Vertical movements along the northwestern side of Messina straits, in the 1967-1970 period

Abstract

The results of a comparison of the spirit levelling data made by I.G.M. in 1967<br />and in 1970, are presented. An analysis of these data shows that the altitude<br />variations of bench marks in the considered triennial period seem to originate from<br />the collective rotation of an inclined plane, which intersects the geoid surface with<br />an azimuth of 43° to the North.<br />This is in accordance with the orientation of the fault pattern given by local<br />geology.<br />The fact that the existing bench marks were sited along the coastline, and the<br />lack of a comparison with data relative to motion on more compact geological<br />structures, lead necessarily to provisional conclusions.