Seismic swarms in Tricastin, lower Rhône Valley (France): review of historical and instrumental seismicity and models

The Tricastin region in the lower Rhône Valley (France) is affected by an atypical seismic activity characterised by the development of long-lasting and recurrent seismic swarms. Indeed, since the 16th century, hundreds of seismic events sometime associated with underground noises of the explosion h...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bollinger, Laurent, Le Dortz, Kristell, Duverger, Clara, Vallage, Amaury, Marin, Sylvie, Leroy, Yves M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Académie des sciences 2021-12-01
Series:Comptes Rendus. Géoscience
Subjects:
Online Access:https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/geoscience/articles/10.5802/crgeos.93/
_version_ 1797651354517241856
author Bollinger, Laurent
Le Dortz, Kristell
Duverger, Clara
Vallage, Amaury
Marin, Sylvie
Leroy, Yves M.
author_facet Bollinger, Laurent
Le Dortz, Kristell
Duverger, Clara
Vallage, Amaury
Marin, Sylvie
Leroy, Yves M.
author_sort Bollinger, Laurent
collection DOAJ
description The Tricastin region in the lower Rhône Valley (France) is affected by an atypical seismic activity characterised by the development of long-lasting and recurrent seismic swarms. Indeed, since the 16th century, hundreds of seismic events sometime associated with underground noises of the explosion have been reported by local inhabitants. However, to date, none of the many scenarios of earthquake generation proposed for the area, involving either tectonics and/or hydrological forcings, appears consensual. To overcome that lack of comprehension, we compile and analyse an 880 seismic-events catalogue derived from both historical macroseismicity and instrumental records. The earthquakes appear to occur at shallow depths similar to those determined below a local network in 2002–2003. We confront to this catalogue models involving hydrological mechanisms, including aquifers elastic loading and karst-drains responses, as well as tectonic mechanisms, including transient aseismic processes and their related effects on the fold hinges or on the local fault planes. Most of the earthquakes are located at short distances from karst drains and fractured fold hinges, possibly affected by transient hydrological changes.
first_indexed 2024-03-11T16:14:47Z
format Article
id doaj.art-fe816a0614c5412cad81e83236db6f00
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1778-7025
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-11T16:14:47Z
publishDate 2021-12-01
publisher Académie des sciences
record_format Article
series Comptes Rendus. Géoscience
spelling doaj.art-fe816a0614c5412cad81e83236db6f002023-10-24T14:24:13ZengAcadémie des sciencesComptes Rendus. Géoscience1778-70252021-12-01353S158560610.5802/crgeos.9310.5802/crgeos.93Seismic swarms in Tricastin, lower Rhône Valley (France): review of historical and instrumental seismicity and modelsBollinger, Laurent0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5116-860XLe Dortz, Kristell1Duverger, Clara2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7814-1546Vallage, Amaury3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0380-2848Marin, Sylvie4Leroy, Yves M.5CEA, DAM, DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, FranceCEA, DAM, DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, France; Ecole normale supérieure, Department of Geosciences, PSL Research University, Paris, FranceCEA, DAM, DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, FranceCEA, DAM, DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, FranceCEA, DAM, DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, FranceEcole normale supérieure, Department of Geosciences, PSL Research University, Paris, FranceThe Tricastin region in the lower Rhône Valley (France) is affected by an atypical seismic activity characterised by the development of long-lasting and recurrent seismic swarms. Indeed, since the 16th century, hundreds of seismic events sometime associated with underground noises of the explosion have been reported by local inhabitants. However, to date, none of the many scenarios of earthquake generation proposed for the area, involving either tectonics and/or hydrological forcings, appears consensual. To overcome that lack of comprehension, we compile and analyse an 880 seismic-events catalogue derived from both historical macroseismicity and instrumental records. The earthquakes appear to occur at shallow depths similar to those determined below a local network in 2002–2003. We confront to this catalogue models involving hydrological mechanisms, including aquifers elastic loading and karst-drains responses, as well as tectonic mechanisms, including transient aseismic processes and their related effects on the fold hinges or on the local fault planes. Most of the earthquakes are located at short distances from karst drains and fractured fold hinges, possibly affected by transient hydrological changes.https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/geoscience/articles/10.5802/crgeos.93/TricastinEarthquakesSeismic swarmProvenceMacroseismicityTricastin
spellingShingle Bollinger, Laurent
Le Dortz, Kristell
Duverger, Clara
Vallage, Amaury
Marin, Sylvie
Leroy, Yves M.
Seismic swarms in Tricastin, lower Rhône Valley (France): review of historical and instrumental seismicity and models
Comptes Rendus. Géoscience
Tricastin
Earthquakes
Seismic swarm
Provence
Macroseismicity
Tricastin
title Seismic swarms in Tricastin, lower Rhône Valley (France): review of historical and instrumental seismicity and models
title_full Seismic swarms in Tricastin, lower Rhône Valley (France): review of historical and instrumental seismicity and models
title_fullStr Seismic swarms in Tricastin, lower Rhône Valley (France): review of historical and instrumental seismicity and models
title_full_unstemmed Seismic swarms in Tricastin, lower Rhône Valley (France): review of historical and instrumental seismicity and models
title_short Seismic swarms in Tricastin, lower Rhône Valley (France): review of historical and instrumental seismicity and models
title_sort seismic swarms in tricastin lower rhone valley france review of historical and instrumental seismicity and models
topic Tricastin
Earthquakes
Seismic swarm
Provence
Macroseismicity
Tricastin
url https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/geoscience/articles/10.5802/crgeos.93/
work_keys_str_mv AT bollingerlaurent seismicswarmsintricastinlowerrhonevalleyfrancereviewofhistoricalandinstrumentalseismicityandmodels
AT ledortzkristell seismicswarmsintricastinlowerrhonevalleyfrancereviewofhistoricalandinstrumentalseismicityandmodels
AT duvergerclara seismicswarmsintricastinlowerrhonevalleyfrancereviewofhistoricalandinstrumentalseismicityandmodels
AT vallageamaury seismicswarmsintricastinlowerrhonevalleyfrancereviewofhistoricalandinstrumentalseismicityandmodels
AT marinsylvie seismicswarmsintricastinlowerrhonevalleyfrancereviewofhistoricalandinstrumentalseismicityandmodels
AT leroyyvesm seismicswarmsintricastinlowerrhonevalleyfrancereviewofhistoricalandinstrumentalseismicityandmodels