Impact of gravity forces and topography denudation on normal faulting in Central-Western Pyrenees: Insights from 2D numerical models - Archive ouverte HAL Access content directly
Journal Articles Comptes Rendus Géoscience Year : 2016

Impact of gravity forces and topography denudation on normal faulting in Central-Western Pyrenees: Insights from 2D numerical models

Manon Genti
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Jean Chery
Philippe Vernant
Alexis Rigo

Abstract

Normal faulting mechanisms observed in the northern foothills of the Central–Western Pyrenees are remarkable, since one expects thrust faults at a convergent plate boundary. To understand the mechanisms involved, we used numerical modeling and investigated the impact of the following processes: gravitational potential energy associated with topography and dense crustal blocks; isostatic compensation in response to denudation and/or sedimentation. To decipher the effects of each process, we designed three model geometries and added a pre-existing weak fault where most of the seismicity occurs. To evaluate our model results, we derived the fault slip rate from the focal mechanisms in the region where we have the fault in our model. We found a slip rate of ∼15 m/Ma, which is in agreement with our modelling results. We conclude that flexural rebound induced by surface processes is able to explain the seismicity in Central–Western Pyrenees.
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Dates and versions

hal-01346028 , version 1 (06-06-2017)

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Manon Genti, Jean Chery, Philippe Vernant, Alexis Rigo. Impact of gravity forces and topography denudation on normal faulting in Central-Western Pyrenees: Insights from 2D numerical models. Comptes Rendus Géoscience, 2016, 348 (3-4), pp.173-183. ⟨10.1016/j.crte.2015.08.004⟩. ⟨hal-01346028⟩
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