Scale-invariance properties in seismicity of Southern Apennine Chain (Italy)

Advanced statistical methodologies have been applied to detect temporal and spatial scaling-invariance laws in seismicity observed in a seismogenetic area of the Southern Apennine chain, which in past and recent years was dev astated by destructive events. A deeper analysis of the seismicity observed in this area during the period 1983-1995 is presented. A counting statisti cal procedure has been applied to highlight scaling laws in the time domain and a fractal approach has been carried out to reveal spatial self-similar ity. The main features of the dynamic system under study have been depicted using the key parameters of the more recurrent scaling laws observed in th e spatial and temporal domains and we point out that the seismotectonic env ironment of the Southern Apennine chain can be considered as an extended di ssipative system. The comparative analysis of different dynamical parameter s of earthquake sequences provides a more comprehensive evaluation of seism otectonic processes in the investigated area.