Strutture sismogenetiche in Appennino Centrale: potenziale sismico, analisi frattale e processi di crescita

The seismogenic structures of the axial zones of the Central Apennines Fault System have been recognized by means of detailed analyses of the capable faults exposed along a main deformation zone extending from Camerino to L'Aquila. The fault system also includes lower-rank faults, trending roughly NW-SE and N-S, showing normal and strike-slip components, respectively. Expected maximum magnitudes associated with normal and/or transtensional fault segments are lower than 6.0, whereas those expected from the activation of strike-slip faults may be high as 7.0. The results obtained from our study suggest that seismic activity in the area in mainly due to the development and evolution of a N-S trending strike-slip system composed of 3 main structures, each of which characterized by a surface fault pattern with specific fractal properties. The central structure of the system was interpreted to be the major seismogenic structure in the area and is thought to be responsible for the 1703 seismic sequence in Central Italy.