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The Northern Thessaly Basin in central Greece ranks amongst the most well pronounced extensional (graben) basins in the backarc Aegean Sea region, with well-mapped faults having an ∼E–W orientation, compatible with the ongoing predominant ∼N–S extension. The southern margin of the basin is bounded by major faults associated with strong (M 6 to M 7) earthquakes, whereas along its northern margin, strong events are more scarce, in the documented catalogues. Along this northern margin, a weak, albeit persisting foreshock activity, culminated within 3 d, to an M w 6.3 earthquake on 3 March 2021 associated with a 15-km-long NE dipping fault segment. It was followed the next day, by the second M w 6.0 main shock associated with a 13-km-long NE dipping fault segment and 9 d later by an M w 5.5 earthquake associated with an 8-km-long SW dipping fault segment, with its aligned epicentres, showcasing the cascade type activation of adjacent fault segments. The sequence, evolved to be very productive, with aftershocks extending ∼50 km along a ∼NW–SE trending narrow seismic zone. All events indicate pure normal faulting, with an NNE–SSW oriented extensional axis, oblique to our previous consensus of the prevalence of ∼N–S extension. This observation documents that inherited fault fabric can be reactivated within the modern tectonic stress field. We use high-quality seismological data, alongside Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) methodology and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data, to study the temporal and spatial evolution of the sequence, and to provide inferred kinematic models that describe the complexity of the seismic process, in terms of heterogeneous slip distribution, activated fault planes, fault geometry and displacement field. Cross-sections show that the activity defines the crustal seismogenic layer at depths between 5 and 10 km, associated with low-angle fault segments dipping to the NE. Other faults, both antithetic and secondary ones, appear active and accommodated aftershocks clusters. Using our preferred finite fault source model, we calculated the changes of Coulomb failure stress on the neighbouring faults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Aegean is tectonically the most active and complex area in the Mediterranean region, including numerous active structures of all types of kinematics, often related to destructive seismic events. In such a tectonic environment, the estimation of rotational regime is decisive in the determination of the geodynamic and geotectonic evolution of this region. Satellite geodesy is a reliable way of estimating the rotation rate, while its comparison with palaeomagnetic data can lead to the identification of well-established patterns. To this direction, we use geodetic datasets recorded by permanent GPS/GNSS stations and we apply the triangulation methodology by combining three stations each time. Consequently, for each and every point of the 4733 extracted ones, the rotation rate and its pattern are calculated. Using the above results, two rotation models are proposed: one for the past 1 Myr and one for the past 5 Myr. In addition, the geostatistical analysis of the geodetically extracted results was carried out, in order to determine their spatial distribution. The comparison and combination of these two geodetically induced models with palaeomagnetic data, led to the delineation of distinct upper crust areas of uniform rotation within the Aegean region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The broader Corinth Gulf region is characterized by a notable active tectonic regime, associated with multiple active fault zones. The continuous N-S extensional tectonics of the area is responsible for the roughly E-W trending active normal fault zones, while individual fault segments are associated with seismic events. Satellite geodesy is a qualitative and quantitative means of estimating the tectonically active setting, based on the recorded motions. The study area is monitored by 14 permanent GPS/GNSS stations, collecting primary geodetic data for a 7-year time period (2008-2014). A 30-sec observation rate was performed, resulting in the extraction of the GPS/GNSS velocity values. The primary geodetic data were processed by applying the triangulation methodology, based on the combination of three different GPS/GNSS stations data, which were considered as the triangle vertices. Triangulation methodology led to the construction of 26 different triangles, while for each of them a series of parameters was determined. In particular, the extracted parameters are: a) Maximum Horizontal Extension, b) Total Velocity, c) Maximum Shear Strain and d) Area Strain. The extracted results are expected to approach, qualitatively and quantitatively, the interpretation of the tectonic regime, as well as to determine new, seismic-related, tectonic features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]