Approaches adopted for the numerical modeling of the local seismic response in the volcanic area of mount Etna

Abstract

Seismic Microzonation studies carried out in 23 municipalities of the Catania province (Italy), within the volcano Etna area, have further highlighted how the complexities of geological systems,particularly those related to geostructural configuration and the heterogeneity of geological bodies, can affect the reliability of numerical modelling analyses aimed at calculating seismic amplification effects. In particular, the small scale heterogeneities and the varying degree of uncertainty affecting both geological setting and respective seismo‑geotechnical characterization suggested the adoption of approaches differentiated to account for the local information level. Outcomes of these approaches are considered to provide an extensive estimate of 1D seismic amplification effects at the considered municipalities and reveal the presence of large lateral variations of expected effects. The results obtained, summarized here for several case studies, demonstrate the complementarity of the proposed approaches even within the same study area and, above all, emphasize their adaptability to the differing levels of knowledge inherent in the territorial contexts examined. This makes them a valuable tool for managing seismic microzonation studies in analogous geological contexts.