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Azzaro et al., 2007

Azzaro R., Bernardini F., Camassi R., Castelli V., 2007. The 1780 Seismic Sequence in NE Sicily (Italy): Shifting an Underestimated and Mislocated Earthquake to a Seismically Low Rate Zone. Natural Hazards, 42, 1, 149-167. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-006-9066-1

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Abstract

The southernmost sector of the Italian peninsula is crossed by an almost continuous seismogenic belt capable of producing M circa 7 earthquakes and extending from the Calabrian Arc, through the Messina Straits, as far as Southeastern Sicily. Though large earthquakes occurring in this region during the last millennium are fairly well known from the historical point of view and seismic catalogues may be considered complete for destructive and badly damaging events (IX ≤ I o ≤ XI MCS), the knowledge and seismic completeness of moderate earthquakes can be improved by investigating other kinds of documentary sources not explored by the classical seismological tradition. In this paper, we present a case study explanatory of the problem, regarding the Ionian coast between the Messina Straits and Mount Etna volcano, an area of North-eastern Sicily lacking evidence of relevant seismic activity in historical times. Now, after a systematic analysis of the 18th century journalistic sources (gazettes), this gap can be partly filled by the rediscovery of a seismic sequence that took place in 1780. According to the available catalogues, the only event on record for this year is a minor shock (Io = VI MCS, Mw = 4.8) recorded in Messina on March 28, 1780. The newly discovered data allow to reinstate it as the mainshock (Io = VII–VIII MCS, Mw = 5.6) of a significant seismic period, which went on from March to June 1780, causing severe damage along the Ionian coast of North-eastern Sicily. The source responsible for this event appears located offshore, 40-km south of the previous determination, and is consistent with the Taormina Fault suggested by the geological literature, developing in the low seismic rate zone at the southernmost termination of the 1908 Messina earthquake fault.

Nell'archivio ci sono In the archive there are 2 terremoti provenienti da questo studio: earthquakes considered from this study:


   
molto grandiextra large
   
grandilarge
   
medimedium
   
piccolismall
   
molto piccolivery small
non parametrizzatinot determined
falsifake
 

Clicca sulla riga per individuare il terremoto sulla mappa o sulla lente per ottenere più informazioni.Click the row to highlight the earthquake on the map or the lens to obtain more information.

  DataDate    Area epicentraleEpicentral area    MDPs   Imax  EQ in
CPTI15
EQ in
CPTI15
Riferim. in
CPTI15
CPTI15
reference
  PDF PDF 
1780 03 28 22 15Taormina  8  7-8    
1780 04 09 02 30Messina  3  7-8