1. Images courtesy of Google Earth (top), and USGS (bottom).
Magnitude 6.2, CENTRAL ITALY
Wednesday, 24th August, 2016 at 01:36 UTC
Earthquake location & overview
AFGHANISTAN
PAKISTAN
INDIA
A magnitude 6.2 (Mw) earthquake struck Central Italy, approximately 45 km North of the town of L’Aquila where a destructive magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurred in April 2009.
The earthquake occurred at 10 km depth on a crustal fault in the Apennine region in central Italy. The relatively shallow depth of the earthquake has meant that this earthquake has been particularly destructive, killing at least 247 people.
Pakistan
Images courtesy of Google Earth (top), and USGS (bottom).

2. Image courtesy of US Geological Survey.
Magnitude 6.2, CENTRAL ITALY
Wednesday, 24th August, 2016 at 01:36 UTC
Shaking caused
There was Strong (VI) to very strong (VII) shaking in much of Central Italy, while the earthquake was felt throughout the country.
Image courtesy of US Geological Survey.

3. Historical seismicity Interferogram from insarap.org
Magnitude 6.2, CENTRAL ITALY
Wednesday, 24th August, 2016 at 01:36 UTC
Historical seismicity
The central Mediterranean is a complex and tectonically active region. As many of the earthquakes are in the crust, and the area is highly populated many of these earthquakes have a human impact.
Notably the L'Aquila earthquake in April 2009 which killed at least 308 people. The 2009 earthquake was preceded by several foreshocks and was linked with a high profile court case claiming that the authorities had failed to warn locals of the hazard.
M 6.2
24/08/2016
M 6.3
06/04/2009
Interferogram from insarap.org

4. Below: Diagram showing the normal faulting mechanism of a earthquake.
Magnitude 6.2, CENTRAL ITALY
Wednesday, 24th August, 2016 at 01:36 UTC
Earthquake mechanism
The Norcia earthquake occurred on the 24th August 2016 is the result of a normal faulting structure in the central Apennines.
This region is tectonically and geologically complex, involving both subduction of the Adria micro-plate beneath the Apennines from east to west, continental collision between the Eurasia and Africa plates building the Alpine mountain belt further to the north and the opening of the Tyrrhenian basin to the west.
Left: Focal mechanism of the earthquake showing normal faulting (from the USGS)
Below: Diagram showing the normal faulting mechanism of a earthquake.

5. Tectonic setting Magnitude 6.2, CENTRAL ITALY
Wednesday, 24th August, 2016 at 01:36 UTC
Tectonic setting
The Mediterranean region has active seismicity primarily because of the northward motion of the African plate, causing the closure of the Tethys Ocean, and subduction of the Tethys plate. The convergence rate varies from 4 to 10 mm/yr along the boundary.
The Apennine mountains of Southern Italy have a high risk of earthquakes due to the Subduction of the Mediterranean Sea floor beneath the Tyrrhenian Sea . There are also some active volcanoes located there above intermediate depth earthquakes.
Above: Map showing the location of the collision plate boundary fault and the earthquake

6. Satellite images of earthquake deformation
Magnitude 6.2, CENTRAL ITALY
Wednesday, 24th August, 2016 at 01:36 UTC
Satellite images of earthquake deformation
The dimensions and amount of slip caused by the earthquake source, can be inferred using seismic and geodetic observations.
Figure on the right shows the permanent displacements caused by the earthquake, as observed by the Japanese radar interferometric satellite ALOS-2. Each change in color represents 12 cm of displacement.
Ground shaking correlates with the characteristics of the rupture. The rupture of shallow faults, like this Italian earthquake, produces strong shaking near the earthquake source.
Credits: US Geological Survey, and
Japanese Space Agency (JAXA)

7. Seismic waves recorded in the UK
Magnitude 6.2, CENTRAL ITALY
Wednesday, 24th August, 2016 at 01:36 UTC
Seismic waves recorded in the UK
P-waves
S-waves
Surface waves
The earthquake occurred at 1:36 UTC in Italy, and the seismic waves from the earthquake reached the UK approximately 4 minutes later. Above you can see seismic waves from the earthquake recorded at seismometers across the UK.
The bottom three stations are roughly the same distance from the Earthquake, so the seismic waves arrive at about the same time.
The top plot shows that the seismic waves arrive later, and are lower in amplitude at station ESK (shown in blue)

8. Find out more…. Magnitude 6.2, CENTRAL ITALY
Wednesday, 24th August, 2016 at 01:36 UTC
Find out more….
University of Liverpool ‘Viewpoint’ article on the earthquake
BGS (British Geological Survey) – seismology and earthquakes – frequently asked questions
IRIS (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology) – learning about earthquakes
UK School Seismology Project – classroom activities, videos and support documents
USGS (United States Geological Survey) – FAQs, glossary, posters, animations
USGS summary of the earthquake

9. @seismologyUoL