Lithospheric features revealed by a new Moho map in the central-western Sicily Channel

Abstract

A detailed Moho map is essential for understanding the deep structure of a given area, especially for a complex area such as the Sicily Channel, shaped by the Europa-Africa convergence. We built a new Moho map of the central-western Sicily Channel using a multidisciplinary approach, which comprises the analysis of crustal seismic reflection profiles and velocity models from multiple databases. We found two earthquake alignments that occurred in the study area from 1981 to the present that reach sub-Moho depths and through which we constructed two lithospheric seismogenic volumes (LSVs). We then related these results with the location of the volcanoes, the tectonic structures, and the rheological profiles present in the literature. This work aims to expand the limited knowledge of the geodynamic setting and lithospheric structure of the Sicily Channel. Furthermore, it can constitute a starting point for future works regarding the seismic hazard of the area.