The study, supervised by lecturers José Miguel Azañón Hernández and Antonio Azor Pérez, of the Department of Geodynamics of the University of Granada, analyses fault seismic danger. One of the first conclusions is the existence of numerous faults in the north-east border of the depression of Granada, with a maximum length of 15 kilometres. It would explain, by UGR scientists´ calculations, that the earthquakes of this area did nor exceed 5.5 degrees in the Richter scale.
Researchers have carried out an analysis of the possible active faults in the Alhambra and the Albaicín. It can be deduced that some of the damages caused in the Alhambra walls and fences are due to historical earthquakes. In addition, the main topographic steps of the hill Sabika are interpreted as scarps related to the numerous tectonic faults, which must have accumulated important faults in the last 800,000 years.
These important results have been obtained in collaboration with Federico Torcal Medina, of the Andalusian Institute of Geophysics. Its international impact is also outstanding, as a result of its publishing in the scientific Journal of Quaternary Science, in June.
Palomares and Diezma
On the other hand, the same project has also dealed with other studies related to natural risks in our region such us, for example, the analysis of the recent activity of the fault of Palomares; the mechanism and geometry of the landslide of Diezma; and the culvert of the river Gor in the depression of Guadix. Some of the works have been presented in the first meeting of the European Geophysical Union in Nica and others will be presented in August in the XXXIV International Geological Conference of Florence.
Reference:
Prof. Miguel Azañón Hernández. Phone number: 958 249505. E-mail: jazanon@ugr.es.
Prof. Antonio Azor Pérez. Phone number: 958 242900. E-mail: azor@ugr.es
