GEOTECTONIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EXTRA-CARPATHIAN TERRITORY (ROMANIA)AND THE INTERMEDIATE DEPTH EARTHQUAKE EFFECTS

The aim of this paper is to present some of the most important peculiarities of the subcrustal Romanian earthquakes, as regards their occurrence and their effects. A brief description of the geotectonic setting at the Carpathian curvature and the neighbouring areas is performed. The mosaic-like aspect of the crystalline basement structure (horsts and grabens at different depths) is stressed; this structure is determined by a complex system of crustal and regional fractures. The presence of the Focşani-Odobeşti Depression developed in the Carpathian Foredeep (where only the Neogene sedimentary cover exceeds ۱۰,۰۰۰ m thickness) is evidenced. The evaluation of the Vrancea intermediate depth earthquake effects confirms 'the decisive role of the focal processes (directivity). At the same time, this evaluation allows the hypothesis that the behaviour of the ensemble crystalline basement-sedimentary filling in the mentioned depression during the large subcrustal earthquakes (M۲۷.۰) could determine the occurrence of acceleration maxima in the neighbourhood of the epicentral area, in the extra-Carpathian territory.