The Energy Space Density (ESD) Distribution: A New Approach to Reveal the Degree of Fracturing of the Crust in the Etna Region (Italy)

The traditional method of representing the seismicity in a region involves plotting earthquakes of various magnitudes on a map. Energy release, however, offers a different perspective for understanding seismicity, especially in volcanic areas where earthquakes are abundant and occur in the form of s...

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Main Authors: Elisabetta Giampiccolo, Tiziana Tuvè, Francesca Bianco, Edoardo Del Pezzo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Seismological Society of America 2025-01-01
Series:The Seismic Record
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1785/0320240036
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author Elisabetta Giampiccolo
Tiziana Tuvè
Francesca Bianco
Edoardo Del Pezzo
author_facet Elisabetta Giampiccolo
Tiziana Tuvè
Francesca Bianco
Edoardo Del Pezzo
author_sort Elisabetta Giampiccolo
collection DOAJ
description The traditional method of representing the seismicity in a region involves plotting earthquakes of various magnitudes on a map. Energy release, however, offers a different perspective for understanding seismicity, especially in volcanic areas where earthquakes are abundant and occur in the form of swarms. In this study, we analyzed earthquakes with a moment magnitude (Mw) greater than 1.5 that occurred between 2006 and 2023, which were relocated using a 3D velocity model, to examine the distribution of energy space density (ESD) in the Etna region. The ESD maps reveal the fundamental patterns of seismicity, which generally align with the local structural features. The shallow crust above 10 km plays a crucial role in energy distribution, with the highest values found in the eastern and southwestern sectors, along well-known structures bordering the unstable sector of the volcano. At deeper levels (down to 20 km), high ESD values are observed in the western sector and are related to the dynamics of magma movement at these depths. The ESD pattern improves the clarity of rock fracture density visualization, offering a more detailed view of the areas with the highest fracture density. These regions may indicate where fluid is stored beneath the volcano.
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spelling doaj-art-53b531241b204dfda0150ba3e07b02512025-08-20T03:16:24ZengSeismological Society of AmericaThe Seismic Record2694-40062025-01-015111010.1785/0320240036tsr2024036The Energy Space Density (ESD) Distribution: A New Approach to Reveal the Degree of Fracturing of the Crust in the Etna Region (Italy)Elisabetta Giampiccolo0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5203-7436Tiziana Tuvè1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4111-8008Francesca Bianco2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5400-7724Edoardo Del Pezzo3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6981-5967INGV Osservatorio Etneo, Catania, ItalyINGV Osservatorio Etneo, Catania, ItalyOsservatorio Vesuviano, Naples, ItalyOsservatorio Vesuviano, Naples, ItalyThe traditional method of representing the seismicity in a region involves plotting earthquakes of various magnitudes on a map. Energy release, however, offers a different perspective for understanding seismicity, especially in volcanic areas where earthquakes are abundant and occur in the form of swarms. In this study, we analyzed earthquakes with a moment magnitude (Mw) greater than 1.5 that occurred between 2006 and 2023, which were relocated using a 3D velocity model, to examine the distribution of energy space density (ESD) in the Etna region. The ESD maps reveal the fundamental patterns of seismicity, which generally align with the local structural features. The shallow crust above 10 km plays a crucial role in energy distribution, with the highest values found in the eastern and southwestern sectors, along well-known structures bordering the unstable sector of the volcano. At deeper levels (down to 20 km), high ESD values are observed in the western sector and are related to the dynamics of magma movement at these depths. The ESD pattern improves the clarity of rock fracture density visualization, offering a more detailed view of the areas with the highest fracture density. These regions may indicate where fluid is stored beneath the volcano.https://doi.org/10.1785/0320240036
spellingShingle Elisabetta Giampiccolo
Tiziana Tuvè
Francesca Bianco
Edoardo Del Pezzo
The Energy Space Density (ESD) Distribution: A New Approach to Reveal the Degree of Fracturing of the Crust in the Etna Region (Italy)
The Seismic Record
title The Energy Space Density (ESD) Distribution: A New Approach to Reveal the Degree of Fracturing of the Crust in the Etna Region (Italy)
title_full The Energy Space Density (ESD) Distribution: A New Approach to Reveal the Degree of Fracturing of the Crust in the Etna Region (Italy)
title_fullStr The Energy Space Density (ESD) Distribution: A New Approach to Reveal the Degree of Fracturing of the Crust in the Etna Region (Italy)
title_full_unstemmed The Energy Space Density (ESD) Distribution: A New Approach to Reveal the Degree of Fracturing of the Crust in the Etna Region (Italy)
title_short The Energy Space Density (ESD) Distribution: A New Approach to Reveal the Degree of Fracturing of the Crust in the Etna Region (Italy)
title_sort energy space density esd distribution a new approach to reveal the degree of fracturing of the crust in the etna region italy
url https://doi.org/10.1785/0320240036
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