Pore Pressure Pulse Drove the 2012 Emilia (Italy) Series of Earthquakes

Abstract

AbstractThe 2012 Emilia earthquakes sequence is the first debated case in Italy of destructive event possibly induced by anthropic activity. During this sequence, two main earthquakes occurred separated by 9 days on contiguous thrust faults. Scientific commissions engaged by the Italian government reported complementary scenarios on the potential trigger mechanism ascribable to exploitation of a nearby oil field. In this study, we combine a refined geodetic source model constrained by precise aftershock locations and an improved tomographic model of the area to define the geometrical relation between the activated faults and investigate possible triggering mechanisms. An aftershock decay rate that deviates from the classical Omori‐like pattern and Vp/Vs changes along the fault system suggests that natural pore pressure pulse drove the space‐time evolution of seismicity and the activation of the second main shock.