectonic structures and mantle dynamics in southern Italy just published in the journal Scientific Reports of the Nature group, researchers have identified the existence of a discontinuity in the Earth's mantle up to about 150-200 km deep, which appears to be at the origin of an important fault system that propagates through the entire Sicily, from the area south of Etna, in a west-northwest direction, up to the northern coast.
“Seismic waves, crossing the entire planet, are excellent tools for investigating the interior of the Earth”, he claims Luciano Scarfì, INGV researcher and co-author of the study. "In particular, the direction along which the particles affected by the passage of seismic waves oscillate (so-called 'polarization') is indicative of the structure of the upper mantle. In this way we obtained interesting and detailed information on the tectonic structure of southern Italy, connecting the superficial geological structures to the deeper ones".
“The study was made possible thanks to the density of seismic stations distributed throughout the area and the application of methodologies that allowed the analysis of a large quantity of data", he adds Carla Musumeci, INGV researcher and co-author of the publication.
“The next steps involve the use of advanced techniques to further improve knowledge of the geodynamic framework of the central Mediterranean and of the relationships between tectonics and volcanism"he concludes Marco Firetto Carlino, INGV researcher and co-author of the study.
Quote: Scarfì, L., Firetto Carlino, M. & Musumeci, C. Seismic anisotropy to investigate lithospheric-scale tectonic structures and mantle dynamics in southern Italy. Sci Rep 13, 20932 (2023).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47973-1
Link to the study:
Useful links:
National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV)
Schematic model illustrating the dynamics and structure of the Earth's mantle, interpreted on the basis of the results of the study.