Publication Date:
2021-02-02
Description:
Mapping the static gravity field in the Italian area is fundamental to identify the main lithospheric structures, to delineate
the main geological elements at regional level and to infer the regional geodynamic setting. The ongoing tectonic processes
highlight nevertheless the need to measure and model the time-variable gravity field, namely the dynamic gravity field,
which requires increased accuracy and long time series of observations to separate the secular from the short-term variable
components. The first, with a minor impact in Italy, are due to variations of ice mass balance (the viscoelastic response of
the Earth to past changes in ice mass loading, and the elastic response of the Earth to present-day deglaciation), and the sealevel
rise; the second are due to space/time variations of underground mass distributions, such as those related to seismic
deformations, volcanic dynamics/eruptions and water transfer. Local-scale gravity studies along seismogenic faults may
provide useful hints to study the seismic cycle and to unravel those areas more prone to seismic release by studying if the
crustal volume is undergoing dilatancy (gravity decrease) or overpressure (gravity increase) before earthquake occurrence.
This process, however, is accompanied by possible fluid migration, which can be revealed by other geophysical measurements,
for example, by magnetotelluric and geoelectrical surveys. In this short paper, we briefly summarize the main sources
of gravity variation providing on the same time orders of magnitude, spatial and temporal scales of their effects.
Description:
Published
Description:
549-558
Description:
2T. Deformazione crostale attiva
Description:
JCR Journal
Keywords:
Italian area
;
Geodynamics
;
Static gravity field
;
Deformations
;
Dynamic gravity field
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
article
