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- High-resolution P- and S-wave reflection studies of an intraplate structure: The Azambuja fault, PortugalPublication . Ghose, Ranajit; Carvalho, João; Alves, Daniela; Santos, Luiz Alberto; Ressurreição, Ricardo; Alves, Paulo Henrique Bastos; Leote, JaimeABSTRACT: The Azambuja fault is a NNE trending structure located 50 km north of Lisbon, the capital and most populous city of Portugal. The fault has been considered as a possible source for the historical, large earthquakes. Under-standing this fault is a priority in seismic hazard evaluation of this region. The fault has a clear morphological signature. Miocene and Pliocene sediments are tilted eastward and cut by steeply dipping mesoscale fault seg-ments, presenting reverse and normal offsets with a net downthrow to the east. Neotectonic studies indicate a Quaternary slip on the fault of 0.05-0.06 mm/year. However, no direct evidence of the Azambuja fault affecting the Pleistocene or Holocene sediments was found so far. Here, we present the findings from high-resolution seismic reflection studies using both P-and S-waves over the Holocene deposits. The detection of small-throw faulting in ductile sediments is a challenging task. We show that multiple signatures, like perturbations in the reflection hyperbolae visible in shot and CMP gathers, interruptions of reflectors in stacked sections, lateral seismic velocity variations obtained by horizon velocity analysis, all at coincident locations, strongly suggest that the activity of the Azambuja fault has affected the Holocene sediments in the study area. The lateral velocity variations are corroborated by wavepath eikonal traveltime tomography and velocity analysis supported by seismic modeling. By means of 2D viscoelastic modeling, we explain the absence of fault-related diffractions and negligible back-scattered energy from the fault. Using data from nearby boreholes, we find that the 15 ka old alluvium cover has indeed been disturbed by the presence of shallow fault strands. Considering the estimated vertical throws and the empirical relationships between fault length, co-seismic rupture and magnitude, a slip rate of 0.07 mm/y, slightly larger than previously thought, is expected for this fault.
- Characterization of an Intraplate Seismogenic Zone Using Geophysical and Borehole Data: The Vila Franca de Xira Fault, PortugalPublication . Carvalho, João; Alves, Daniela; Cabral, João; Ghose, Ranajit; Borges, José Fernando; Dias, Ruben Pereira; Ramalho, Elsa; Caldeira, Bento; Casacão, J.; Leote, JaimeABSTRACT: The Vila Franca de Xira (VFX) fault is a regional fault zone located about 25 km northeast of Lisbon, affecting Neogene sediments. Recent shear-wave seismic studies show that this complex fault zone is buried beneath Holocene sediments and is deforming the alluvial cover, in agreement with a previous work that proposes the fault as the source of the 1531 Lower Tagus Valley earthquake. In this work, we corroborate these results using S-wave, P-wave, geoelectric, ground-penetrating radar and borehole data, confirming that the sediments deformed by several fault branches are of Upper Pleistocene to Holocene. Accumulated fault vertical offsets of about 3 m are estimated from the integrated interpretation of geophysical and borehole data, including 2D elastic seismic modeling, with an estimated resolution of about 0.5 m. The deformations affecting the Tagus alluvial sediments probably resulted from surface or near-surface rupture of the VFX fault during M similar to 7 earthquakes, reinforcing the fault as the seismogenic source of regional historical events, as in 1531, and highlighting the need for preparedness for the next event.
- A soil classification for seismic hazard assessment and mitigation of the AlgarvePublication . Carvalho, João P. F.; Dias, Ruben Pereira; Pinto, Carlos C.; Leote, Jaime; Victor, L. MendesThe Algarve province of Portugal is located near the E-W Eurasia-Africa plate boundary. It is characterized by a moderate seismicity, with some important historical earthquakes causing important damage and economical losses. Not only has it suffered the effects of large plate boundary events but also the impact of local onshore moderate-sized earthquake sources. The seismic hazard evaluation and mitigation of the area is therefore of great importance to the local populations and the large number of tourists that frequent the region. This paper focuses the evaluation of the most interesting and useful geotechnical near-surface parameters and a soil classification. The classification based upon the European Code 8 for civil engineering and SPT bedrock data, was carried out for land use planning and design of critical facilities. P-wave and S-wave seismic velocities were obtained through the acquisition, processing and interpretation refraction profiles. Hundreds of SPT parameters from available boreholes drilled for engineering and water supply were used and subsoil classification based on geophysical and geotechnical parameters is presented. Other parameters, such as Vp/Vs ratios and the Poisson coefficient were estimated and were computed to provide information for future site effect studies. The experimental procedure tested here is relatively fast, economical and easy to perform and can be useful to estimate soil microzoning and seismic hazard mapping in the absence of local earthquake records.
- Earthquake mitigation in the Lisbon and Lower Tagus Valley area, PortugalPublication . Carvalho, João; Dias, Ruben Pereira; Pinto, Carlos C.; Cunha, Taigo A.; Leote, Jaime; Vilanova, Susana; Narciso, João; Borges, José Fernando; Ghose, Ranajit
- A P-wave seismic reflection study of an intraplate structure : the Azambuja Fault, PortugalPublication . Carvalho, João; Alves, Daniela; Leote, Jaime; Ghose, Ranajit
- Earthquake mitigation in the Lisbon and Lower Tagus Valley area, PortugalPublication . Carvalho, João; Dias, Ruben Pereira; Pinto, Carlos C.; Cunha, Tiago A.; Leote, Jaime; Vilanova, Susana; Narciso, João; Borges, José Fernando; Ghose, Ranajit
- Uranium in surface soils : an easy & quick assay combining X-Ray diffraction and X-Ray fluorescence qualitative dataPublication . Figueiredo, M. Ondina; Silva, Teresa; Batista, Maria Joao; Leote, Jaime; Ferreira, M. L.; Limpo, V.
- Uranium in surface soils : an easy & quick assay combining X-Ray diffraction and X-Ray fluorescence qualitative dataPublication . Figueiredo, M. Ondina; Silva, Teresa; Batista, Maria Joao; Leote, Jaime; Ferreira, M. L.; Limpo, V.