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Andean broken foreland zones, located to the east of the highest Andes, are associated with populated areas and sedimentary basins with relative economic importance. Understanding their seismogenic potential is crucial for urban development and infrastructure planning. In particular, the San Rafael Block is part of the broken foreland developed to the south of the Chilean-Pampean flat subduction zone. A local seismic network allows analyzing the seismogenic potential of the San Rafael Block. Earthquake distribution suggests a northeast-dipping ramp rooting at the lower crust, cropping out at the western topographic front of the basement uplift. Gravity data confirm the asymmetry of the San Rafael block with a western topographic front associated with the main structure that exhumes the basement. Seismological and gravity data allow proposing a west-verging structure, contrary to previous interpretations based on surficial structural data. The results presented here identify the highest shallow seismogenic potential on the western side of the block, near the El Nihuil dam, and only deep events at the eastern neotectonic front which allegedly hosted historical earthquake occurrences such as the Villa Atuel-Las Malvinas earthquake in 1929.

We investigate the effect of the westerly rotation of the lithosphere on the active margins that surround the Americas and find good correlations between the inferred easterly-directed mantle counterflow and the main structural grain and kinematics of the Andes and Sandwich arc slabs. In the Andes, the subduction zone is shallow and with low dip, because the mantle flow sustains the slab; the subduction hinge converges relative to the upper plate and generates an uplifting doubly verging orogen. The Sandwich Arc is generated by a westerly-directed SAM (South American) plate subduction where the eastward mantle flow is steepening and retreating the subduction zone. In this context, the slab hinge is retreating relative to the upper plate, generating the backarc basin and a low bathymetry single-verging accretionary prism. In Central America, the Caribbean plate presents a more complex scenario: (a) To the East, the Antilles Arc is generated by westerly directed subduction of the SAM plate, where the eastward mantle flow is steepening and retreating the subduction zone. (b) To the West, the Middle America Trench and Arc are generated by the easterly-directed subduction of the Cocos plate, where the shallow subduction caused by eastward mantle flow in its northern segment gradually steepens to the southern segment as it is infered by the preexisting westerly-directed subduction of the Caribbean Plateau. In the frame of the westerly lithospheric flow, the subduction of a divergent active ridge plays the role of introducing a change in the oceanic/continental plate’s convergence angle, such as in NAM (North American) plate with the collision with the Pacific/Farallon active ridge in the Neogene (Cordilleran orogenic type scenario). The easterly mantle drift sustains strong plate coupling along NAM, showing at Juan de Fuca easterly subducting microplate that the subduction hinge advances relative to the upper plate. This lower/upper plate convergence coupling also applies along strike to the neighbor continental strike slip fault systems where subduction was terminated (San Andreas and Queen Charlotte). The lower/upper plate convergence coupling enables the capture of the continental plate ribbons of Baja California and Yakutat terrane by the Pacific oceanic plate, transporting them along the strike slip fault systems as para-autochthonous terranes. This Cordilleran orogenic type scenario, is also recorded in SAM following the collision with the Aluk/Farallon active ridge in the Paleogene, segmenting SAM margin into the eastwardly subducting Tupac Amaru microplate intercalated between the proto-Liquine-Ofqui and Atacama strike slip fault systems, where subduction was terminated and para-autochthonous terranes transported. In the Neogene, the convergence of Nazca plate with respect to SAM reinstalls subduction and the present Andean orogenic type scenario., Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas

The Argentine Andes between 34° and 36°S comprise a region that lies immediately south of the transition from the Chilean-Pampean flat-slab to a normal subduction segment. Several key changes take part through this area, such as a westward shift of the magmatic arc front, the end of Paleozoic outcrops of the Frontal Cordillera denoting a decline in exhumation, the change in strike of the orogenic belt, and a ∼2 km decrease in maximum and mean topography. We assess the associated segmentation of the deformation by studying the local seismicity. By analyzing one year of seismological data obtained from a local network, we found a significant shift in the low magnitude (M < 3) crustal seismicity pattern at ∼34.8°S. To the north, most events occur along the topographic front. In contrast, to the south, no events are observed in the frontal region but are instead located closer to the Andean axis. In addition, we used gravity data to determine elastic thickness in the region to compare crustal seismic activity with the pattern of crustal rigidity. We discuss this and other geological, tectonic, and climatic factors as possible controls on seismicity segmentation. We do not find a controlling role by neither elastic thickness nor precipitation patterns. Instead, we propose a thermal contrast due to the volcanic arc's geometry, and differing stress transfer from the subducting slab owing to mantle wedge heterogeneities, as the main active controls on the seismicity distribution; modulated by a passive control by pre-Andean rheological features of the crust.

Mediante el uso de una aproximación unidimensional (1D) estratificada de la tierra, se determinó un nuevo modelo de velocidad de onda P (Vp) de manto y corteza superior que mejora la localización de sismos en el antepaís andino argentino. Esta región presenta una intensa actividad sísmica cortical y de profundidad intermedia. Durante un periodo de tres meses, una apropiada red local de estaciones sismológi- cas permitió identificar 12,841 primeros arribos de onda P correspondientes a 1,262 sismos de profundidad intermedia y 449 sismos de corteza. Teniendo en cuenta un modelo de Vp predefinido, se seleccionó un subconjunto de sismos bien condicio- nados como datos de entrada para el proceso de inversión. El modelo inicial consis- tió en tres capas de velocidades para corteza y una para manto superior. El código VELEST fue utilizado para la determinación simultánea de velocidades, localiza- ción de hipocentros y corrección de estación. Se evaluó el desempeño del algoritmo y sus resultados finales considerando diferentes parámetros de amortiguamiento. El modelo de corteza obtenido presentó velocidades de 5.95, 6.15 y 6.82km/s corres- pondientes a profundidades de interface de 10, 32 y 45km debajo del nivel del mar. La raíz cuadrada de las diferencias cuadráticas (RMS) de residuos fue de 0.31s, 20.5% menor que la obtenida con modelo de Vp inicial. La velocidad de onda P para corteza superior fue levemente más alta sugiriendo mayor participación en esta zona de rocas de basamento cristalino. En la corteza inferior la velocidad obtenida es menor a las evidencias sismológicas principalmente al norte de la red, lo que sugiere una posible segmentación de composición de corteza inferior. La velocidad de manto superior con una determinación de 7.34km/s resultó muy baja sugiriendo un pobre condicionamiento por lo que fue definida a 8.04km/s. Las correcciones de estación se mantienen en general dentro de rangos normales y consistentes con determinaciones obtenidas a partir de datos de otra red sismológica. El patrón gene- ral de sismicidad no ha cambiado drásticamente pero las localizaciones más preci- sas podrán ser capaces de iluminar nuevas evidencias y más confiables correlaciones con las características tectónicas y estructurales de la región. El mo- delo de velocidades de onda P aquí propuesto reduce la incertidumbre en la locali- zación de hipocentros y se propone como un nuevo modelo local de corteza y manto superior para la rápida y preliminar localización de sismos de profundidad intermedia y corteza dentro del área por encima de placa de Nazca en transición de subducción plana a normal donde se concentra la mayor actividad sísmica cortical de Argentina.

Cerro Domuyo, in northwestern Neuquén province of Argentina, shows notable geothermal activity, although it is located at a considerable distance from the actual volcanic arc. Many studies have been developed in this area with the aim of investigating its geothermal field. Despite these efforts, the characterization of the dynamic activity in the area is still poorly known. This work shows the results of a network of seismological stations, which registered volcano-tectonic, long-period and hybrid events. A large number of volcano-tectonic events concentrated mostly in the Cerro Domuyo geothermal area were detected. These events can be divided into two groups, those that occurred at shallow depths below the geothermal area and those at greater depths below the high region of Cerro Domuyo. Shallow events were located around the Manchana Covunco fault and many of them were particularly clustered at its intersection with the Humazo fault. Seismicity in the area shows that these faults are continually active due to fluid movement, as was evidenced by the hydrothermal manifestation of the Humazo in 2003. Moreover, new studies provide evidence that the Cerro Domuyo is experiencing an important inflation caused by a magmatic body. Deep volcano-tectonic events are evidencing this activity. Considering the large distance between the actual volcanic arc and the study region, and the high density of shallow volcano-tectonic events, it is highly likely that this magmatic body is increasing the geothermal activity. Additionally, the aeromagnetic anomaly over Cerro Domuyo is showing a thin magnetic crust of less than 6 km, suggesting a clear link between the geophysical results and the inflation in Cerro Domuyo. Fil: Godoy, Laura Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina Fil: Nacif Suvire, Silvina Valeria. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina Fil: Lupari, Marianela Nadia. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina Fil: Garcia, Hector Pedro Antonio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina Fil: Correa Otto, Sebastian Ariel. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina Fil: Fernandez Melchor, Ivan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología; Argentina Fil: Pechuan Canet, Stefanie Nadia. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina Fil: Ariza, Juan Pablo. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina Fil: Gimenez, Mario Ernesto. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina Fil: Caselli, Alberto Tomás. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología; Argentina

The occurrence of a Neogene shallow subduction stage, as well as, a Pliocene slab-tearing, and steepening of the Nazca plate in the southern Central Andes are well established. However, a satisfactory explanation for the origin and connection between these complex processes is still elusive. In this contribution, we revise the late Cenozoic tectonic and magmatic evolution of the southern Central Andes between 35° and 38° S and discuss different proposals for the Miocene slab shallowing and its Pliocene destabilization. Recent plate kinematic reconstructions show that Neogene arc-front expansion linked to slab shallowing, fold belt reactivation in the main cordillera and intraplate contraction in the San Rafael Block correlates with the subduction of the ancient Payenia plume, a deep mantle anomaly potentially rooted in the lower mantle. Also, the Nazca slab tear determined from tomographic analyses and subsequent slab steepening may also be a direct consequence of this plume subduction process. Considering the westward drift of South America and the presence of several neighbor hotspots over the Nazca plate, the Payenia plume overriding could be the first of future episodes of plume–trench interaction in the Andes.

In this work we have analyzed the results of temporal geodetic variations associated with tectonic deformation on the Andean backarc in southern San Juan province, Argentina. This area is affected by the subduction of the Juan Fernández Ridge and has the greatest seismic hazard in Argentina. Since 2000, we have monitored the variations of gravity annually with high precision (g4D) in the active deformation belt, around the city of San Juan (31°S to 32°S, 68°W to 69°W). Temporal gradients of g4D have been associated with active structures and interpreted as subsurface mass redistributions as a result of accumulation and release of stress. These data, in addition to the topographic deformations measured by the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the identification of structures in the crystalline basement from the geophysical models, allow us interpret mechanisms of deformation in the contact between the Precordillera and Pampean Ranges in the foreland of San Juan. In this area, after more than a decade of low activity, in 2012 the Tulum Fault System (TFS) was reactivated, generating crustal events of moderate magnitude including an earthquake of M w 5.0 (January 18, 2012). According to our interpretation, the fault system accumulated elastic deformation for more than 10 years expressed as height increases at gravity stations (decrease of g4D) until the year 2011. The January 18, 2012 earthquake released part of the energy at the same time as a coseismic increase of g4D. This should be reflected in regional tectonic subsidence from the point of view of conventional gravimetric models. However, GPS reoccupation of the benchmarks located in this fault system indicates a generalized increase in altitude of the fault system in the last 15 years. TFS behavior could be assumed as topographic flexural displacements induced by a system of blind faults. We analyzed the time series of a permanent Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) station located to the north of the TFS. The GRLS station (31.61ºS; 68.32ºW) presents slow variation in the vertical and north components. The variation began on December 20, 2011 reaching its maximum amplitude on January 18, 2012. The geodetic variations coincide with the period of seismic reactivation. Fil: Leiva, Maria Flavia. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Ruiz, Francisco. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Acosta, Gemma. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Nacif Suvire, Silvina Valeria. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Spagnotto, Silvana Liz. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Nacif, Andres Antonio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina Fil: Christiansen, Rodolfo Omar. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Sisterna, Jorge Alberto. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina Fil: Figueroa Berroca, Mara Anabel. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Only few (six) focal mechanism, in CMT Catalog, have been so far known for intraplate shallow events in the Andean chain close to Chile–Argentina state border at latitudes ∼35° S. We add two more mechanisms, depths and moment magnitudes by carefully analyzing full waveforms of weak events recorded by broad-band stations of the Chile Argentina Geophysical Experiment (southern profile). The moment magnitudes of both events (Mw = 3.6 and 3.7) are lower than the duration magnitudes (Md = 4.0 and 4.29) reported by NEIC. The source depth, constrained by waveforms for one of the studied events (5.5–8.5 km) seems to be considerably shallower than the hypocenter depth located by means of arrival times (∼20 km). The waveform analysis was complemented by first-motion polarities which resulted in an uncertainty assessment of the focal mechanism. Event 1 (2001-11-03) has a strike-slip mechanism with a small normal component and almost vertical nodal planes in the north-south and east-west directions. The north-south nodal plane could be related to the Calabozos faults system. Event 2 (2002-02-16) has a strike-slip mechanism with a small thrust component. The latter event (its subhorizontal nodal plane) could be associated with the El Diablo-El Fierro fault system. Dextral strike-slip solutions are consistent with recent studies in the area.

The Rio de la Plata estuarine has been the epicenter of the 30 November 2018 intra-crustal earthquake with a magnitude and focal depth of 3.7 and 19 km (±6 km), respectively, which alerted the Buenos Aires city population. This area has also been the locus of a series of earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 3.7 to 5, and particularly the 1888 earthquake, probably with an epicenter near the axis of the estuarine. These earthquakes occur in the Salado basin area, an aulacogen basin associated with the early stages of the South Atlantic spreading in late Early Cretaceous times, that subsided all through the Cenozoic. Previous gravimetric analyses revealed that this basin is characterized by an important crustal attenuation zone. From a new gravimetric analysis, using satellite gravity data, we find isostatic anomalies associated with this section of the Atlantic passive margin. Therefore, we propose that the origin of these earthquakes is the isostatic readjustment of this aulacogen type basin, a process that could have reactivated shallow crustal structures. From a preliminary evaluation, we estimate that the Salado basin would subsidize other ~2 km to compensate for the measured thick anti-root, constituting a crucial seismogenic source that should be considered due to the demographical and economic importance of the region.

Intraplate seismicity in the Southern Central Andes has been mostly documented to the north of 35°S, while similar phenomenon south of these latitudes is not known so far. In order to contribute to this issue, we analysed seismicity in the Andean back-arc region between 38°S and 39°S through a seismological experiment using a local broadband seismic network in the Neuquén Basin. In this study, we aim to determine the background (base) seismicity of the region, and integrate the results with gravimetric data and previous geological knowledge to identify potential sources of the seismic activity. In addition to low-grade seismicity we recorded a Ml = 3.78 strike-slip earthquake ∼ 100 km west of Neuquén city on November 19, 2015. Seismicity location could be controlled by thermo-mechanical properties of the lithosphere linked to the previous tectonic evolution. On the other hand, the triggering factor could be related to E-W Andean stress-field or to human-induced activity. Fil: Correa Otto, Sebastian Ariel. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Nacif Suvire, Silvina Valeria. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Pesce, Agustina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Nacif, Andres Antonio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina Fil: Gianni, Guido Martin. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Furlani, Renzo. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Gimenez, Mario Ernesto. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Ruiz, Juan Francisco. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina

Crustal seismicity in northwestern Mendoza Province in Argentina, corresponding to the transition zone between the Chilean-Pampean flat subduction zone (26.5–33.5°S) and the Southern Central Andes normal subduction zone to the south, is studied in order to i) identify its relationship with the mapped structure, ii) determine deformational mechanisms and iii) constrain the geometry of the fold and thrust belt in the lower crust. Through this, we aim to determine which are the structures that contribute to Andean construction, east of the Frontal Cordillera in Argentina and at the western Principal Cordillera in Chile. Data from a temporary local seismic network are reprocessed in order to achieve a precise location of hypocenters and, whenever possible, to build focal mechanisms. Results are interpreted and compared with previous seismic studies and structural models. Analyzed seismicity is grouped around the eastern front of Frontal Cordillera, with hypocenters mainly at depths of 25–40 km. Contrastingly, earthquakes in the Principal Cordillera to the west are located at the axial Andean sector and Chilean slope, with depths shallower than 15 km. Obtained focal mechanisms indicate mainly strike-slip displacements, left lateral at Frontal Cordillera and right lateral at Principal Cordillera. Based on these observations, new possible structural models are proposed, where seismogenic sources could be either associated with inherited basement structures from the Cuyania-Chilenia suture; or correspond to deep-blind thrusts linked with a deeper-than-previously-assumed decollement that could be shared between Frontal Cordillera and western Precordillera. This deeper decollement would coincide in turn with the one determined from receiver function analysis for the eastern Sierras Pampeanas in previous works, potentially implying a common decollement all through the fold and thrust belt configuration. Apart from this, a new interpretation of seismogenic structures in Principal Cordillera near the Argentina–Chile boundary is provided. Fil: Olivar, Julián Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; Argentina Fil: Nacif Suvire, Silvina Valeria. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Fennell, Lucas Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; Argentina Fil: Folguera Telichevsky, Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; Argentina

Data from 45 seismological stations mostly temporary were used to obtain an accurate data set of intraslab seismicity of the Nazca subducted plate between 33°S to 35°S. The interest zone located in the transition section where the Nazca plate changes from flat slab north of ~ 33° to normal slab south of that latitude. In addition, the study region is located where the active volcanic arc appears. From a set of earthquakes which were relocated using a grid-search multiple events algorithm we obtained the plate geometry from latitudes of 33°S to 34.5°S and from 60 km to 120 km in depth. The obtained morphology shows notable similarity in its structure to Maipo Orocline revealing some possible strong connection between the overriding plate and the subducting plate. We suggest that the subducted plate at the trench has been deformed in its shape consistently with the Maipo Orocline pattern and its deformation is observed below the interface zone. Our results are consistent with van Keken et al 2011 models, and based on this the seismicity located between 70-120 km is probably related with dehydration processes rather than mechanical processes. From our precise earthquake locations we observed a complete lack of intraslab seismicity below 120 km depth. This valuable finding can be used to better constrain thermal models for the subduction region of Central Chile. Fil: Nacif Suvire, Silvina Valeria. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Triep, Enrique Gaudencio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina Fil: Spagnotto, Silvana Liz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Argentina Fil: Aragon, Eugenio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas; Argentina Fil: Furlani, Renzo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina Fil: Alvarez Pontoriero, Orlando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina

Between 33°-36°S, the Nazca plate subducts below South American plate with an angle of ~30°, and it is seismically active until ~200-280km depth. At 33.5°S, the seismicity decreases drastically at 120km depth, just below the volcanic arc. In this paper, we studied a pair of associated earthquakes located in the area where the frequency of seismicity changes. The hypocenters of the Mw=6.4, June 16th, 2000 and Mw=5.7 January 7th, 2003 earthquakes were found nearby, adjacent to the oceanic Moho, closely associated with each other. The slip on the plane of the 2000 event produced Coulomb stress changes on the fault plane of 2003, both westward dipping, with a variation from ~1bar near the hypocenter of the latter to ~0.1bars in the deepest part of the plane. The two earthquakes combined process describes a normal focal mechanism, which cuts through the crust and breaks the mantle, reaching depths of ~40km below the Moho.The composed fault plane of the 2000 and 2003 events corresponds to a west-dipping normal fault with strike and dip consistent with those of the outer ridge faults. Thus, these events could be related to a preexisting fault originated in that environment reactivated at depth.The slip on the composed fault plane is consistent with the bending produced by the slab pull. Dehydration could be associated to these events. Fil: Spagnotto, Silvana Liz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Argentina Fil: Triep, Enrique Gaudencio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan; Argentina Fil: Giambiagi, Laura Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina Fil: Nacif Suvire, Silvina Valeria. Universidad Nacional de San Juan; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Alvarez Pontoriero, Orlando. Universidad Nacional de San Juan; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Shallow seismicity in the Southern Central Andes is associated with interplate earthquakes due to the subduction of the Nazca plate beneath the South American plate and neotectonic activity, mainly located in the retro-arc region. However, this pattern changes drastically south of 34°S within the transition zone at the Southern Central Andes where crustal seismicity associated with mountain-building processes concentrates at the fore-arc and intra-arc region. In order to define more accurately this transition we used data from a high density-seismic network over the Chilean fore-arc and axial Andean sector (~ 33?34.5°S). We obtained a constraint data set of 77 seismic events located mostly in the Principal Cordillera western flank in the first 10 km of the upper crust. This cluster implies an abrupt change in the pattern of seismicity at the Southern Central Andes with a set of structures in the fore-arc and intra-arc accommodating shortening. This change in the locus of crustal seismicity and particularly its location on the fore-arc and intra-arc south of 34°S is discussed on the light of different hypotheses among which changes in the precipitation pattern and erosion along the Andes were favored. Focalized erosion associated with direction of prevailing Pacific winds south of ~ 34°S could determine subcritical conditions that could be adjusted by out-of-sequence deformation causing crustal earthquakes in the fore-arc region, becoming the retro-arc zone nearly fossilized from a deformational point of view. Additionally, trench sediments associated with this change in the precipitation pattern could also favor decoupling of the subduction zone inhibiting retro-arc seismicity, although it does not explain activation of fore-arc structures south of 34°S and their absence north of this latitude. Finally, inhomogeneous distribution of seismicity through the fore-arc zone south of 34°S is discussed on the light of variable elastic thicknesses. Fil: Nacif Suvire, Silvina Valeria. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Lupari, Marianela Nadia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Triep, Enrique Gaudencio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina Fil: Nacif, Andres Antonio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina Fil: Alvarez Pontoriero, Orlando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina Fil: Folguera Telichevsky, Andres. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Geologicas. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Gimenez, Mario Ernesto. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

In the south Central Andes region, the Nazca oceanic plate that subducts beneath the South American plate is characterized by a rough topography derived from different oceanic features that collide against the continental margin. These features determine an important segmentation of both the margin and of the interplate zone. The Chilean subduction margin has been characterized by megathrust earthquakes affecting the plate interface with large rupture areas reaching hundreds of kilometers parallel to the trench. The occurrence of these phenomena has been linked, among other causes, to the subduction of sediments that fill the trench and their spatial relation to the relatively prominent oceanic features. We calculated the topography corrected vertical gravity gradient from GOCE satellite data and fromEGM2008 model in order to delineate mass heterogeneities related to density variations along the south-central Chile subduction zone. Obtained results show a spatial relation between the subduction of the Nazca oceanic highs and associated along-strike segmentation of the vertical gravity gradients over the interplate zone.We compared our results with the different rupture areas and found a good correspondence with the ellipses for the main earthquakes such as the Valdivia-1960 andMaule-2010 ones. Then, we compared vertical gravity gradients with slip distribution obtained from different models, finding that they are actually correlated with high slip over negative vertical gradient. The GOCE derived gradient adjusts better with the main slip distribution contour since its signal has a characteristic high wavelength. Instead, the EGM2008 model presents a better performance in defining the high frequency anomalies. However, the last results need to be considered only in those regions where the statistical comparison with GOCE data shows a good performance. This is because EGM2008 model data present varying quality of the original terrestrial data, while the quality of the GOCE data is locally homogeneous. Fil: Alvarez Pontoriero, Orlando. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofisico Sismologico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Nacif Suvire, Silvina Valeria. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofisico Sismologico Volponi; Argentina. Agencia de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica. Fondo Argentino Sectorial; Argentina Fil: Gimenez, Mario Ernesto. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofisico Sismologico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Folguera Telichevsky, Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos; Argentina Fil: Braitenberg, Carla. Universita Degli Studi Di Trieste; Italia

Earthquakes with magnitudes M 3.5 and depths between 15km and 35km were registered in the Andes backarc between 32.5°S and 33.75°S within a temporary experiment from November 2002 to March 2003. A band trending NW-NNW of normal focal mechanism earthquakes is located just by the thrust front towards west, and cover the southern tip of the Southern Precordillera and the western side of the Cerrilladas Pedemontanas, Mendoza Province, Argentina. The short temporal experiment precludes firm interpretations about the existence of this confined tensional stress field within the regional predominant compressional stress field. Probably it is related to a temporary stress relaxation. The normal earthquakes are likely associated to normal faults, and/or to its subsidiaries, that were inverted by contraction and now re-inverted at least transitorily as normal. These faults, which are near and to the East of the suture between Chilenia and Cuyania Paleozoic terranes, were originally involved in the Cuyo Triassic basin formation. Fil: Nacif Suvire, Silvina Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Triep, Enrique. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofisico Sismologico Volponi; Argentina Fil: Furlani, Renzo. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofisico Sismologico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Spagnotto, Silvana Liz. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Cs.fisico Matematicas y Naturales. Departamento de Fisica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis; Argentina

S-wave splitting from local earthquakes within the Nazca plate that are deeper than the interplate seismogenic zone enabled the determination of the fast velocity direction, U, and the lag time, dt, in the forearc of the overriding plate. Data were collected from 20 seismic stations, most of which were temporary,deployed between *33.5S and *34.5S and included part of the normal subduction section to the south and part of the transitional section to flat subduction to the north. The fast velocity direction has a complex pattern with three predominant directions northwest?southeast, north?south and northeast?southwest and relatively high dt. A quality evaluation of the highest measurements enabled us to identify possible cycle skipping in some of themeasurements, which could be responsible for the large observed lag time. We consider that most of the anisotropy that was observed in the forearc is probably located in the mantle wedge, and a minor part is located in the crust. The complex pattern of splitting parameters when the anisotropy is associated at the mantle wedge could be the result of three-dimensional variations in the subducting Nazca plate at these latitudes. Also, similarities between the splitting parameters and the principal compressional stress direction from Pliocene and Quaternary rocks suggest that the anisotropy in the crust could originate by tectonic local stress. Fil: Nacif Suvire, Silvina Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina Fil: Triep, Enrique Gaudencio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina

Considerable improvements in the measurement of the Earth gravity field from GOCE satellite mission have provided global gravity field models with homogeneous coverage, high precision and good spatial resolution. In particular, the vertical gravity gradient (Tzz), in comparison to the classic Bouguer anomaly, defines more accurately superficial mass heterogeneities. Moreover, the correction of these satellitederived data from the effect of Earth topographic masses by means of new techniques taking into account the Earth curvature, improves results in regional analyses. In a recent work we found a correlation between Tzz and slip distribution for the 2010 Maule Mw ¼ 8.8 earthquake. In the present work, we derive the vertical gravity gradient from the last GOCE only model, corrected by the topographic effect and also by the sediments on depocenters of the offshore region at the PerueChile margin, in order to study a spatial relationship between different lobes of the gravity derived signal and the seismic sources of large megathrust earthquakes. In particular, we analyze this relation for the slip models of the 1996 Mw ¼ 7.7 Nazca, 2001 Mw ¼ 8.4 Arequipa, 2007 Mw ¼ 8.0 Pisco events and for the slip models of the 2014 Mw ¼ 8.2 Pisagua and Mw ¼ 7.7 Iquique earthquakes from Schurr et al. (2014), including the previously analyzed 2010 Mw ¼ 8.8 Maule event. Then we find a good correlation between vertical gravity gradients and main rupture zones, correlation that becomes even stronger as the event magnitude increases. Besides this, a gravity fall in the gravity gradient was noticed over the area of the main slip patches at least for the two years before 2014 Mw ¼ 8.2 Pisagua and Mw ¼ 7.7 Iquique earthquakes. Additionally, we found temporal variations of the gravity field after 2010 Mw ¼ 8.8 Maule event, related to the main patches of the slip distribution, and coseismic deformation. Therefore, we analyzed vertical gravity gradient field variations as an indirect measure of the variable seismic coupling finding a potential relationship between Tzz and the seismic b-value. These relationships exemplify the strong potential of the satellite only derived models as a predictive tool to determine potential seismic energy released in a subduction segment, determining the potential size of a potential rupture zone, and in particular internal slip distribution that allows inferring coseismic displacement field at surface. Fil: Alvarez Pontoriero, Orlando. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofisico Sismologico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Nacif Suvire, Silvina Valeria. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofisico Sismologico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Spagnotto, Silvana Liz. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Departamento de Física; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Folguera Telichevsky, Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos ; Argentina Fil: Gimenez, Mario Ernesto. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofisico Sismologico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Chlieh, Mohamed. Observatoire de la Cote D'Azur; Francia Fil: Braitenberg, Carla. Universita Degli Studi Di Trieste; Italia

El actual frente orogénico activo de los Andes Centrales abarca parte del piedemonte mendocino ubicado cerca de la ciudad capital donde habitan al menos 800.000 personas. A pesar de ello, se carece de un estudio integral de fallas activas de este sector como potenciales fuentes sismogénicas. El presente estudio intenta soslayar esta falencia caracterizando las principales estructuras activas e integrándolas en un modelo cinemático-estructural elaborado a partir de tres perfiles estructurales balanceados. La deformación pedemontana se caracteriza por una población de fallas compresivas de rumbo N-S a NNE-SSO, cuyo nivel de despegue se ubicaría en el basamento pre-Silúrico, constituyendo un frente emergente de piel gruesa. La serie de corrimientos imbricados con despegue ubicado a 10-11 km de profundidad corresponde a las fallas Melocotón y Divisadero Largo, que presentan expresión superficial, y a una falla ciega denominada Maure, interpretada a partir del modelo estructural. La falla ciega Maure transfiere su rechazo hacia un sistema de fallas retrovergentes de piel fina, con despegue dentro de los depósitos sinorogénicos neógenos, conformando de esta manera una zona de deformación triangular. Según los rasgos morfométricos de estos fallamientos los sismos máximos probables rondan entre magnitudes de 5.4 a 6.8 Mw. Co-existen fallas transcurrentes sinestrales de rumbo NO-SE que se encuentran cortando a las fallas retrovergentes del sistema Cerro de la Gloria. Los resultados obtenidos fueron contrastados con datos de subsuelo y resolución de mecanismos focales de sismos locales superficiales. Current active front of the Central Andes comprises part of the western piedmont of the city of Mendoza, where more than 800,000 people are established. Despite this, a comprehensive study of active faults mainly as potential seismogenic sources is lacking in this crucial sector of the Andean foreland. The present study attempts to outwit this shortcoming by characterizing the main Quaternary structures and integrating them in a structural-kinematic model developed from three balanced structural cross-sections. The foreland deformation at the study area is characterized by a population of N-S to NNE striking reverse faults, whose detachment level will be located in the Pre Silurian basement, constituting a thick skin thrust front. The series of thrusts, rooted at a 10-11 km-depth detachment, corresponds to Melocotón and Divisadero Largo faults showing surficial expression, and a blind fault called Maure, inferred om the structural-kinematic model. The Maure blind fault transfers shortening to the west-vergent thin-skinned Cerro de la Gloria thrusts, thus forming a triangular deformation zone. According to morphometric features of these active faults, a probable maximum earthquake magnitude ranges from Mw 5.4 to 6.8. Furthermore, strike slip faults with NW-SE strike are cutting Cerro de la Gloria fault system. Results were contrasted with ground data and focal mechanisms of surficial local earthquakes. Fil: Moreiras, Stella Maris. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentina Fil: Giambiagi, Laura Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentina Fil: Spagnotto, Silvana Liz. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Departamento de Física; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Nacif Suvire, Silvina Valeria. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Mescua, Jose Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentina Fil: Toural Dapoza, Rafael. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentina