nesus, Armenia, and Georgia have largely profited from the experience acquired in the study of the large events of the early 1980s. The Mediterranean region is not only the site of shallow dispersed seismic activity, it is also the site of localized intermediate depth seismic activity, and of some rare deeper events. Active subduc tion is clearly at the origin of Greek intermediate depth seismicity, while the deep activity under Calabria and the Vrancea region in Romania is clearly related to downgoing slabs that have long remained active after the arrest of subduction. The origin of the intermediate and very deep seismicity below Spain is a considerably more complex problem. Several possible explanations of the intermediate depth activity to about 110 km have been proposed, but the origin of the deep (650 km) events studied by BURFORN et a1. remains a mystery since this is the only source of deep activity that is not related in an obvious way to a subduction zone. The problem of seismic source mechanism and seismotectonics cannot be completely separated from that of the mechanical origin of earthquakes. Recent work on this subject has revealed the intimate relation between fault geometry, as observed by field geologists, and the results of inversion of source process from seismic data in the far-field or in the near-field.

nesus, Armenia, and Georgia have largely profited from the experience acquired in the study of the large events of the early 1980s. The Mediterranean region is not only the site of shallow dispersed seismic activity, it is also the site of localized intermediate depth seismic activity, and of some rare deeper events. Active subduc tion is clearly at the origin of Greek intermediate depth seismicity, while the deep activity under Calabria and the Vrancea region in Romania is clearly related to downgoing slabs that have long remained active after the arrest of subduction. The origin of the intermediate and very deep seismicity below Spain is a considerably more complex problem. Several possible explanations of the intermediate depth activity to about 110 km have been proposed, but the origin of the deep (650 km) events studied by BURFORN et a1. remains a mystery since this is the only source of deep activity that is not related in an obvious way to a subduction zone. The problem of seismic source mechanism and seismotectonics cannot be completely separated from that of the mechanical origin of earthquakes. Recent work on this subject has revealed the intimate relation between fault geometry, as observed by field geologists, and the results of inversion of source process from seismic data in the far-field or in the near-field.

An innovative new approach to studying earthquake source mechanisms, combining theory and observation, for graduate students, researchers and seismology professionals.

This book first focuses on the explanation of the theory about focal mechanisms and moment tensor solutions and their role in the modern seismology. The second part of the book compiles several state-of-the-art case studies in different seismotectonic settings of the planet.The assessment of seismic hazard and the reduction of losses due to future earthquakes is probably the most important contribution of seismology to society. In this regard, the understanding of reliable determination seismic source and of its uncertainty can play a key role in contributing to geodynamic investigation, seismic hazard assessment and earthquake studies. In the last two decades, the use of waveforms recorded at local-to-regional distances has increased considerably. Waveform modeling has been used also to estimate faulting parameters of small-to-moderate sized earthquakes.

Professor Richard (Rick) Sibson revolutionized structural geology by illustrating that fault rocks contain an integrated record of earthquakes. Fault-rock textures develop in response to geological and physical variables such as composition, environmental conditions (e.g. temperature and pressure), fluid presence and strain rate. These parameters also determine the rate- and state-variable frictional stability of a fault, the dominant mineral deformation mechanism and shear strength, and ultimately control the partitioning between seismic and aseismic deformation. This volume contains a collection of papers that address the geological record of earthquake faulting from field-based or theoretical perspectives.