Fault activity in the epicentral area of the 1580 Dover Strait (Pas-de-Calais) earthquake (northwestern Europe)
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Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
On 1580 April 6 one of the most destructive earthquakes of northwestern Europe took place
in the Dover Strait (Pas de Calais). The epicentre of this seismic event, the magnitude of
which is estimated to have been about 6.0, has been located in the offshore continuation
of the North Artois shear zone, a major Variscan tectonic structure that traverses the Dover
Strait. The location of this and two other moderate magnitude historical earthquakes in the
Dover Strait suggests that the North Artois shear zone or some of its fault segments may be
presently active. In order to investigate the possible fault activity in the epicentral area of
the AD 1580 earthquake, we have gathered a large set of bathymetric and seismic-reflection
data covering the almost-entire width of the Dover Strait. These data have revealed a broad
structural zone comprising several subparallel WNW–ESE trending faults and folds, some of
them significantly offsetting the Cretaceous bedrock. The geophysical investigation has also
shown some indication of possible Quaternary fault activity. However, this activity only appears
to have affected the lowermost layers of the sediment infilling Middle Pleistocene palaeobasins.
This indicates that, if these faults have been active since Middle Pleistocene, their slip rates
must have been very low. Hence, the AD 1580 earthquake appears to be a very infrequent
event in the Dover Strait, representing a good example of the moderate magnitude earthquakes
that sometimes occur in plate interiors on faults with unknown historical seismicity.
in the Dover Strait (Pas de Calais). The epicentre of this seismic event, the magnitude of
which is estimated to have been about 6.0, has been located in the offshore continuation
of the North Artois shear zone, a major Variscan tectonic structure that traverses the Dover
Strait. The location of this and two other moderate magnitude historical earthquakes in the
Dover Strait suggests that the North Artois shear zone or some of its fault segments may be
presently active. In order to investigate the possible fault activity in the epicentral area of
the AD 1580 earthquake, we have gathered a large set of bathymetric and seismic-reflection
data covering the almost-entire width of the Dover Strait. These data have revealed a broad
structural zone comprising several subparallel WNW–ESE trending faults and folds, some of
them significantly offsetting the Cretaceous bedrock. The geophysical investigation has also
shown some indication of possible Quaternary fault activity. However, this activity only appears
to have affected the lowermost layers of the sediment infilling Middle Pleistocene palaeobasins.
This indicates that, if these faults have been active since Middle Pleistocene, their slip rates
must have been very low. Hence, the AD 1580 earthquake appears to be a very infrequent
event in the Dover Strait, representing a good example of the moderate magnitude earthquakes
that sometimes occur in plate interiors on faults with unknown historical seismicity.
Date Issued
2015-05-01
Date Acceptance
2015-01-20
Citation
Geophysical Journal International, 2015, 201 (2), pp.528-542
ISSN
1365-246X
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Start Page
528
End Page
542
Journal / Book Title
Geophysical Journal International
Volume
201
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© The Authors 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Royal Astronomical Society.
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Palaeoseismology
Intraplate processes
Submarine tectonics
Neotectonics
Europe
ENGLISH-CHANNEL
INVERSION STRUCTURES
TECTONIC INVERSION
FRANCE
BASIN
BOULONNAIS
ENGLAND
ARTOIS
SHELF
STRATIGRAPHY
Publication Status
Published