A Pragmatic Approach to Seismic Parameters in a region with Low Seismicity: The Case of Eastern Iberia

Abstract

In intra-plate regions with low-seismic activity, seismic cycles last between 10^3 and 10^5 years and, consequently, quiescent faults may be capable of producing catastrophic earthquakes. Paleoseismic studies, which are necessary to define capable faults in these regions and to establish their seismic parameters, are scarce and not always possible. In order to overcome the scarcity of paleoseismic data, this paper proposes an approach to evaluate the capability and seismic parameters of faults. This approach takes into account instrumental, historical, paleoseismological and geological data. Assuming that in a given structural region with definite climatic and geological characteristics similar geomorphic features reflect a similar structural-seismic evolution, the capability of faults is established by comparing the fault related geomorphic features of the few proven seismogenic faults with those of the rest of the faults. The seismic parameters were estimated using some mathematical relationships from geological and geomorphological data, where the slip rate of the faults was determined from geological and geomorphological criteria. The case of eastern Iberia is presented to illustrate this approach. This area is characterized by low seismicity, few historical destructive earthquakes, and only one fault with good paleoseismological data. Of the 249 potential faults (longer than 10 km and adequately oriented with respect to the current stress field), 23 were regarded as capable faults. Some of these were located in seismic quiescent areas, and their main seismic parameters were estimated.