COYOTES

Since May 2018, a very active seismic sequence is affecting the area of Mayotte (Comoros volcanic archipelago). Long lasting low frequency tremors and rapid and continuous eastward drifting and subsidence of Mayotte have also been recorded. The scale of this event, its duration, its seismic signature and the induced surface deformations suggest the exceptional nature of this telluric phenomenon, never quantitatively observed before. Preliminary studies suggest magmatic origin for this event. The lack of geological and geodynamical knowledge don’t allow a full understanding of both the causes and consequences of the Mayotte Seismic Sequence. Therefore, it precludes satisfactory assessment of natural hazards. Several recent actions just started the collection of additional seismological, geodesic, geophysical and geological data in order to better characterize this current seismic event. This COYOTES project will allow the federation of experts into a collaborative team including three PhD thesis and a post-doc researcher. It plans to conduct integrated multi-thematic and multidisciplinary studies from the recently collected data and to acquire new relevant data, gathering experts in the various fields and those already involved in ongoing studies. Main objectives of this project are to understand the Mayotte Seismic Sequence and better define the geological and geodynamic context unknown so far. The project will integrate new onshore and offshore acquisitions of geological and geophysical data, their interpretation as well as modelling phases. The tasks concern the current seismic sequence, deformation and kinematics, the recent and active volcanism and tectonics in the Comoros archipelago, the regional structuration and inheritance and finally, the scientific and public dissemination.The results on the understanding of the seismic sequence as well as the local and regional volcano-tectonic context, resulting from this project, will be translated in terms of hazards and geological synthesis.