Evaluation of the potentialfor large earthquakes in present-day low seismic activity regions of Europe

    Organised by the European Center for Geodynamics and Seismology
Supported by :        European Commission DG XII, Le Domaine des Grottes de Han, la ville de Rochefort, le Centre Belge d’Etudes Karstologiques, the Royal Observatory of Belgium and the Faculté Polytechnique de Mons

It is now widely recognised that areas of low to medium present day seismicity contain a definite risk for highly densely populated industrialised areas. This is particularly true if “high consequence” activities (nuclear power and reprocessing, chemical works, bridges, tunnels, dams,....) are considered.
Ordinary dwellings and industries can already be at risk from small earthquakes when they occur close to vulnerable cities. Two recent examples are the 1983 Liège (M_S = 4.6), Belgium earthquake which caused 60 MEuros of damage and the 1992 Roermond (M_S = 5.3), The Netherlands earthquake which caused in the epicentral region losses estimated in excess of 100 MEuros. The densely populated areas of Europe would consequently be at very high risk by the occurrence of a large earthquake rupturing the whole seismogenic layer and producing surface rupture or at least measurable surface coseismic deformation..
Assessing the earthquake hazard in low seismicity regions of Europe and identifying the causative faults was considered as difficult because of the infrequency (or even the presumed impossibility) of the large earthquakes and the relatively short period of instrumental monitoring and historical information.
For  the period 1998-2000, the European Commission provides financial support to a project (PALEOSIS), of which purpose is to develop a methodology to identify active faults in presently low seismicity areas of Europe and to demonstrate their activity in terms of historical and prehistorical large earthquakes. It is based on the fact that past surface rupturing earthquakes may be geologically recorded with a typical morphological expression which can be recovered by field (geomorphic, geologic and geophysical) investigations.
The purpose of the workshop is to present and discuss the results of the PALEOSIS-project and other initiatives in this field of research during the recent years.

SPECIFIC ITEMS

• Geomorphic investigations on active fault scarps
• Geophysical methods applied to the study of active faults
• Paleoseismic investigations in intraplate Europe
• Study of natural caves to recover past strong earthquakes
• Secondary effects (liquefaction,…) of past strong earthquakes
• Behaviour of active faults in Europe
• Quantification of historical and prehistorical earthquakes
• How to use paleoseismic investigations in seismic hazard assessment ?

SCIENTIFIC COMMITEE

Thierry Camelbeeck – Royal Observatory of Belgium (B)
Mustapha Meghraoui – Ecole et Observatoire de Physique du Globe de Strasbourg (F)
Iain Stewart – Brunel University (UK)
Yves Quinif – Faculté Polytechnique de Mons (B)

ORGANISING COMMITTEE

Julie Jean-Barthélemy, Bernard Ducarme and Henri Martin (Royal Observatory of Belgium) ; Ariane Fievez  (Faculté Polytechnique de Mons) and Nicolas d’Oreye (European Center for Geodynamics and Seismology).

LOCATION

All the manifestations will occur in the prestigious environment of Han-sur-Lesse where we will be welcomed in the Domaine des Grottes de Han at the « Ferme de Dry Hamptay », front of the caves exit. The building includes a 135 places room, two seminar rooms and a restaurant.

LODGING

-  Hôtel des Ardennes :possibilities between 1900 and 3000 FB/night
-  Hostellerie Henry IV : between 1500 and 1650 FB/night
-  Possibilities of guest rooms
- Youth hostel
Please, indicate your preliminary choice in the registration fee. A provision is asked in the different cases and you will pay the rest during your stay in Han.

INSCRIPTION

6000 Belgian Francs including the meal at noon during the three days of the workshop, the official diner in Rochefort and the proceedings.

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM

HOW TO REACH HAN-SUR-LESSE

1. BY PLANE. Reach Brussels and then take a train from Brussels to Luxemburg. The closest station is Jemelle but some international trains do not stop in Jemelle. In this case, you should leave the train in Namur. Shuttle will be organised at the stations of Jemelle and Namur if necessary.
2. BY TRAIN. From Brussels, take a train to Luxemburg and stop in Jemelle. Some international trains do not stop in Jemelle. In this case, you should leave the train in Namur.
   A shuttle will be organised at the stations of Jemelle and Namur (accessible directly).
3. BY CAR. Take the E411 – exit 23.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS

1.PROCEEDINGS. An extended abstract (up to four pages) has to be send following the instructions indicated on the following page. LIMIT DATE : 31 January 2000

2. PUBLICATION in the « Cahiers du Centre Européen de Géodynamique et de Séismologie ».
Publication of communications (same instructions that for the proceedings) with a maximum of 10 pages. It is better to provide the text at the time of the meeting, but the limit will be May 1, 2000.