How and why the present tectonic setting in the Apennine belt has developed

摘要: The building of the Apennine belt slowed down or ceased around Early Pleistocene. Since then, has undergone strong uplift and considerable distortion. This change, from belt-normal to belt-parallel shortening, been determined by fact that continental Adriatic domain (Adria) was almost completely surrounded buoyant orogenic structures. In context, mobility Adria underwent a reduction, whereas deformation its southern part strongly emphasized as an effect convergence confining plates. Around middle Pleistocene, pattern in peri-Adriatic zones changed again, response acceleration Adria. outer (Adriatic) sector accommodated outward escape upper crustal wedges. separation between extruding wedges stable inner generated series extensional transtensional fault systems along axial Apennines, which now correspond main seismogenic sources. spatio-temporal distribution major tectonic events study area can plausibly be explained least-action principle. Thematic collection: article is ‘Apennines Tyrrhenian system’ collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/the-apennines-tyrrhenian-system