Objective With an average toll of 80.000 deaths per year over the last decade, earthquakes remain one of the most dreadful geohazards. The advancement of earthquake risk assessment and forecasting methods (probability estimates that a mainshock may occur in terms of hypocentre location, magnitude and time) calls for a sound physical basis. The nucleation, propagation and arrest of an earthquake rupture results from the interplay of stress perturbations, micro- to macro-scale friction- and rupture-related processes and fault zone geometrical complexity. Most of the information about these parameters is out of reach of seismic waves and geophysical analysis. Here we aim at enhancing our knowledge of earthquake physics (from nucleation to arrest) by means of a multidisciplinary approach that includes:1) experiments to investigate earthquake nucleation by reproducing crustal (pressure, temperature, presence of fluids, stress perturbations, etc.) deformation conditions with the most powerful earthquake simulator installed worldwide (SHIVA);2) experiments to investigate rupture propagation on simulated faults using natural rocks and small-scale analogue models;3) field studies of exhumed seismogenic sources to quantify the geometrical complexity of natural fault zones;4) advanced numerical simulation techniques that will integrate the above information and allow up-scaling to natural faults. The numerical models will produce physically-based earthquake simulations that will be compared with high-resolution seismic data.By reproducing crustal deformation conditions (stress, temperature, fluid pressures, etc.) in the laboratory and by monitoring acoustic emissions, gases, electromagnetic waves, etc., produced by the rock samples during deformation, a by-product of our research will be the systematic investigation of precursory phenomena (seismic, chemical, and electromagnetic) associated to earthquake nucleation processes. Fields of science natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeologyseismologysocial sciencessociologygovernancecrisis managementseismic risk management Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-CG-2013-PE10 - ERC Consolidator Grant - Earth System Science Call for proposal ERC-2013-CoG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-CG - ERC Consolidator Grants Host institution UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA EU contribution € 431 984,10 Address VIA 8 FEBBRAIO 2 35122 Padova Italy See on map Region Nord-Est Veneto Padova Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Edda Fassari (Dr.) Principal investigator Giulio Di Toro (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA Italy EU contribution € 431 984,10 Address VIA 8 FEBBRAIO 2 35122 Padova See on map Region Nord-Est Veneto Padova Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Edda Fassari (Dr.) Principal investigator Giulio Di Toro (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI GEOFISICA E VULCANOLOGIA Italy EU contribution € 951 650,80 Address Via di Vigna Murata 605 00143 Roma See on map Region Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Nazzari Manuela (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM United Kingdom EU contribution € 165 107,14 Address STOCKTON ROAD THE PALATINE CENTRE DH1 3LE Durham See on map Region North East (England) Tees Valley and Durham Durham CC Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Wendy Harle (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER Participation ended United Kingdom EU contribution € 415 057,96 Address OXFORD ROAD M13 9PL Manchester See on map Region North West (England) Greater Manchester Manchester Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Liz Fay (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
