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In certain geological settings such as sedimentary basins, the ground motion induced by an earthquake may be amplified by local site conditions. Estimating these site effects is important for seismic hazard assessment but can be difficult to do empirically due to the scarcity of site-specific field data in time and space, especially in low-to-moderate seismicity regions where the earthquakes needed for measuring the site effects have long return periods. In this study, we try to overcome these limitations and investigate an alternative approach based on ambient seismic noise and numerical simulations. More specifically, we use a 3D numerical model of seismic properties derived from Ambient Noise Surface-Wave Tomography (ANSWT) for 3D numerical simulations of seismic wave propagation, and consequently for a numerical estimation of seismic amplification in the basin. We illustrate the approach on a target site located in the French Rhône valley, where the Messinian salinity crisis has dug a paleo-canyon which is now filled by soft sediments in direct contact with a harder substratum, thereby providing typical conditions for significant site effects, as also observed by previous studies in the area. This work makes use of two dedicated datasets. On one hand, we use earthquake recordings acquired by a network of broadband stations deployed over the target site over 8 months, in order to estimate seismic amplification in the basin with respect to a rock-site reference via Standard Spectral Ratios (SSR), which we consider as our reference for evaluating our numerical results. On the other hand, we exploit one-month-long ambient noise recordings acquired by a dense array of 400 3C sensors. Prior to this work, this noise data was used to build a 3D shear-wave velocity (VS) model of the target site via ANSWT, and also to estimate seismic amplification via noise-based Standard Spectral Ratios (SSRn). The obtained ANSWT model well reproduces the main geological structures of the basin, with lateral variations of velocities at depth depicting the deeper parts of the basin. However, our simulation results also show that some of its limitations related to surface wave sensitivity and resolution capability have an impact on the numerical amplification predicted in the basin. In particular, this ANSWT model lacks clear basin edges in order to efficiently trap seismic waves in the basin and to generate significant 3D wave propagation effects (diffractions, reflections, and generation of laterally propagating surface waves at the edges of the basin). As a result, the numerical amplification predicted in the ANSWT model remains dominated by a 1D response and does not reproduce the broadband character of the observed amplification at locations affected by significant 3D propagation effects. On the other hand, the numerical amplification predicted in the ANSWT model shows a good agreement with the observations at locations that seem less affected by 3D propagation effects, including in complex regions of the model where lateral variations must be taken into account. Our results therefore contribute to identify and better understand the potential and limitations of using ANSWT models for numerical site effect estimation. This study allows us to propose perspectives for future work to improve the approach, which remains promising for site effect assessment in low- to moderate-seismicity contexts.

A critical review is conducted of a selection of paleoseismic works published on, or close to, metropolitan France over the last 30 years. The evolution of these works may be subdivided into three periods: dawn of French paleoseismic studies (${\approx }$1990–1995), beginning of a multidisciplinary paleoseismologic approach, and paleoseismic studies in the first decades of the 21st century. This review of the most interesting paleoseismic studies at nine trench sites indicates that it is often difficult to associate Quaternary surface deformations with a well-identified fault. However, these studies also provided important results demonstrating that even in regions of low seismicity, seismic ruptures can repeat on the same low slip rate fault, thus providing evidence that historical seismicity is not sufficient to assess seismic hazard in metropolitan France. Finally, recommendations are provided for future paleoseismic investigations in low-seismicity regions.

Twelve available two-way time high-resolution seismic reflection profiles located in the central part of the middle Rhône valley are interpreted. In addition, one of the profiles was reprocessed to determine the P-wave velocities of the main geological units and to convert this profile into a depth cross section. The Lower and Upper Cretaceous units are clearly identifiable on all the profiles, along with the Messinian Erosion Surface (MES) carved out during the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) by the paleo-Rhône and its western tributaries, the Ardèche and Cèze paleo-canyons. The Plio-Quaternary fill of these paleo-canyons shows at least 4 main units with an overall transgression. The combination of geological data from geological maps, geological field surveys and borehole data made it possible to model the MES in 3D at the scale of the region, and to produce depth/elevation model. From a geological point of view, the interpretation of the seismic profiles enabled us to reconstruct the stages in the sub-aquatic filling of the Messinian-Pliocene aggradation of the paleo-river. Several Mass Transport Deposits (MTDs) were identified both during the drop and during the rise in the Mediterranean Sea level. From a geomorphological point of view, this study provides new insights in the route and longitudinal profile of paleo-rivers and, in particular, it deepens the profile of the Paleo-Rhône at the latitude of the Tricastin region (up to −700 m b.s.l.) and significantly modifies the course and depth of the Ardèche proposed in previous studies. The N-Ardèche river, known to develop a karstic system during the MSC, is connected to a deep canyon, most likely through a karstic pocket valley, as suggested by the very steep longitudinal profile of the MES. Finally, from a structural point of view, our interpretation of the seismic profiles shows a broad ENE-trending anticline structure associated with a normal fault which apparently did not affect the Mio-Pliocene fill. In the southern part of the area, near the Uchaux anticline, the imaged structures suggest the presence of a recent (syn- to post-Pliocene) fault propagation fold. In addition to all the new information on the geology, morphology and methods of excavation and filling of the Messinian paleo-canyon, the proposed topographic model of the paleo-canyon is crucial for modelling seismic movement in the context of a basin with a complex geometry and, in particular, for the numerical assessment of site effects in a context of low seismicity.

Earthquake hazard analyses rely on seismogenic source models. These are designed in various fashions, such as point sources or area sources, but the most effective is the three-dimensional representation of geological faults. We here refer to such models as fault sources. This study presents the European Fault-Source Model 2020 (EFSM20), which was one of the primary input datasets of the recently released European Seismic Hazard Model 2020. The EFSM20 compilation was entirely based on reusable data from existing active fault regional compilations that were first blended and harmonized and then augmented by a set of derived parameters. These additional parameters were devised to enable users to formulate earthquake rate forecasts based on a seismic-moment balancing approach. EFSM20 considers two main categories of seismogenic faults: crustal faults and subduction systems, which include the subduction interface and intraslab faults. The compiled dataset covers an area from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge to the Caucasus and from northern Africa to Iceland. It includes 1248 crustal faults spanning a total length of ∼95100 km and four subduction systems, namely the Gibraltar, Calabrian, Hellenic, and Cyprus arcs, for a total length of ∼2120 km. The model focuses on an area encompassing a buffer of 300 km around all European countries (except for Overseas Countries and Territories) and a maximum of 300 km depth for the subducting slabs. All the parameters required to develop a seismic source model for earthquake hazard analysis were determined for crustal faults and subduction systems. A statistical distribution of relevant seismotectonic parameters, such as faulting mechanisms, slip rates, moment rates, and prospective maximum magnitudes, is presented and discussed to address unsettled points in view of future updates and improvements. The dataset, identified by the DOI https://doi.org/10.13127/efsm20 (Basili et al., 2022), is distributed as machine-readable files using open standards (Open Geospatial Consortium). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthquake hazard analyses rely on the availability of seismogenic source models. These are designed in different fashions, such as point sources or area sources, but the most effective is the three-dimensional representation of geological faults. We here refer to such models as fault sources. This study presents the European Fault-Source Model 2020 (EFSM20), which formed the basis for one of the primary input datasets of the recently released European Seismic Hazard Model 2020. The EFSM20 compilation was entirely based on reusable data from existing active fault regional compilations that were first blended and harmonized and then augmented by a set of derived parameters. These additional parameters were devised to enable users to formulate earthquake rate forecasts based on a seismic-moment balancing approach. EFSM20 considers two main categories of seismogenic faults: crustal faults and subduction systems. The compiled dataset covers an area from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge to the Caucasus and from northern Africa to Iceland. It includes 1,248 crustal faults spanning a total length of ~95,100 km and four subduction systems, namely the Gibraltar, Calabrian, Hellenic, and Cyprus Arcs. The model focuses on an area encompassing a buffer of 300 km around all European countries (except for Overseas Countries and Territories, OTCs) and a maximum of 300 km depth for the subducting slabs. All the parameters required to develop a seismic source model for earthquake hazard analysis were determined for crustal faults and subduction systems. A statistical distribution of relevant seismotectonic parameters, such as faulting mechanisms, slip rates, moment rates, and prospective maximum magnitudes, is presented and discussed to address unsettled points in view of future updates and improvements. The dataset, identified by the DOI https://doi.org/10.13127/efsm20, is distributed as machine-readable files using open standards (Open Geospatial Consortium). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]