Crustal faulting has long been known as the source of shallow seismicity, and the seismogenic zone is the depth (3-15 km) within the crust that is capable of co-seismic slip, largely under brittle conditions. However, some continental seismicity occurs at depths >> 15 km. I performed thermobarometry of mylonitic pseudotachylyte to determine the P-T of a seismogenic extensional fault in the Caledonian Norwegian margin. Two shear zones (Eidsfjord and Fiskfjord) located in northern Norway exhibit brittle extension propagating into the ductile regime of the lower crust as evidenced by the presence of pseudotachylyte. Averages from Eidsfjord (653 ± 38°C and 570 ± 115 MPa) and Fiskfjord (680 ± 70°C and 1121 ± 219 MPa) correspond to depths of co-seismic slip of 21 ±4 km and 41 ± 9 km, respectively. These depths are 5-25 km below the depth of the standard seismogenic zone in mature fault systems, and require another mechanism (e.g. dynamic downward rupture, unusually high shear stresses) to account for seismogenic rupture at such depths. Assuming Eidsfjord and Fiskfjord were uplifted at the same time, and considering they are currently at the same crustal level, Fiskfjord was uplifted a greater amount and at a faster rate as it was initially located at a greater crustal depth.

The largest earthquakes occur along the subduction thrust interface known as the seismogenic zone. Until recently, erosive margins like Tonga and Honshu have been thought to be unable to support earthquakes with magnitudes higher than 8.5. However, Mw 9, 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake in Honshu requires a reevaluation of this notion. The seismic potential of Tonga is likely affected by the vertical spatial extent of the up-dip and down-dip limits, which confines the seismogenic zone. The larger the area of the seismogenic zone, the higher the potential for larger earthquakes. Some models suggest that down-dip limit coincides with the fore-arc Moho while others suggest that they are coincident with thermally controlled mineralogical phase changes during slab descent. Tonga is an ideal place to discriminate between these possibilities, as the incoming Pacific plate is cold and thick with rapid convergence, extending cool isotherms deep into the system. In contrast, the fore-arc Moho is only ~16 km deep. This study tests the hypothesis that the down-dip limit of the Tonga seismogenic zone coincides with the fore-arc Moho and thus ceases the seismicity by initiating a stable sliding between the mantle and the subducting crust. We determine the depth of the down-dip limit in Tonga by mapping the distribution of earthquakes recorded for a six-month period from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2010 by a deployment of ocean bottom seismographs above the Tonga subduction zone. The earthquakes are located by a combination of grid-search method and least-square inversion of the observed arrival times. We identified a down-dip limit at a minimum depth of about 40 km below the sea level suggesting that the hypothesis is failed. Therefore, the commonly held idea that down-dip limit is coincides with the fore-arc Moho is not true in the Tonga case. It is likely controlled by the degree of serpentinization in the mantle wedge controlling the transition from stick-slip to stable sliding.

Le sujet de ce travail est une analyse géomorphologique et tectonique pluri-échelle de la Provence, où des séismes historiques d'intensités majeures (VIII voire IX) ont été répertoriés durant les derniers siècles (par exemple à Lambesc, 1909). Si l'intensité des séismes historiques est relativement élevée en Provence, la région ne subit qu'une faible microsismicité, d'où la nécessité d'une approche tectonique, géomorphologique et paléosismologique pour y étudier les déformations récentes. Afin d'appréhender la morphogénèse grande longueur d'onde en Provence, nous avons évalué les taux de dénudation des massifs carbonatés de la région grâce à des mesures de concentrations en isotopes cosmogéniques 36Cl. Nous obtenons des taux de dénudation comparables entre les différents sites (de l'ordre de 20 à 60 mm/ka) et comparables aux études précédentes dans ce type de contextes, sauf pour le Grand Luberon et la montagne de Lure, qui s'érodent plus rapidement (jusqu'à 140 mm/ka). Cette approche a été appliquée à plus petite échelle sur le Petit Luberon, où nous comparons la dénudation de la surface sommitale à la dénudation moyennée sur plusieurs bassins versants de ses flancs sud et nord.Enfin, nous avons implémenté une approche pluri-disciplinaire à une échelle locale, associant cartographie haute-résolution, mesures de résistivités électriques, paléosismologie, granulométrie et datations afin d'obtenir une meilleure compréhension du comportement Quaternaire et Holocène d'un segment de faille localisé à Vinon-sur-Verdon. Notre analyse confirme de la déformation dans les 200 derniers milliers d'années sur ce contact mais démontre l'absence de déformation depuis 16000 ans. / This manuscript deals with a multi-scale geomorphological and tectonic analysis of Provence, a region where large scale historical earthquakes (intensities of VIII or even IX) have been recorded during the last centuries (e.g. in Lambesc, 1909). If the intensity of historical earthquakes is relatively high in Provence, the region undergoes a weak microseismicity, hence the need for a tectonic, geomorphologic and paleoseismologic approach to understand the recent deformations.In order to evaluate the large-scale morphogenesis in Provence, we evaluated the denudation rates of the carbonate ranges of the region by measuring 36Cl cosmogenic isotope concentrations. We obtain comparable denudation rates between different sites (in the order of 20-60 mm/ka) and comparable to previous studies in this type of contexts (e.g. Ryb et al., 2014a, b), except for the Grand Luberon and the Lure mountain, which erode more quickly (up to 140 mm/ka). This approach was applied on a smaller scale by focusing on the Petit Luberon, where we compare the denudation of the summit surface to the denudation averaged over several watersheds on its southern and northern flanks.Finally, we implemented a multi-disciplinary approach on a local scale, associating high-resolution mapping, electrical resistivity measurements, paleoseismology, granulometry, 14C and OSL dating, in order to obtain a better understanding of Quaternary and Holocene behavior of a fault segment located in Vinon-sur-Verdon. Our analysis confirms that deformation occurred in the last 200 thousand years on this contact but demonstrates the absence of deformation in the last 16000 years.

The upper Tanglewood Member is the final member of the Lexington Limestone and is well-known for its soft-sediment deformation. This study has confirmed the carbonate-shoal-complex origin of the unit, and detailed study shows that its development took place during five small-scale, sequence-like, fining-upward cycles related to eustasy and tectonics. Four lithofacies are represented in the unit. Facies analysis of each cycle shows that the thickest and coarsest part of each cycle corresponds to previously uplifted basement-fault blocks; the occurrence of thick, coarse facies on the same fault blocks suggests that the blocks continued to experience uplift due to Taconian far-field forces generated on the eastern margin of Laurentia. The upper Tanglewood Member includes six deformed horizons that can be traced into equivalent parts of the Clays Ferry and Point Pleasant formations. Concurrence of four lines of evidence, suggested by Ettensohn et al. (2002d) for interpretation of seismites, indicates that the widespread horizons of deformation are seismogenic in origin. Reactivation of basement structures due to Taconian far-field forces probably induced seismicity on the intra-platform carbonate complex so as to produce soft-sediment deformation. Petrographic investigation indicates that most of the cements in the upper Tanglewood limestones appear to be late diagenetic, fresh-water phreatic cements. Comparing the petrography of deformed and undeformed portions of the same horizon showed no significant differences in terms of cementation, indicating that cementation occurred primarily after deformation. The primary impact of deformation on the microstructure of the unit was the randomization of grain fabric and the increased presence of broken intraclasts.

Ce manuscrit concerne l'analyse tectonique et géomorphologique du système de failles de Longriba (LFS), localisé à l'Est du plateau tibétain à environ 200 km au Nord-ouest de la chaîne des Longmen Shan. Le LFS est constitué de deux zones de failles décrochantes dextres, parallèles et d'orientation N55°E : la faille de Longriqu, au Nord, et la faille de Maoergai, au Sud. Le rôle géodynamique de ce système est primordial puisqu'il accommode 5 ± 1 mm/an de la composante décrochante induite par la convergence oblique du bloc Aba, elle-même liée à la collision Inde-Asie. De plus, le LFS partitionne la déformation de la marge Est tibétaine; les structures des Longmen Shan étant essentiellement chevauchantes. Cependant l'histoire long-terme du LFS est mal contrainte. L'objectif de cette thèse est donc d'apporter des informations spatio-temporelles sur l'activité du système à l'échelle du Cénozoïque. Pour cela trois études ont été réalisées. La première a permis de mieux contraindre le comportement sismogénique des deux zones de failles à l'aide d'images satellites de basse (90m) et très haute résolution (50cm). L'analyse des déplacements cumulés le long de la faille de Maoergai a permis de proposer que celle-ci était active vers ~15Ma. La seconde étude a mis en évidence un contrôle du système sur la répartition des taux de dénudation au travers de la marge Est tibétaine à l'échelle de l'Holocène. Enfin, les données de thermochronologie basse température suggèrent que la faille de Maoergai a accommodé un mouvement vertical vers ~10Ma. Ce mouvement est probablement lié au rebond isostatique de la marge, découplé du mouvement décrochant qu'elle accommode à la même période. / This manuscript concerns the tectonic and geomorphic analysis of the Longriba fault system (LFS), located in the eastern Tibetan plateau at about 200 km north-west of the Longmen Shan. The LFS consists of two dextral strike-slip fault zones, parallel and N55 °-trending: the Longriqu fault to the north and the Maoergai fault the south. The geodynamic role of the system is essential as accommodates 5 ± 1 mm / year of the slip component induced by the oblique convergence of the Aba block, itself linked to the India-Asia collision. In addition, the LFS partitions the deformation of the east Tibetan margin; the structures of the Longmen Shan are mainly thrust faults. However the long-term history of LFS is poorly constrained. The objective of this thesis is to bring spatial and temporal information on system activity throughout the Cenozoic. To do so, three studies were performed. The first led to better constrain the seismogenic behavior of the two fault zones with low resolution (90m) and very high resolution satellite images (50cm). The analysis of cumulative displacements along the Maoergai fault allowed to propose that it was active at ~ 15 Ma. The second study showed that the system controls the distribution of the denudation rates over the EastTibetan margin throughout the Holocene. Finally, the low-temperature thermochronology data suggest that, in particular, the Maoergai fault has accommodated a vertical movement at ~ 10 Ma. This movement is probably related to the isostatic rebound of the margin, decoupled from the strike-slip movement it accommodates at the same period.

In my doctoral thesis I have investigated earthquake swarms from two com- pletely different tectonic areas, West Bohemia/Vogtland and Southwest Iceland, with the aim of gaining a deeper insight into the nature of earthquake swarms in diverse tectonic environments. I analysed swarm-like activities from West Bo- hemia and Southwest Iceland from the perspective of statistical characteristics (magnitude-frequency distribution, interevent time distribution), seismic moment release, and space-time distribution of events. I found that the ratio of small to large events and the event rates are similar for all the activities in both areas, while the rate of the seismic moment release is significantly higher for the South- west Icelandic swarms. Seismic moment released step by step is characterised for the West Bohemia swarms, whereas seismic moment released in one dominant short-term phase is typical of Southwest Icelandic earthquake swarms. All the West Bohemian swarms took place in a bounded focal zone Nový Kostel that is fairly complex, consisting of several fault segments. The Southwest Icelandic swarms are distributed at much larger area along the Mid Atlantic Ridge up to its branching in the Hengill triple junction, the individual swarms clearly reflect a tectonic structure of respective focal areas. I have...