Seismicity and Seismotectonics Study in Southwestern Albania Using a Local Dense Seismic Network

Abstract

Abstract The Albanides represent a complex orogen made up of a heterogeneous tectonic nappe pile of Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic domains. Albania is tectonically active, and moderate to strong earthquakes have occurred in the past. However, abundant microseismicity has not been monitored and studied by a dense seismic network. During this study, a seismic network of 40 stations was deployed in southern Albania for one year. A total of 2113 microearthquakes were well located. The most accurately located events and 810 focal mechanisms were used in order to define the seismotectonics and the stress pattern in the area. Results indicate that thrust and strike‐slip faulting both exist in southwestern Albania, suggesting a continuation of the complex tectonic setting of the neighboring northwestern Greece to the north.