Abstract
By using the fit of theoretical displacements on a fault according toMindlin andCheng (1950) dislocation theory, the vertical deformation field (maximum subsidence of 70 cm) associated to the Dec. 28 1908 MessinaM=7.0 earthquake is compared to the results of a spirit levelling survey that we performed in the Messina Straits area in 1981–1982. The differences in level from the last levelling campaign in the area, completed in 1970, show that the coastlines have undergone a moderate differential subsidence of about1 mm/year in the last decade. This is in agreement with the trend observed around 1908 and with the data of the Messina tide-gauge relative to the period 1897–1908 and 1910–1918. The lack of data in the period 1918–1970 does not allow definite conclusions about the vertical tectonic deformations in the area. Recent data on planimetric deformations have shown a South-North relative motion of Sicily. A comparison with the theoretical displacements indicates that a pure dip-slip of4 cm on the 1908 fault system does explain the observed vertical deformation, but not the horizontal.
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