Mulargia and Boschi (1983)
They compare the observed vertical displacement induced 
by the 28 December 1908 earthquake, recorded by levelling surveys performed before 
and after the event (Loperfido, 1909), and the vertical displacement predicted by a 
dislocation model. They propose that the seismogenic structure responsible for this 
event may be formed by two N22 trending normal faults, organised in a graben-like 
structure, with the western fault shallower and dipping at a low angle.

Ghisetti (1984)
She describes the tectonic setting of the Messina Straits as formed by three main 
normal fault systems with different trends (NNE-SSW, E-W and NW-SE) that control 
a graben-like structure. The master fault being located on the Calabrian side of the 
Straits and the associated antithetic faults located on the Sicilian side. This 
arrangement of faults is expected to produce a greater uplift in the Calabrian side. 
According to the investigator this graben structure may be the result of the high 
contrast between negative and positive vertical movements associated with the deep 
overthrusting of the Tyrrhenian crust over the African foreland. The graben formed 
in the back limb of the thrust anticline. Due to this large-scale process the author 
argues that any of the main surface faults in this area can be reactivated and generate 
large earthquakes.

Bottari et al. (1986)
The investigators re-examine and reconstruct the macroseismic field of the 1908 
earthquake by applying the MSK intensity scale. Based on the pattern of the higher 
grade isoseismals they hypothesise that the event was generated by a NE-
SW trending, NW60 dipping normal fault. The fault should be located under the 
Calabrian side of the Straits. According to them this fault is part of the fault system 
that generated and controls the graben.

Capuano et al. (1988) and Bottari et al. (1989)
These papers reanalyse the vertical displacement measured by repeated levelling 
surveys performed before and after the 1908 earthquake (Loperfido, 1909). On the basis 
of the adopted inversion method they hypothesise that the earthquake nucleated on a 
single N356 striking, E38 dipping, normal fault with a small right-lateral component. 
They also point out that this source mechanism is in good agreement with the focal 
mechanism obtained from long-period P-wave polarities and argue that this 
hypothesis is also supported by the study of the location of recent earthquakes. 
However, on the basis of ground deformation alone, they do not exclude that the 1908 
event could be related to a graben structure like that proposed by Mulargia and Boschi 
(1983).

Valensise (1988)
He estimates the geometry and slip distribution of the 1908 earthquake source by 
inversion of the Loperfido (1909) geodetic levelling data-set. Uniform and variable 
slip solutions were provided. The results show that the best fit is obtained with a 
normal fault striking NNE and dipping 36 to the east. The author also shows that the 
the coseismic displacement profile shows a Graben-like shape in agreement with the 
topographic profile of the Straits. This observation is used to infer that thethe 
structure of the Straits may be considered as the result of repeated characteristic 
earthquakes generated by the same fault.

Boschi et al. (1989)
They propose a source model for the 1908 earthquake based on the re-analysis 
of the Loperfido (1909) geodetic levelling data-set and constrained by geological, 
macroseismic and seismometric data. They hypothesise a 45 km-long, 
N10-striking, 30-east dipping blind normal fault and suggest that the evolution 
of the Messina Straits is controlled by the repetition of 1908-type earthquakes, with 
an average recurrence time of about 1000 years (+500, -300).

De Natale and Pingue (1991)
On the basis of the inversion of levelling data and of the fault geometry proposed by 
Capuano et al. (1988) they develop a variable-slip fault model for the 1908 earthquake. 
They suggest the fault contains two zones of higher slip. One located near Reggio 
Calabria, where was located the epicentre of the 16 January, 1975, earthquake and the 
other near the city of Messina.

Valensise and Pantosti (1992) and D'Addezio et al. (1993)
These papers analyse recent geologic and geomorphic features on both sides of the 
Messina Straits and compare their distribution and deformation pattern with the 
displacement fields produced by different fault models that were proposed by several 
authors. They map and reconstruct the path of the inner edge of the main terraces of 
the Calabrian coast and analyse the shoreline of the 125 ka marine terrace and the 
distribution of the "Ghiaie di Messina" Formation. On this basis, they characterise the 
seismic behaviour of the structure related to the 1908 earthquake and develop a 
model for the long term evolution of the Straits. On the basis of the observation that 
the pattern of the vertical coseismic elevation changes predicted by the Boschi et al. 
(1989) model shows consistency with the topographic profile across the Straits and the 
trend 125 Ka terrace inner edge elevation, the investigators hypothesise that the long 
term evolution of the Straits, is strongly affected by the repetition of coseismic 
deformation related to the occurrence of 1908-type characteristic earthquakes. The 
overall setting can be explained with the contemporaneous action of a regional uplift 
and coseismic deformation. By using the 125 ka terrace inner edge trend and the 
expected coseismic changes in elevation along it, and assuming a characteristic 
behaviour of the source, they calculate the number of events needed to explain the 
present setting of the 125 ka and infer a recurrence interval of 700-1500 years and a 
slip rate of 1.4 mm/yr.

Tortorici et al. (1995)
As a result of field mapping, structural analysis and geomorphic observations, they 
describe in detail several normal fault segments stretched along the Tyrrhenian side 
of the Calabrian Arc that show evidence of Middle Pleistocene to Holocene activity. 
According to them this activity may be related to the high level of seismicity that is 
characteristic of the region. In the Messina Straits area, the authors study the onshore 
15 km long, NNE-SSW trending, W dipping, high angle Reggio Calabria normal 
fault, that they consider as part of a normal fault system which controlled the 
Pleistocene geologic and sedimentary evolution of the Straits, and that shows 
Quaternary activity. They propose for this fault a minimum slip rate of 0.6 mm/yr, 
considering the height of the triangular facets along its scarp and the vertical offset of 
the Late Pleistocene terrace. On the basis of structural, morphological and 
seismological data, they suggest that the 1908 earthquake may be related to the 
offshore continuation of this fault.

Anzidei et al. (1998)
They analyse the results of geodetic measurements across the Messina Straits. A 
geodetic network set up in 1970 was repeatedly measured with conventional 
techniques until 1980. In 1987 and 1994 the network was also measured with GPS 
techniques. The analysis shows that no significant horizontal deformation has taken 
place across the Messina Straits between 1980 and 1994. This observation is interpreted 
as evidence for the absence of secondary faulting near or above the causative fault of 
the 1908 earthquake.

Guidoboni et al. (2000)
On the basis of the reconstruction of the historical settlements in the area, they found 
that many sites were abandoned or relocated around the middle of the fourth century 
A.D. The investigators attribute this important decline of the region to the damage 
produced by a large earthquake, similar to the 1908 one. This hypothesis is supported 
also by careful archaeological observations in the cities of Reggio Calabria and 
Messina.
