Seismogenic Processes In slowly DEforming Regions

The main goal of this project is to better understand seismogenesis in SDR, using western Iberia as a natural laboratory. The proposal is to characterize strain, stress and fracture localization with high-resolution, and to correlate them with the surrounding lithospheric structure and inherited structural weaknesses. The results are qualitatively interpreted in light of observed driving forces, namely boundary and flexure stresses.

The work grounds on high-quality seismological, geodetic and geological observations. It focuses on the characterization of small earthquakes, as large earthquakes are inexistent in the recent highquality instrumental record.

Imaging of the lithospheric structure relies on combining seismic data resulting from different types of seismic sources (ambient noise, earthquakes and geophysical exploration). Surface deformation mapping is based on the analysis of data recorded at a very dense GNSS network.

Project SPIDER aims at a holistic data analysis and interpretation, jointly taking into account different types of data and the onshore and offshore domains. The proposal is not to acquire new data, rather we propose to develop (when needed) and to apply forefront methods that allow the extraction of the information buried in the large data volumes collected in recent years.

The proposed research plan is challenging, however it addresses pressing questions and we expect it to allow a step change in the current understanding of seismogenic processes in Portugal and in regions of slow lithospheric deformation in general.

Project Members

 Rui Fernandes

 Machiel Bos

Funded

FCT, PTDC/GEO-FIQ/2590/2014