Vrancea intermediate-depth focal mechanism catalog: a useful instrument for local and regional stress field estimation

Abstract The Vrancea seismic zone, located in the bend region of South-Eastern Carpathians, is a unique area with both crustal and intermediate-depth activity known as one most active Europe. Moderate seismicity recorded all over Carpathian region, but far more intense occurs small subcrustal seismogenic volume beneath SE‐bend arc about 20 × 50 km lateral 110 vertical extent (70–180 depth). A slab geometry, likely preserved until present, causes stress localization due to bending subsequent release resulting large mantle earthquakes region. main focus this study determine focal mechanisms for events magnitude larger than 2.7, between 2005 2020 evaluate current field along from derived fault plane solutions. style faulting presents predominant reverse one, two categories: first nodal planes, oriented NE–SW parallel Arc second NW–SE perpendicular on Arc. results inversion indicate dominant thrust style, an average regime index 2.87. pattern shows similar partitioning extension no preferred orientation overlying crust, showing transition extensional Moesian Platform compressional zone.