Ormeni, Rrapo; Öztürk, Serkan; Silo, Erald; Bozo, Rrezart; Hoxha, Ismail; Mucaj, Dionald

A comprehensive analysis of b-value for the Albanian earthquakes was conducted using the instrumental earthquake catalogue of Albanian region. A total of 38,816 seismic events with magnitudes ML> 0.1 on the Richter scale were utilized. Statistical characteristics of the seismicity were examined based on b-value, as defined by the Gutenberg-Richter law. Considering the magnitude completeness (Mc-value) as 2.7, b-value was estimated as 1.09 ± 0.08 and it indicates a normal stress regime in the region. The Mc-value varies from 1.5 to 3.4, and spatial distribution of b-value ranges from 0.79 to 1.16. Higher b-values (> 1.0) were detected in the southernmost part of Albania, whereas lower b-values (< 1.0) were found in the western part, particularly within the Adriatic-Ionian fault zone and the Lushnje-Elbasan-Dibër transversal fault zone, as well as in the south-eastern Leskovik-Erseka-Korça fault zone. Regions with lower b-values correspond to areas with larger-magnitude events, while higher b-values are associated with smaller earthquakes. These findings suggest that b-values across Albania generally round 1.0, with lower values indicating moderate stress accumulation in the western region and within two other active seismic belts. The b-values less than 1.0 may signal areas of increased seismic potential. The occurrence probability of earthquakes across varying magnitudes was found to be very high (99%-100%) for seismic events with ML between 0.5 and 4.5, and lower (less than 95%) for events with ML > 5.5; it varied from 1% to 60% for events with larger ML > 6.0 for different Tr values. Recurrence periods for smaller magnitudes are relatively short (less than 1 year for magnitudes from 1.0 to 4.2), whereas for larger magnitudes (5.0 to 6.0), recurrence periods are longer, about 100 years. The Albanian region is characterized by a complex geological setting and significant seismic activity, and, thus, it can be stated that these types of analyses may be important in terms of seismotectonic evaluation and seismic hazard.

Ormeni, Rrapo; Hasimi, Albana; Öztürk, Serkan; Çomo, Ervin

In this study, the correlations between the heat flow density and seismotectonic b-value in the El-basani area of Albania were investigated to understand the how low-velocity layers underneath the Elbasani area in central Albania struggling the large-scale Vlora-Lushnja-Elbasani-Dibra Fault Zone affect the heat flow data. For this purpose, the heat flow and regional distribution of b-value were imaged for different locations and depths. To achieve the analysis, the Albanian Seismological Catalogue for the period between 1 July 1968 and 26 December 2022, including 1830 earthquakes with a local magnitude of 0.5 ≤ Ml ≤ 5.2 that occurred at the depths below 70 kilometres, was considered. The b-value was calculated as 1.03 ± 0.06 by considering the magnitude of the completeness value as Mc-value = 2.6. This result shows that the b-value of earthquake distribution in the Vlora-Lushnja-Elbasani-Dibra (VLED) fault zone is well represented by the Gutenberg and Richter (G-R) scaling law with the b-value close to 1.0. The regional variations of the b-value show that b-values smaller than 0.9 were observed in the western and south-western parts of the Llinxha-Kozan thermal water belt. The depth distribution of the b-value indicates that there exists a sharp decrease in the b-values from 1.15 to 0.7 in the depths varying from 5 to 20 km. The highest heat flow values were observed on the Dumrea diapiric dome and in the central part of the Elbasani area. Thus, our analysis indicates significant and robust correlations between the geothermal and earthquake distribution. The discontinuity of Moho interface is deep in the regions where high b-values were observed. Low b-values are found at the depths ranging from 20–25 km and 35–40 km in the Dumrea evaporite massif area. We have evidence that high b-values and large heat flow values are related to the low seismic velocity layers underneath the Elbasani area. The low-velocity zone (LVZ) in Albania occurs in the Earth’s crust and in the upper mantle. It is characterized by an unusu-ally low seismic shear wave velocity compared to the surrounding depth intervals. It is well known that the low-velocity layers in the Elbasani area are determined in the upper crust, at shallow depths of 2–4 km, and in the middle crust at a 10–14 km depth. Hence, it is suggested that the Moho interface in the eastern part of the Elbasani area is relatively deep (45 km) compared to the western part of Albania (35 km), and the magnitude of earthquakes is smaller where the high heat flow values were observed.

Ormeni, Rrapo; Öztürk, Serkan; Hasimi, Albana; Silo, Erald; Como, Elvin; Trofymchuk, O.; Rivza, B.

A detailed analysis of the b-value within the Elbasani fault zone, Albania, were studied. From instrumental seismicity in this area have been located 1830 seismic events, with magnitude Ml>0.5 Richter. In the zone of Elbasani, hot mineral water (thermal waters) spot out from natural springs which have been known since the 19th century. The statistical properties of seismicity are analysed by using b-value known as Gutenberg-Richter law. The magnitude of completeness (Mc) value is determined as 2.6, and the bvalue is calculated as 1.03 ± 0.06, and it is determined that the region has a normal stress level. It is seen that the Mc-value varies from 1.6 to 2.9, the b-value changes between 0.9 and 1.3. The regions with the large b-values (> 1.0) are estimated in the eastern parts of the of Elbasani zone. However, the regions with the low b-values (< 1.0) are observed in the north, west and southwest of Elbasani zone. The regions with the small b-values correspond to great-magnitude events, whereas the other large values are related to smallmagnitude earthquakes. These results reveal that b-values for all regions are well represented by a b-value typically close to 1.0. There are clear decreasing trends in temporal changes of b-values before the occurrences of some strong main shocks. The lower b-value indicate that there is still moderate stress accumulation in the southwest area of the Llinxha-Kozan thermal water belt. The b-values smaller than 1.0 indicate potential future earthquake area. Following the strong events, there are remarkable decreases in b-value as a function of time. Changes in b-value with time varies in a large band between 0.6 and 1.4. Probabilities of earthquake activity in different magnitude sizes show comparatively great values changing from 50-100 % for earthquakes of 0.5 ≤ Ml≤ 4.5 and the values relatively lower than 90 % for the earthquakes of 5.0 ≤ Ml. The Elbasani zone has a complex geological structure with a significant number of geothermal water resources and some features of seismicity.

Öztürk, Serkan; Ormeni, Rrapo

This study presents a detailed spatiotemporal analysis for the Frakull-Durrës (F-D) fault zone at the beginning of 2020. For this purpose, the most frequently used statistical seismicity parameters such as magnitude completeness, Mc-value, Gutenberg-Richter b-value, recurrence times, annual probabilities and standard normal deviate, Z-value, were mapped. The F-D fault zone was divided into two seismogenic subregions, and Mc-value was taken as 2.5 for both the south and north parts. The b-value was estimated as 0.83 ± 0.06 for the south part and 0.85 ± 0.06 for the north part. b-values for both zones are smaller than 1.0 and these values may be considered to be a larger stress accumulation to build up over time and to be released by the next possible earthquakes. Clear decreasing trends were observed in time variations of b-values before the occurrences of several strong main shocks. Analyses of annual probabilities and recurrence times suggest that the study region has an intermediate/long-term earthquake hazard in comparison to occurrences of strong/destructive earthquakes in the short term. Some anomaly regions of a small b-value and a large Z-value were found along the F-D fault zone at the beginning of 2020: i) among Lushnje-Tirana-Durrës including the middle part of the F-D fault zone, ii) in and around Lezha including the north end of the F-D fault zone. Thus, the combination of regions with the lowest b-value and largest Z-value may supply preliminary results for earthquake hazard, and these regions may be considered to be the most likely regions for future strong/large earthquakes in the F-D fault zone.

Ormeni, Rrapo; öZtürk, Serkan; Fundo, Akli; çElik, Kemal

Spatial and temporal evaluation of current seismic activity throughout the Vlora- Lushnja-Elbasani-Dibra (VLED) transversal fault zone were carried out at the beginning of year 2016. The seismotectonic b-value, fractal dimension Dc-value and precursory seismic quiescence Z-value are considered for a detailed statistical analysis. Completeness magnitude Mc-value varies from 2.5 to 2.7 for different parts of the VLED fault zone. The b-value is calculated as 1.10±0.04 for the south western part and 1.13±0.05 for the middle part, whereas it is estimated as 0.94±0.07 for the north eastern part of the study region. These results reveal that b-values for all regions are well represented by a b-value typically close to 1.0. There are clear decreasing trends in temporal changes of b-values before the occurrences of some strong main shocks. On the contrary, no earthquakes are observed in some periods after decrease of b-value. Dc-values are computed as 2.66±0.04 for the south western part, 2.64±0.03 for the middle part and 2.15±0.02 for the north eastern part of the VLED fault zone. These rather large values show that earthquake activity is more clustered at larger scales or in smaller areas in the study area. Considering the phenomenon of seismic quiescence as a precursor of the main earthquakes gives successful outcomes in defining the potential anomalies and possible locations of future earthquakes. Quiescence analysis of current seismicity at the beginning of 2016 in the VLED fault zone is performed with the test of standard normal deviate Z-value. Distributions of resulting Z-values show six anomalous regions along the different parts of the VLED fault zone. These quiescence areas are detected at (i) 40.81°N- 19.86°E (including Kuc-Bubullim, southeast of Lushnja town), (ii) 41.00°N-20.01°E (in the Cerriku, south of Elbasani town), (iii) 41.31°N-20.13°E (around Bene-Qafe, northeast of Elbasani town), (iv) 41.43°N-20.21°E (Krasta-Batra, south of Bulqiza town), (v) 41.28°N-20.49°E (including Carrishta-Stebleve, northeast of Librazhdi town), (vi) 41.51°N-20.51°E (including Qerrenec-Gjorica, west of Dibra town). As an important result, analyses of spatial and temporal characteristics of the earthquake activity may supply significant clues for revealing the future seismic hazard along the VLED fault zone, and these anomaly regions may be interpreted as the locations of next possible earthquakes.