La paléosismologie, spécifiquement les tranchées paléosismiques, a été l’outil de recherche conventionnel par excellence et plus amplement utilisées dans les études focalisées sur l’estimation de l’aléa sismique. Plus récemment, l’intérêt sur l’activité sismique tout au long des systèmes de failles associées aux limites de plaques, a conduit à la caractérisation du remplissage sédimentaire des bassins en environnement côtier avec un fort potentiel de préservation et donc d’enregistrement des déformations et perturbations liées à une activité tectonique.Le travail présenté dans ce mémoire a pour objective de développer une analyse du risque naturel, particulièrement le risque de séismes et tsunamis dans la bordure nord de Venezuela, sur la trace sous-marine active de la faille décrochante d’El Pilar.Dans ce contexte la texture, minéralogie et géochimie de la séquence sédimentaire d’un petite appendice de la fosse de Cariaco appelé golfe de Cariaco, a été étudié à partir des différentes techniques (analyse de taille de particules, fluorescence X semi-quantitative, mesures de perte à feu, Pyrolise Rock-Eval et propriétés magnétiques). Comme résultat d’une caractérisation détaillée des sédiments et d’un control chronologique détaillé basé sur la datation radiocarbonique et la correction de l’effet réservoir (potentiellement accumulé sur les différents fractions organiques datées), nous avons mis en évidence un particulier dépôt silto-argileux, fortement détritique, d’une ample distribution spatiale, dont l’âge le plus probable correspond au séisme historique de 1853, qui a affecté la ville de Cumaná. Les analyses géochimiques révèlent que ce dépôt de texture homogène précède une augmentation relative du Br (cts/s) à la surface. On interprète la conjugaison de ces deux singularités comme la conséquence d’un glissement sous-marin et d’une modification morphologique majeure concomitante dans le seuil qui connecte la fosse et le golfe de Cariaco. Dans cette chaine d’événements, ce dépôt serait le produit de la décantation du sédiment en suspension remobilisé et l’augmentation du Br est la manifestation d’un changement hydrogéochimiquemarqué pour une majeure influence marine sur le golfe. Pour établir un point de référence pour l’évaluation du potentiel et de la qualité d’enregistrement de l’activité sismique dans le golfe de Cariaco, un deuxième site lié à la plaque Caraïbe fait partie de cette recherche. Il s’agit de l’arc des Petites Antilles, siège d’une activité sismique et volcanique importante, résultat d’une subduction. Les carottes ici prélevées et étudiées avec la même approche sédimentologique, ont enregistré la trace d’un événement sismique récent, plus probablement le séisme de Redonde de 1974. Cet événement correspond à un dépôt silto-sableux, non stratifié et acoustiquement transparent. Les profils sismiques montrent que la relation géométrique de faciès similaires (de faible énergie) avec l’escarpement co-sismique, implique une origine séisme-induite, a différence des turbidités, dont leur origine peut être influencée par la superposition complexe de plusieurs mécanismes déclencheurs. / Paleoseismological researches, especially through paleoseismic trenches, have been widely developed during the last decades, and are presently commonly used for seismic hazards assessment. Beside, and more recently, the recording of earthquakes and related phenomena (gravity reworking, tsunamis) by sedimentary fills became a precious complement. Along plate boundaries and associated major active faults, the search and characterization of sediments with a strong potential for preservation of earthquakes-disturbances or specific layers has been developed; the here-presented results belong to this approach.The research presented in this dissertation aims to develop an analysis of natural risk, specifically tsunamis and seismic risk, on northern boundary of Venezuela, along the submarine active trace of the El Pilar strike slip fault.In this context, the texture, mineralogy and the geochemistry of the sedimentary sequence in the Gulf of Cariaco (built upon the fault) have been studied from different techniques (particle-size analysis, semi-quantitative XRF analysis, loss on ignition, Rock-Eval Pyrolysis and magnetic properties). From detailed characterization of sediments and an extensive chronological control, based on radiocarbon dating (including a local reservoir effect estimation), we found evidences of a particular siliciclastic fine-grained deposit, widely distributed, which probably corresponds to the 1853 major catastrophic earthquake and associated tsunamis which affected the Cumana town. The geochemical analyses reveal that this deposit of homogeneous texture is followed by an abrupt relative increase of Br at the surface. We interpret this singular combination as a consequence of a submarine landslides and subsequent morphological modification at the connection between the Cariaco trench and the Gulf of Cariaco. This deposit can be the result of the settling of remobilized suspended sediment and the Br increase is the indicator of a hydrogeochemical change indicated by important marine influence on the gulf.In order to establish a point of reference for the evaluation of the potential sedimentary record of the seismic activity in the Gulf of Cariaco, a second site related to the Caribbean Plate boundaries is analysed and discussed in this work. Sedimentation within the Lesser Antilles Arc was chosen as offering a comparable seismic activity but a strongly different sedimentary environment. In this zone of seismic and volcanic activity, consequence of a subduction, we collected and analysed cores with the same sedimentological approach, searching and characterizing recent earthquake record. The most recent one probably corresponds to the 1974 Redonda event. High resolution seismic profiles across active faults indicate precise direct geometrical relationship of specific turbidite-type layers with scarps genesis.

abstract: The goal of this study is to gain a better understanding of earthquake distribution and regional tectonic structure across Arizona. To achieve this objective, I utilized seismic data from EarthScope's USArray Transportable Array (TA), which was deployed in Arizona from April 2006 to March 2009. With station spacing of approximately 70 km and ~3 years of continuous three-component broadband seismic data, the TA provided an unprecedented opportunity to develop the first seismicity catalog for Arizona without spatial sampling bias. In this study I developed a new data analysis workflow to detect smaller scale seismicity across a regional study area, which serves as a template for future regional analyses of TA data and similar datasets. The final event catalog produced for this study increased the total number of earthquakes documented in Arizona by more than 50% compared to the historical catalog, despite being generated from less than three years of continuous waveform data. I combined this new TA catalog with existing earthquake catalogs to construct a comprehensive historical earthquake catalog for Arizona. These results enabled the identification of several previously unidentified areas of seismic activity within the state, as well as two regions characterized by seismicity in the deeper (>20 km) crust. The catalog also includes 16 event clusters, 10 of which exhibited clear temporal clustering and swarm-like behavior. These swarms were distributed throughout all three physiographic provinces, suggesting that earthquake swarms occur regardless of tectonic or physiographic setting. I also conducted a case study for an earthquake swarm in June of 2007 near Theodore Roosevelt Lake, approximately 80 miles northeast of Phoenix. Families of events showed very similar character, suggesting a nearly identical source location and focal mechanism. We obtained focal mechanisms for the largest of these events, and found that they are consistent with normal faulting, expected in this area of the Arizona Transition Zone. Further, I observed no notable correlation between reservoir water level and seismicity. The occurrence of multiple historical earthquakes in the areas surrounding the reservoir indicates that this swarm was likely the result of tectonic strain release, and not reservoir induced seismicity. / Dissertation/Thesis / Appendix A: Earthquakes recorded by EarthScope USArray / Appendix B: Total Arizona earthquake catalog / Appendix B: Earthquake catalog references / Appendix D: Mine Blast data / Appendix D: Potential mine blasts / Appendix D: Arizona blasting sites / Appendix E: Earthquake clusters / Appendix F: Antelope tutorial and parameter files / Appendix C: Stations used in this study / M.S. Geological Sciences 2011

Nesse trabalho será estudada a dinâmica de epicentros do modelo Olami-Feder- Christensen (OFC). Para isso, serão usados conceitos e ferramentas de redes complexas. Será analisado, em particular, o grafo de epicentros consecutivos do modelo, onde dois eventos subseqüentes são representados por uma aresta direcionada, cuja origem e vértice incidido representam os respectivos sítios no reticulado. A topologia desse grafo, que possui invariância de escala e correlação entre os graus, revela uma dinâmica característica, com atratores temporários, e quase-periodicidade. Essa dinâmica é comparada com a de terremotos reais, e as limitações do modelo são avaliadas. Em particular, foi constatado que a dinâmica governada por atratores temporários se encontra presente em terremotos reais, porém difere em pontos centrais da observada no modelo OFC. Além da análise da dinâmica dos epicentros, será feito um estudo sistemático de dois comportamentos não-triviais do modelo, o que foi necessário para a análise da dinâmica de epicentros: A identificação e caracterização de um \"efeito de borda\" no modelo, e uma separação de escalas de eventos de diferentes tamanhos, que considera tambémas suas distribuições espaciais. Esses resultados têm uma relevância importante o estudo do modelo de modo geral. Em particular, será retomada a análise da criticalidade do modelo, à luz desses critérios. / We study the dynamics of the epicenters of the Olami-Feder-Christensen model of earthquakes (OFC), using the concepts and tools of complex networks. In particular, we study the graph of consecutive epicenters, where two subsequent events represent a directed edge, and the source and target vertices represent the respective sites on the lattice. The topology of this graph, which exhibits scale-invariance and strong degree correlation, reveals a characteristic dynamics of temporary attractors and quasi-periodicity. This dynamics is compared to that of real seismicity, and the limitations of the model are assessed. The temporary attractor dynamics is also found in real earthquakes, however it differs from the one observed in the model in key points, which will be described in detail. Besides the analysis of the dynamics of the dynamics of epicenters, we systematically study two non-trivial behaviours of the OFC model, which was necessary for the study of the epicenters: The identification and characterization of a \"border effect\" in the model, and the separation of scales in the size of events, which takes into account their spatial distribution. These results have an important relevance to the study of the OFC model in general. In particular, we will revisit the analysis of the criticality of the model, which takes into account these criteria.

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A new method using a machine learning technique is applied to event classification and detection at seismic networks. This method is applicable to a variety of network sizes and settings. The algorithm makes use of a small catalogue of known observations across the entire network. Two attributes, the polarization and frequency content, are used as input to regression. These attributes are extracted at predicted arrival times for P and S waves using only an approximate velocity model, as attributes are calculated over large time spans. This method of waveform characterization is shown to be able to distinguish between blasts and earthquakes with 99 percent accuracy using a network of 13 stations located in Southern California. The combination of machine learning with generalized waveform features is further applied to event detection in Oklahoma, United States. The event detection algorithm makes use of a pair of unique seismic phases to locate events, with a precision directly related to the sampling rate of the generalized waveform features. Over a week of data from 30 stations in Oklahoma, United States are used to automatically detect 25 times more events than the catalogue of the local geological survey, with a false detection rate of less than 2 per cent. This method provides a highly confident way of detecting and locating events. Furthermore, a large number of seismic events can be automatically detected with low false alarm, allowing for a larger automatic event catalogue with a high degree of trust.

A comprehensive seismotectonic model is developed to explain the seismicity of British Columbia. In order to do this extensive revisions are made to location and magnitude parameters in the Canadian Earthquake Data File. Fault plane solutions are calculated for all earthquakes possible and all mechanisms previously calculated are examined and upgraded where necessary. It is proposed that the subcrustal suite of earthquakes in the Puget Sound and southern Vancouver Island region are a result of strain caused by phase changes in the descending oceanic lithosphere of the subducting Juan de Fuca plate. The crustal earthquakes above the deeper seismicity can be explained with an oblique subduction model. The distribution of seismicity, the amount of seismicity and the focal mechanisms support these interpretations. The large earthquakes of central Vancouver Island are probably a result of the interaction of the Explorer Plate with the overriding America Plate. In the southern Queen Charlotte Islands thrusting components in the fault plane solutions confirm there is an element of convergence across the pacific/America boundary in this region. The distribution of seismicity suggests all relative plate motion is presently occurring along the Queen Charlotte fault. The Quaternary volcanoes of British Columbia show little correlation with the seismicity pattern except for the eastern end of the Anahim volcanic belt. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

The Qadimah Fault has been mapped as a normal fault running through the middle of a planned $$$50 billion city. For this reason, there is an urgent need to evaluate the seismic hazard that the fault poses to the new development. Although several geophysical studies have supported the existence of a fault, the driving mechanism remains unclear. While a fault controlled by gravity gliding of the overburden on a mobile salt layer is unlikely to be of concern to the city, one caused by the continued extension of a normal rotational fault due to Red Sea rifting could result in a major earthquake. A number of geomorphology and geodetic techniques were used to better understand the fault. An analysis of topographic data revealed a sharp discontinuity in slope aspect and hanging wall tilting which strongly supports the existence of a normal fault. A GPS survey of an emergent reef platform which revealed a tilted coral surface also indicates that deformation has occurred in the region. An interferometric synthetic aperture radar investigation has also been performed to establish whether active deformation is occurring on the fault. Ground movements that could be consistent with inter-seismic strain accumulation have been observed, although the analysis is restricted by the limited data available. However, a simple fault model suggests that the deformation is unlikely due to continued crustal stretching. This, in addition to the lack of footwall uplift in the topography data, suggests that the fault is more likely controlled by a shallow salt layer. However, more work will need to be done in the future to confirm these findings.

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Thesis advisor: Alan L. Kafka / Discerning the interrelated effects of space and time on the potential for wastewater well injection to induce earthquakes in Oklahoma is important for accurately mapping seismic hazards. This study explores how distance from wells and time after initiation of injection affect the possibility that injection activity might induce earthquakes under different conditions of operational lifetime, injection volume, and well depth. A unique feature of this study is filtering of the injection well database to isolate, as much as possible, the effect of specific well injection on the potential to induce earthquakes. The method used here is a modified version of “Cellular Seismology”, termed “Modified Cellular Seismology” (CS, MCS), where “CS Predictability” (CSP) is used as an operational definition of the extent to which injection wells are associated with earthquakes. I hypothesize that earthquakes associated with injection are most likely to occur within about 15 km of wells and within approximately the same year as active injection. Evidence shows that induced earthquake activity peaks primarily between about 2.5 and 3.5 km away from any given well, and this distance increases while CSP decreases over time. Temporal analyses suggest that CSP decreases by an average of about 5% over a period of five to seven years for any given well (or about 1% decrease per year), though there exists considerable scatter in this relationship. This change is variable across wells of different conditions, ranging from a decrease of 26% to an increase of 8% over the five to seven years covered by this study. Additionally, CSP tended to peak at least a year after injection for the most spatiotemporally isolated wells, suggesting that there may be, on average, at least a year of lag before any given well is likely to induce earthquakes. / Thesis (MS) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Earth and Environmental Sciences.