An inventory of river anomalies in the Po Plain, Northern Italy: evidence for active blind thrust faulting
The Po Plain is a low-relief area characterised by active shortening accommodated by blind thrust faulting. In this almost flat region depositional rates are similar to tectonic rates and deformation is seldom expressed by noticeable surface anticlines. We adopted a geomorphologica...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
2003-06-01
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| Series: | Annals of Geophysics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.annalsofgeophysics.eu/index.php/annals/article/view/3459 |
| _version_ | 1811309938068160512 |
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| author | G. Valensise F. Ciucci P. Burrato |
| author_facet | G. Valensise F. Ciucci P. Burrato |
| author_sort | G. Valensise |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Po Plain is a low-relief area characterised by active shortening accommodated by blind thrust faulting. In this almost flat region depositional rates are similar to tectonic rates and deformation is seldom expressed by noticeable surface anticlines. We adopted a geomorphological approach based on the detailed analysis of the drainage network to identify the location of active thrust faults. A total of 36 anomalies represented by sudden river diversions and shifts in channel pattern were accurately mapped. After comparison with the location of subsurface buried anticlines and of historical seismicity, these anomalies could be related to a tectonic origin and included in a database. Their distribution highlights the activity of the buried outer thrust fronts of both the Southern Alps and the Northern Apennines. Among all the anomalies, we identified one related to the seismogenic source responsible for the 12 May 1802 earthquake (Me 5.7), which struck the Oglio River Valley near Soncino (Cremona). We propose that this earthquake was generated by an east-west trending, north-dipping, blind thrust fault that roots into the Alpine system. If this inference is correct, other faults along the Southern Alpine margin are potentially seismogenic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:49:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-92e8f89eed294e10b3a9bbcc37c5c5ac |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1593-5213 2037-416X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:49:39Z |
| publishDate | 2003-06-01 |
| publisher | Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Geophysics |
| spelling | doaj.art-92e8f89eed294e10b3a9bbcc37c5c5ac2022-12-22T02:51:37ZengIstituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)Annals of Geophysics1593-52132037-416X2003-06-0146510.4401/ag-3459An inventory of river anomalies in the Po Plain, Northern Italy: evidence for active blind thrust faultingG. ValensiseF. CiucciP. BurratoThe Po Plain is a low-relief area characterised by active shortening accommodated by blind thrust faulting. In this almost flat region depositional rates are similar to tectonic rates and deformation is seldom expressed by noticeable surface anticlines. We adopted a geomorphological approach based on the detailed analysis of the drainage network to identify the location of active thrust faults. A total of 36 anomalies represented by sudden river diversions and shifts in channel pattern were accurately mapped. After comparison with the location of subsurface buried anticlines and of historical seismicity, these anomalies could be related to a tectonic origin and included in a database. Their distribution highlights the activity of the buried outer thrust fronts of both the Southern Alps and the Northern Apennines. Among all the anomalies, we identified one related to the seismogenic source responsible for the 12 May 1802 earthquake (Me 5.7), which struck the Oglio River Valley near Soncino (Cremona). We propose that this earthquake was generated by an east-west trending, north-dipping, blind thrust fault that roots into the Alpine system. If this inference is correct, other faults along the Southern Alpine margin are potentially seismogenic.http://www.annalsofgeophysics.eu/index.php/annals/article/view/3459tectonic geomorphologydrainage anomalyblind thrustPo Plain1802 Oglio Valley earthquake |
| spellingShingle | G. Valensise F. Ciucci P. Burrato An inventory of river anomalies in the Po Plain, Northern Italy: evidence for active blind thrust faulting Annals of Geophysics tectonic geomorphology drainage anomaly blind thrust Po Plain 1802 Oglio Valley earthquake |
| title | An inventory of river anomalies in the Po Plain, Northern Italy: evidence for active blind thrust faulting |
| title_full | An inventory of river anomalies in the Po Plain, Northern Italy: evidence for active blind thrust faulting |
| title_fullStr | An inventory of river anomalies in the Po Plain, Northern Italy: evidence for active blind thrust faulting |
| title_full_unstemmed | An inventory of river anomalies in the Po Plain, Northern Italy: evidence for active blind thrust faulting |
| title_short | An inventory of river anomalies in the Po Plain, Northern Italy: evidence for active blind thrust faulting |
| title_sort | inventory of river anomalies in the po plain northern italy evidence for active blind thrust faulting |
| topic | tectonic geomorphology drainage anomaly blind thrust Po Plain 1802 Oglio Valley earthquake |
| url | http://www.annalsofgeophysics.eu/index.php/annals/article/view/3459 |
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