@article{fdi:010053439,
  title = {{A}ctive oblique ramp faulting in the {S}outhern {T}unisian {A}tlas},
  author = {{S}aid, {A}ymen and {C}hardon, {D}ominique and {B}aby, {P}atrice and {O}uali, {J}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he {G}afsa fault is the longest and most active structure of the fold-and-thrust belt achieving southeastward propagation of the {A}tlas belt of {E}astern {N}orth {A}frica onto the {S}aharan platform. {T}he {G}afsa fault is a 75-km long dextral-oblique basement fault ramp that poses a sizable challenge in earthquake hazard assessment because the post-{P}aleozoic sedimentary cover is decoupled from its basement above the basement fault. {I}n this study, we combine seismic lines interpretation, tectonic geomorphology and paleoseismological investigations to assess the level of seismic hazard of this fault and evaluate its role in the geodynamic framework of the {C}entral {M}editerranean. {W}e show that despite a moderate instrumental and historical seismicity, the fault has produced {M} >= 6 earthquakes with a return period of ca. 500-5000 years during the {L}ate {Q}uaternary. {T}he latest large event having produced a surface rupture on the fault occurred around 8000 yr {BP}, suggesting an {M} >= 6 earthquake is overdue on the fault. {T}he fault has a minimum reverse component of slip rate of 0.21-034 mm/yr over the past 50 {K}a. {T}he occurrence of {M} >= 7 paleoearthquakes on the fault may be suspected but not established. {S}uch very strong earthquakes would require transient coseismic linkage of the buried basement fault with the overlying listric fault ramping off the decollement layer. {T}he level of seismic hazard may be underestimated on the {G}afsa fault. {I}ndeed, given the geometry of the basement-cover fault system, a number of earthquakes generated in the basement would have led to coseismic surface folding instead of to surface rupture. {T}he {G}afsa fault is a major structure accommodating eastward extrusion / spreading of the {A}tlas belt {O}nto the {S}aharan and {P}elagian plateforms above the retreating {I}onian lithospheric slab.},
  keywords = {{S}eismic hazard ; {O}blique ramp ; {P}aleoseismology ; {T}ectonic geomorphology ; {A}tlas ; {T}unisia},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{T}ectonophysics},
  volume = {499},
  numero = {1-4},
  pages = {178--189},
  ISSN = {0040-1951},
  year = {2011},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.tecto.2011.01.010},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010053439},
}