RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Albania is located in the southeastern part of the area of active convergence between the European plate and the Adriatic microplate. The convergence process, active from the lower Miocene, determined the formation of the Albanid chain, a junction element between the Hellenid orogen, in the south, and the Dinaric one, in the north, and is also the engine of recent and current tectonic activity.

A different tectonic regime characterizes the western, coastal sectors (external Albanids), compared to the eastern and internal sectors (internal Albanids). The tectonic activity is mainly of a compressive nature in the external Albanids, with active shortening in the southwest direction of thrust and reverse faults oriented NW-SE, segmented by right-lateral transcurrent structures that represent the junctions between the sectors with different rates of shortening. The internal Albanids are characterized, on the other hand, by a prevailing relaxing tectonics, with evidence above all in the internal intra-mountain and lake basins (e.g. Lake Ohrid).

Albania is a country with high seismic hazard, as highlighted also by the recent earthquake of 26 November 2019 (Mw 6.4), with its epicentre north of Durres and with effects also in the Tirana valley. The major known historical earthquakes reached a magnitude of 6.8 (Vlora in 1851 and Pogradec in 1911) and known earthquakes mainly affected the external and coastal areas; these areas are also the most populated and of greater tourist development, drawing strong attention to the theme of seismic risk mitigation. Despite this, there is still no general consensus on what the sources of the individual earthquakes are, nor on what exactly the seismogenic structures in Albania and their superficial expressions are. To date, only studies on a regional scale have been made, aimed at the possible identification of the major seismic sources (eg SHARE Project), while it is still missing the mapping of individual active faults and their characterization in kinematic and seismological terms, as well as their evaluation in terms of risk of surface faulting (capable faults). Added to this is the fact that various active structures directly affect the urban fabric of even larger cities, and that many of the strongest earthquakes have had their epicentre in important centres, such as Durres (349 AD, M 6.6; 1270, M 6.7), Berat (1851, M 6.6), Borsh (1893, M 6.6), Vlora (1851, M 6.8; 1866, M 6.6), Shkodra (1911, M 6.7), Pogradec (1911, M 6.8).

The improvement of knowledge on the seismic sources of Albania and on the tectonic mechanisms, responsible for seismicity in the eastern sectors, is also of particular interest for Italy, on the one hand because the effects of Albanian earthquakes can also be felt on the prospecting Italian coasts (and vice versa), both in terms of shaking and with regard to the tsunami risk, and on the other because, affecting opposite and close margins of the same rigid microplate, the possibility that the strong earthquakes in Albania may in turn affect the evolution of seismicity in south-eastern Italy, as hypothesized by some authors, cannot be excluded.

Following the earthquake of 26 November 2019, a collaboration began, still in progress, between Italy (ISPRA and CNR) and Albania (Institute of Geosciences, Energy, Water and Environment (IGEWE) and Geological Survey of Albania) for the characterization of the seismic source of the event and the study of the tectonic activity of the epicentral area. The numerous geological evidence of the surface relating to the active tectonic structures found in this first study (Vittori et al., submitted*) revealed the need for a coordinated joint study for the paleo-seismological characterization of Albania.

Albania has an extensive geological cartography, including detailed, and a rich repertoire of geophysical sections and numerous deep wells, both on land and sea, only partially used for the analysis of active tectonics and of the geology of earthquakes. The analysis and interpretation of these data, including observations on hydrological variations in wells and springs before and after earthquakes, will allow us to obtain important information on surface geology and improve correlations with the geological structure at depth and characterization of the main tectonic structures.

However, since there is not a sufficiently detailed thematic cartography on tectonics and active structures in a highly seismic country such as Albania, this project aims to contribute to the realization of studies and the production of thematic cartography on active tectonic structures both in regional scale and in more specific areas, with more detailed analysis, with particular regard to the areas with the highest seismicity, to the main structures or to those involving urban areas.

The study of the tectonic activity of the Albanian territory, aimed at the mapping and tectonic and seismological characterization of the active structures, will be conducted through the analysis of the available information (geological cartography and seismic sections, topography at various scales both on paper and digital and aerial photos ), data and services of the Copernicus Program (satellite and dtm images), and targeted surveys on the ground. This combined study can therefore allow you to quickly assemble an in-depth knowledge framework of the areas with the greatest tectonic activity, also by virtue of the limited territorial extension of the country and the morphological evidence of the structures to be investigated. The most important tectonic structures will be catalogued and organized in a database, in accordance with the INSPIRE directive and according to the standards of the Catalogue of Active and Capable Faults, ITHACA of ISPRA, created and maintained by proposers. This activity will constitute a further element of collaboration and integration between the Research Institutes and the Geological Services of the two countries.

The collaboration between the two countries will also develop through a synergy on the level of scientific training, both at the research level (joint doctoral theses, internships, seminars of teachers in the mutual bodies and courses of study, webinars and distance learning, creation of a thematic geological laboratory of active Tectonics and Seismotectonics in Tirana), both at the level of disclosure at local administrations (with the transfer of useful data for seismic microzonation studies and for the preparation of territorial plans) and the population (seismic risk awareness campaigns at schools, popular conferences and web conferences). We also aim to encourage open access to information by making the data acquired in the project available on the net through the dissemination and publication on dedicated open source portals and online archives, such as OpenAIRE, European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), Zenodo o Pangea data publisher.

The proposed studies will therefore have important scientific and social repercussions, useful for the definition of tectonic and geodynamic characteristics, for understanding and reduction of geological risks, for improving the resilience of cities, for raising awareness and informing the population on the risk earthquake, for the scientific and cultural integration of the two countries.

The results obtained will provide useful information both at national and municipal level, for the development of seismic microzonation studies, for territorial planning activities and for the preparation of civil protection plans in the event of a seismic emergency. The dissemination of the results will be facilitated through their publication on freely accessible online platforms (WebGIS).

The collaboration between IGG (CNR) and the Geological Service of Italy (ISPRA) allows you to broaden the spectrum of skills both in geology and neotectonics, and in the structuring and supply of online services (WebGIS) compliant with the INSPIRE directive (such as the ITHACA catalog of ISPRA). The bilateral cooperation with IGEWE and Geological Survey of Albania guarantees, finally, the full complementarity between skills from the local to the international level and opens the possibility of developing lasting activities, necessary to build an exhaustive knowledge framework of the Albanian tectonic structure, functional to the reduction of the country’s seismic risk.

 

The geological and seismological studies in Albania have produced a large body of literature and information, including the continuous recording of earthquakes, documented and archived seismograms, information collected on earthquake reports and seismic damage, field works on neotectonics and active faults, investigated seismicity and seismotectonics. Also, the characteristics of earthquakes as well as evaluation and assessment of seismic hazard, which are crucial for urban areas and infrastructure of the country, have been studied where earthquakes have occurred in the past and probably expected in the future. All this studies have a great value for the mitigation of seismic risk and for reducing earthquake damages (Aliaj et al., 2010).

Historical and instrumental seismicity. The historical seismicity of Albania is described in various catalogues as: Morelli C. (1942), Shebalin et al. (1974), Papazachos et al. (2001), Sulstarova et al. (2005). The instrumental seismicity in Albania is recorded from the beginning of the 20th century when the establishment of seismological stations in Europe made possible the evidence of earthquakes that occurred in Albania and nearby territory. The earthquakes, with magnitude Ms>6.0 (MSK-64 intensity Io > VII-VIII) have been recorded since 1905, those with Ms>4.0 (MSK-64 intensity Io > IV-V) since 1968 and those Ms>2.5 (MSK-64 intensity Io > II-III) since 1976.

Neotectonic structures. The large neotectonics units and geomorphology have been studied in Albania, and sense, intensity and chronology of vertical movements have been analyzed. The present-day tectonic stress field has been studied via microtectonics and focal mechanism solutions of earthquakes (Aliaj, 1982, Sulstarova E. 1990, Muco B., 2006). Earthquake epicenters are concentrated mostly along active fault zones, therefore identification of active faults is a very important step in seismotectonic analysis and hazard evaluation, requiring the definition of seismic sources of major earthquakes. The mapped active faults in Albania were determined by different studies, such as geological, geomorphological and geophysical (mainly seismic) investigations. The offshore faults have been identified from recent seismic explorations carried out in the Albanian offshore by foreign oil exploration companies (Aliaj 1988). The Albanian orogenic front is cut and displaced, from south to north, by three strike-slip faults, namely the Othoni Island-Dhermi-Dukat, the north Sazani Island and the Bay-Lezha-Kukes strike-slip faults, all of them seismically seismically active.

Fault detection by lineaments of consecutive epicenters. The method of micro and small earthquake epicenter’s migration dynamics during very short time periods has been used as another indicator for fault detection. The investigation of about 200 micro and small earthquakes  of magnitude 2.0-5.0 has allowed us to obtain significant information for some active tectonic structures, such as transverse faults, namely: Gjiri i Drinit-Lezha-Fan-Kukes (Drin Bay-Lezha-Fan-Kukes), Vlora-Elbasan-Diber, etc. The seismic microactivity confirms the known active faults, also allowing identification of segments of other previously undetected faults (Muco B. 1994).

 

Italian participants are expert in the study of present-day geodynamics, active tectonics, earthquake geology, paleoseismology and seismic hazard. Their experience, documented in the numerous scientific publications on these subjects (e.g. Vittori et al., 2011; Livio et al., 2016; Bonini et al., 2016; Blumetti et al., 2017; Piccardi et al., 2017; Nirta et al., submitted), also consists in the elaboration of thematic maps of active tectonics. They have initiated in 2000, and maintained up to present, the Italian catalogue and database on active and capable faults ITHACA (ITaly HAzards from CApable faults), which is one of today’s main reference catalogue for active faults and the only national reference for seismic microzonation studies on capable faults. They started in 2005 the project to create a uniformed seismotectonic map of the Adriatic Region, in the framework of the ESF COST Action 625 “3D monitoring of active tectonic structures” (e.g. Piccardi et al., 2011). They also produced seismotectonic maps of several Italian Regions (e.g. Boccaletti et al., 2003; Martelli et al., 2017), and are now developing the map of active and capable faults of Tuscany Region, a database and catalogue for active and capable faults which will represent the reference for microzonation studies, according to the Italian guidelines for the evaluation of Surface Faulting Hazard (Piccardi et al., 2019).

References

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Aliaj (1982a).  General Features of Neotectonic Structure of Albania: Earth Risk Reduction in the Balkan Region, p. A-15-22.

Aliaj (1982b).  Basic Seismotectonic Features of Albania: Earth Risk Reduction in the Balkan Region, p. A-27-32.

Aliaj Sh., Meco S. (2018). Neotectonic map of Albania at the scale 1:200.000. Archive of Albanian Geological Survey, Tirana.

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Blumetti, A. M., Di Manna , P., Vittori, E.,  Comerci, V., Guerrieri, L., 2017. Paleoseismicity of the San Demetrio ne’ Vestini fault (L’Aquila Basin, Central Italy): implications for seismic hazard. Quaternary International. Special Issue on the “6th International INQUA Meeting on Paleoseismology, Active Tectonics and Archaeoseismology. 19 | 24 April 2015, Pescina, Fucino Basin”. Quaternary International 451, 129-142.

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Piccardi, L., Vittori, E., Blumetti, A.M., Comerci V., Di Manna, P., Guerrieri L., Baglione M., D’Intinosante V., 2017. Mapping capable faulting hazard in a moderate-seismicity, high heat-flow environment: the Tuscia province (southern Tuscany-northern Latium, Italy). Quaternary International, 451, 11-36.

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KEY WORDS
Active tectonics, Active and capable faults, Seismic Hazard, Paleoseismology, Remote sensing, Reduction of natural risks, Digital cartography, WebGis, Open Data, Training and scientific dissemination, Resilient cities.