Information message about the strong earthquake in Northern Italy on May 29, 2012

     The strong earthquake with M=6 has occurred on May 29, 2012 at 7:00 GMT (11:00 Moscow time) in Northern Italy.
     Parameters of the earthquake have been determined in the Alert Service (AS) of Information Processing Center (IPC) of Geophysical Survey of RAS in Obninsk with station data obtained from digital and analog seismic stations of Russia, countries of CIS and from abroad. Alert message on this earthquake has been delivered in 16 min after registration to the Ministry of Emergency of the Russian Federation (EMERCOM).
     Preliminary processing has been done with data from 61 stations, accurate processing - with data 68 stations.
     Fig. 1 presents fragments of records obtained from digital stations Kaliningrad (∆ 11.2º), Kongsberg (∆ 14.7º), Vasula (∆ 16.5º), Obninsk (∆ 19.1º), Kislovodsk (∆ 22.4º). Fig. 2 presents fragments of records obtained from digital stations Lovozero (∆ 26º), Arti (∆ 31.5º), Borovoe (∆ 38.6º), Talaya (∆ 57.8º), Yakutsk (∆ 62.5º).

Figure 1
 

Figure 2
 
     IPC GS RAS also has obtained information with parameters of this event from some seismological centers, these data are given in table 1:
Table 1
NN Time in origin h-min-s (GMT) Lat degr. Lon degr. Depth km N s/st Ms/ N mb/ N I0 calc GAP Center
1 07-00-03.7 45.03 11.18  10  68  6/256/268.5  IPC GS RAS (Accurate)
2 07-00-03.8 45.04 11.19  10  61  6/256/228.5 114 IPC GS RAS (Preliminary)
3 07-00-04.0 44.93 11.06  20    Mw 5.8    CSEM
4 07-00-03.9 44.81 11.08  9.6  400  Mw 5.8 5.8/108 25 NEIC
  • IPC GS RAS - Informational Processing Center, Geophysical Survey, Russian Academy of Sciences
  • CSEM - European - Mediterranean seismological center
  • NEIC - National Earthquakes Information Center of US Geological Service
  • Epicenter
         Fig. 3 presents with red star epicenter of this earthquake which origin was located on the territory of Emilia-Romagna region in Italy at the depth of 10 km, 57 km N-N-W of Bologna, 105 km W-S-W of Venice and 164 km E-S-E of Milan.

    Figure 3
    Aftershock
         GS RAS registered 6 aftershocks with M>4.3 within 12 hours after the main shock.
    N Date   &   Time (GMT)
    yy-mm-dd hh:mm:sec
    Lat
    degr.
    Lon
    degr.
    Depth
    km
    N
    station
    Ms/ N mb/ N Io
    calc.
    Region
    201222022012-05-29 08:25:52.044.9611.261020-4.7/ 134.5-5 Northern Italy
    201222032012-05-29 08:40:57.044.9710.811017-4.7/ 94.5-5 Northern Italy
    201222052012-05-29 09:30:20.045.1710.921010-4.4/ 84 Northern Italy
    201222062012-05-29 10:55:55.044.9111.021051-5.6/ 236.5-7 Northern Italy
    201222072012-05-29 11:00:23.044.9310.91026-5.2/ 195.5-6 Northern Italy
    201222112012-05-29 18:28:00.044.9210.91017-4.5/ 94-4.5 Northern Italy
    Macroseismic manifestations
         In accordance with Chanel One this new earthquake killed 16 persons. More than 350 persons were injured. More than half of buildings in some living places were broken to debris, some significant industrial facilities were also damaged. Railway traffic was stopped. Information is available about missing people. Authorities of Milan with the goal of precaution evacuated the staff of state offices, schools and kindergartens. In small town Capri most of the buildings were destroyed. At night time local residents moved to hastily built tent camps. Fig. 4, taken from USGS NEIC , presents the USGS Community Internet Intensity Map by 321 responses in 166 cities.

    Figure 4

    Figure 5
    Historical records
         Epicenter of this earthquake was located 20 km N-W of another earthquake's epicenter of May 20, 2012 with M=6.1
    Focal mechanism and seismic moment of the earthquake
         Focal mechanism of the earthquake on May 29, 2012 at 07:00 was calculated in US GS NEIC with WPhase Moment Solution method, it is presented in stereographic projection (the lower hemisphere) at figure 6, elements of this mechanism are given in table 2. This earthquake has occurred under the action of compression forces oriented to the south. The type of motion in the origin – reverse fault with minor strike-slip components. Both nodal planes have near-latitudinal strike (Stk=92º, 291º) and close angles of dipping (DP=44-48º). Seismic moment of this earthquake was obtained in IPC GS RAS with Р-wave spectra registered at «Arti» station (∆ 31.46º), it makes Mo=1.2*10**18 N*m. Average value of moment magnitude was calculated with Kanamori formula and makes Mw=6.0. In accordance with USGS NEIC Mo=5.5*10**17 N*m, Mw=5.8.
    Table 2
    Axes of main strengths Nodal planes Center
    T P N NP1 NP2
    Pl Azm Pl Azm Pl Azm Stk Dp Slip Stk Dp Slip
    802921191 91012914410492 4877NEIC
  • NEIC - National Earthquakes Information Center of US Geological Service

  • Figure 6


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