ALEXANDER I. GORSHKOV 1,2, GIULIANO F. PANZA 2,3, ALEXANDER A. SOLOVIEV 1,2, ABDELKRIM AOUDIA 2,3
1 International Institute of Earthquake
Prediction Theory and Mathematical Geophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences,
Warshavskoye sh. 79, k. 2. 117556 Moscow, Russia, e-mail: gorshkov@mitp.ru
2 The Abdus Salam International Center
for Theoretical Physics, SAND Group, Miramare, Trieste, Italy
3 Department of Earth’ Sciences,
University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
Within mountain belts of Central Europe we identify seismogenic nodes, specific
structures formed at the intersections of fault zones. The nodes have been
delineated with the morphostructural zoning method. Some of the delineated
nodes host the crustal M > 6.0 earthquakes. To identify all nodes where earthquakes
with M > 6.0 may occur, we employed the pattern-recognition algorithm CORA-3.
The recognized seismogenic nodes are characterized by the contrast in neotectonic
movements and by an increased fragmentation of the crust at depth. The results
obtained indicate a high seismic potential for the studied area and provide
important information for seismic hazard assessment: a number of nodes where
strong events have not occur so far, have been recognized prone to large
earthquakes.
Key words: pattern recognition, nodes, Alps, peninsular Italy, Balkanides, Carpathians, Dinarides.