COMMENTS

The Ufita Valley source contained in the Database is mainly based on the 
original hypothesis by Pantosti and Valensise (1988).  While the existence of a 
large normal fault parallel to the Ufita River and extending from Guardia dei 
Lombardi to Apice is strongly suggested by the recent geologic and geomorphic 
development of the area and hence not being questioned here, the association 
with a large historical earthquake is more problematic. The source seems to fit 
rather closely the felt reports of the 1732 earthquake, while it is located to 
the south of the epicentral region of the 1688 event.

The source extent is very well constrained to the south by the interference with 
the Bagnoli Irpino-Torrente Calaggio Line (Auct.), which is marked by 
significant changes in stratigraphic facies and also by thermal springs (Mefite 
d'Ansanto). In contrast, the source is rather weakly constrained to the north, 
where it should intersect the Benevento-Candela (Auct.) or Benevento-Buonalbergo 
(Auct.) lines, but it definitely does not cross any of these lines.

The northward continuation of the Ufita Valley source is somehow constrained by 
other moderate-size events. From instrumental and macroseismic data it appears 
that the ~M 6.2 1962 Irpinia earthquake occurred at the northern end of this 
source and possibly in-between the Ufita Valley and Tammaro Basin sources. 
Finally, the 1702 earthquake conceivably ruptured a small portion of the Ufita 
Source or of a nearby fault (possibly a transverse feature).


OPEN QUESTIONS

1) The identification of this source is largely based on geomorphic observations 
and similarities with the adjacent sources. Is there a primary surface 
expression that could be identified in the field and analysed for characterising 
this fault?

2) Knowing that the Database hypothesises a NE-dipping master fault having the 
Ufita river in its hanging-wall, is the SW-dipping Ufita River Fault (Brancaccio 
et al., 1981; Basso et al., 1996a; b) somehow related with the Ufita Valley 
seismogenic source/master fault (e.g., and antithetic fault)?

3) Could the 989 A.D. earthquake be an ancestor of the 1732 earthquake? Or, 
since it appears to be much smaller than 1732, could the 989 A.D. have the same 
meaning as the 1702? 

