ESF Research Conferences

ESF-FWF Conference in Partnership with LFUI

NEW CHALLENGES IN EARTHQUAKE DYNAMICS: OBSERVING AND MODELLING A MULTI-SCALE SYSTEM

Chaired by

CHAIR:

DavidMarsanE-Mail
Universite de SavoieLGITLe Bourget Du LacFrance

CO-CHAIRS:

SebastianHainzlE-Mail
GFZ German Research Centre for GeosciencesSeismology SectionPotsdamGermany
AgnèsHelmstetterE-Mail
Université Joseph FourierLGITObservatoire de GrenobleGrenobleFrance
SandySteacyE-Mail
University of UlsterFaculty of Life and Health SciencesDepartment of Environmentral SciencesColeraineUnited Kingdom

Dates

18-23 October 2008

Location

Universitätszentrum Obergurgl, Ötz Valley, near Innsbruck, Austria
The Obergurgl University Centre is located at an altitude of 1940 metres, in the highest glacial village in the Tyrol, at the end of the Ötz Valley and surrounded by numerous three-thousand metre peaks.
Group transportation will be arranged from/to Innsbruck train station, via Innsbruck airport, on arrival and departure days.

Final Programme & List of Accepted Participants

Earthquakes are complex phenomena that result from many intervening processes acting at various spatial and time scales. Recent advances in the observation and modelling of earthquakes have shown that faults interact through elastic stress transfer, but also via the activation of thermal, chemical, hydrological and visco-elastic processes, all occurring in a structurally complex medium. Our perception of the diversity of mechanisms by which faults accommodate stress is changing rapidly with our growing ability to instrument the crust.   There is an increasing evidence that these interactions are not restricted to the large scales, typical of strong, destructive earthquakes: (i) recent observations have pointed out that small earthquakes can have as strong an influence on stress redistribution as large earthquakes do. Because of their sizes, these small-scale events are difficult to model. However, their influence can be incorporated as a stochastic term, or the errors involved in ignoring them must be estimated. (ii) Frictional models predict that even large earthquake nucleation could take place in very small zones (e.g., ~ 10 m). This implies that earthquakes are sensitive to mechanical conditions and processes acting at these very small scales, which can be significantly different from those characteristic of the regional tectonics. (iii) During rupture propagation, small-scale variations in pre-stress and / or fault geometry, related to the complexity of fault roughness and fault-zone structure, can control both the rupture speed and its total extent.   The aim of this conference is to discuss the recent advances in earthquake physics, in particular relating to earthquake interactions (observations, models). An emphasis will be given on the role of small scale processes and structures in controlling large scale earthquakes and regional seismicity. It will promote new, exploratory discussions on how to reconcile large scale regional models with small-scale controls on stress and seismicity.  

Final Programme PDF (468 Kb) Last updated 29-July-2008
List of Invited Speakers & Accepted Participants

Abstracts, Posters & Short Oral Contributions

There will be no short talks other than those listed on the final programme. Due to the large number of posters submitted, it was no possible to accept all the requests. Please refer to the list below for those that were accepted.

List of Accepted Posters PDF (144 KB)

Posters can be fixed with magnets and pins onto poster panels. Recommended poster size is 140 cm high x 100 cm wide. Use letters and drawings that can be read from approximately 100 cm distance.

Group Transportation & Practical Information Guide

Detailed information on all practical aspects of the conference (access to site, registration & fee payments, accommodation, travel reimbursements...) is available from the Practical Information Guide. Please read it fully and carefully...

Practical Information Guide PDF (196 KB)

GROUP TRANSPORTATION
Two buses will be arranged on arrival day from Innsbruck railway station, via Innsbruck airport, to Obergurgl. The journey from the airport takes approximately 75 minutes (an hour and a half from the station).

Bus departure times - Saturday 18 October:
- from Innsbruck railway station: 15.45 –  18.15
- from Innsbruck airport: 16.00 - 18.30

Airport departure point: the meeting point is located just outside the small airport building. Train Station departure point: the meeting point is located opposite the main entrance. When arriving to the station, please follow the sign "Autoverladestelle". The coaches will have a sign in the window indicating “ESF Research Conferences” for easy recognition.

Group transportation back to Innsbruck will be arranged in a similar way for the departure day, Thursday 23 October. Participants will be requested to sign up on the spot. There will be two buses leaving after breakfast at 8:30 and 9:30.

ACCOMMODATION
Please note that SINGLE accommodation can only be guaranteed to invited speakers. All other participants will have to share a TWIN room. In case single rooms would become available at the time of the conference, rooms will be attributed on a “first come, first served” basis. Only the TWIN conference fee should be paid to the ESF when registering. The supplement for single should be paid to Obergurgl University Centre. Should you wish to be put on waiting list for single accommodation, please contact Ms. Alessandra Piccolotto.

Registration Form

All participants - including speakers & session chairs - are kindly expected to confirm their attendance (and, when applicable, to pay the conference fee) by filling in a Registration Form.
Closing date for registration & fee payment: 18 September 2008

Conference Fees

Fees

What the fees cover

EUR 730

conference, meals and twin OR double room

EUR 520

non-resident: conference, meals (no room)

ESF Contact

AlessandraPiccolottoE-Mail
Conference Officer

Phone: +32 (0)2 533 2023
Fax: +32 (0)2 538 8486
Please quote 08-260 in any correspondence.

Partnership

This conference is organised by the European Science Foundation (ESF) in partnership with the Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung in Österreich (FWF)