Active intraplate deformation within Adria: Examples from the Adriatic region

Abstract

Recent seismicity recorded in the Adriatic region suggests that active deformation occurs within the Adria plate. Earthquakes are common in the adjoining chains and in particular along the Northern Apennines, in the Southern Alps and along the Dinaric–Albanian–Hellenic thrust fronts; in addition, medium-to-low grade seismicity also affects the foreland and is clustered along two main transects through the centre of the Adriatic region. The two zones of active deformation correspond to the Mid-Adriatic Ridge and the Gargano region, and approximately trend NW–SE and E–W, respectively. Several interpretations have been proposed to explain the deformation observed within the Adriatic foreland, including a variety of contrasting kinematic and geodynamic models. We attempted to unravel the complicated structural evolution of the Central Adriatic region by interpreting industrial and ministerial (shallow and deep) seismic profiles and the recent seismicity recorded in the Adriatic. The subsurface study allowed us to better understand the structural style, timing and rates of deformation affecting the Mid-Adriatic Ridge and the Gargano region, and to unravel the relationships of active deformation with respect to the adjacent chains. The results of our study indicate that the structural setting and type of seismicity of the Central Adriatic can be explained in terms of active intraplate deformation with the reactivation of inherited discontinuities.