Paleoearthquakes in the Uimon basin (Gorny Altai)

Paleoseismological studies confirm that the Uimon basin is thrust by its northern mountain border along the active South Terekta fault. The latest motion along the fault in the 7-8th centuries AD induced an earthquake with a magnitude of M_w= 7.4-7.7 and a shaking intensity of I = 9-11 on the MSK-64 scale. The same fault generated another event (M > 7, I = 9-10), possibly, about 16 kyr ago, which triggered gravity sliding. The rockslide dammed the Uimon valley and produced a lake, where lacustrine deposition began about 14 ± 1 kyr ago, and a later M > 7 (I = 9-10) earthquake at ~ 6 ka caused the dam collapse and the lake drainage. Traces of much older earthquakes that occurred within the Uimon basin are detectable from secondary deformation structures (seismites) in soft sediments deposited during the drainage of a Late Pleistocene ice-dammed lake between 100 and 90 ka and in ~ 77 ka alluvium. The magnitude and intensity of these paleoearthquakes were at least M > 5.0-5.5 and I > 6-7.     

significance of high-resolution loess stratification based on grain size and magnetic susceptibility analysis to paleo-earthquake study: a case study of dongyugou loess section,at hongtong,shanxi province

As an important technology to paleoseismologic research, trenching has been used to identify paleo-earthquakes recorded in strata, combined with dating technology. However, there have been some bigger uncertainties and limitations. For instance, subtle strata in loess sediment cannot be interpreted only by naked-eye, which seriously affects identifying paleo-earthquake horizon and time. Therefore, how to improve the accuracy and reduce the uncertainty of paleo-earthquake identification is the important problem we are currently facing. Dongyugou loess section, located in the northeastern corner of Linfen Basin, Shanxi Province, cuts across the Huoshan piedmont fault. The section exposes not only the well-developed loess sequence, but also several obvious faulting events. Thus, this loess section is a better site to make a high resolution study to improve the accuracy and reduce the uncertainty of paleo-earthquake identification. Based on the high-resolution grain size and magnetic susceptibility analysis, and associated with visual interpretation by naked-eye, we made a high-resolution stratification of Dongyugou loess section, including high-resolution thickness of each stratum and its upper and bottom boundaries. Based on the high-resolution stratification and their comparison between two fault walls, we identified three earthquake events, which occurred after formation of u5-7, u4 and u2, corresponding to their stratification depth of 7.1m, 4.7m and 2.9m in hanging wall. Based on results of OSL dating and average sedimentation rate of hanging wall, we estimated that the three events occurred around 45.8ka(between (48.1±1.5)～(43.2±2.5)ka), 32.8ka(between (35.0±2.4)～(30.6±1.3)ka) and 23.3ka(between (26.4±0.8)～(20.9±0.7)ka). According to the thickness difference of three loess-paleosol sedimentary cycles between two fault walls, we calculated the coseismic vertical displacements of the three events as 0.5m, 0.4 and 1.3m, respectively. Compared with other segments of the Huoshan piedmont fault zone, we found the southernmost segment is the weakest, with longer recurrence interval of about 11ka and lower vertical slip rate of 0.048mm/a. The high-accuracy grain size and magnetic susceptibility analysis offers an effective method for reducing the uncertainties of the paleo-earthquake research in loess area.     

Strong historical earthquakes in the northwestern Issyk Kul’ basin (northern Tien Shan)

The northern Tien Shan is the northern front of the Himalayan mountain belt, which resulted from the collision between the Indian and Eurasian Plates. This region encompasses the most active seismic zones of the orogen, which generated the strongest (M > 8) earthquakes. Since there are scarcely any written accounts, the only way to trace back strong earthquakes is the paleoseismologic method. Since 1984 we have been studying the northwestern Issyk Kul’ basin, where there are differently directed anticlines, which constitute the Kungei meganticline. Here, several active tectonic structures (faults, folds) are located, whose development was accompanied by strong earthquakes. Our field studies of 2008 in the Iiri-Taldybulak Valley, along the adyrs (foothills) of the Kungei-Ala-Too Range, revealed two unknown historical earthquakes. The first one, which occurred along the southern rupture in the late 7th century A.D., gave rise to a seismic scarp; the latter broke through the river floodplain and a tash-koro (ancient settlement). The second one, which occurred along the northern rupture in the late 9th century A.D., increased the height of the seismic scarp, existing on the Early Holocene and older terraces. Note that this region already records a strong seismic event around 500 A.D. Archeologic data have revealed one more strong earthquake, which took place in the 14th century A.D. Note that the above-mentioned strong seismic events are coeval with the decline of the nomadic cultures (Wusun, Turkic, Mogul) in the northern Tien Shan and Zhetysu (Semirech’e).     

基于LiDAR的海原断裂松山段断错地貌分析与古地震探槽选址实例

基于高精度机载Li DAR数据在GIS平台的地貌因子渲染分析,对海原断裂老虎山段松山地区古地震研究点进行高精度大比例尺(1∶1000)地貌填图,勾勒出研究点微地貌空间展布和断裂高精度几何形态。通过对松山古地震研究点2个新探槽的开挖,结合细致的探槽解译、地震事件识别与分期、年代学样品测试,得出5次37380±880BP以内的不连续古地震序列。通过对比此处已经开挖的各自相距不足150m、分布于断裂同一段落的4个古地震探槽的微地貌位置、沉积特征和地震事件信号强弱,发现即使相距不远,不同微地貌位置古地震探槽揭示的古地震现象也会有显著差别。这种差别凸显了古地震研究结果,如揭示的事件证据和个数等与探槽点位置的选取有较强的依赖性。综合对比分析表明,较低的地势、低能静水环境、高沉积速率、细粒的沉积物源区及连续的沉积环境是走滑断裂上开展古地震研究的优选地貌位置。实例表明,基于高精度地形数据对研究点开展精细地貌填图揭示微地貌时空演化,从而在探槽开挖前对古地震研究点的构造地貌优劣进行充分评价是提高古地震研究质量的必要程序,同时也显示出高精度机载Li DAR数据在活动构造研究中的重要新应用。     

Paleoseismological investigation of the Kichera Fault Zone in the northern Baikal region

In the recent structure of the Baikal Rift Zone, the Kichera Fault serves as the northwestern boundary of the Angara-Kichera aggradation depression. A seismotectonic scarp 60 m high was formed as a result of normal faulting during the late Pleistocene and Holocene. The erosion-aggradation and seismic landforms testify to the nonuniform growth of this scarp. To study the character of the seismic activity in the Kichera Fault Zone, we excavated two trenches across the seismotectonic scarp. The Holocene stage of the seismotectonic activation within the fault zone and the preceding period of relative quiescence were outlined from the character of the deformations in the trench sections and previous geomorphic investigations. According to our preliminary estimations, the active stage that started at the end of the late Pleistocene and that has remained incomplete until now was accompanied by at least three rupture-forming earthquakes.     

Active Tectonics in the Central Apennines (Italy) – Input Data for Seismic Hazard Assessment

Quaternary tectonics and paleoseismologicalinvestigations have defined a reliable framework ofactive faults in the southern Umbria and AbruzziApennines. Two sets of NW–SE to NNW–SSE trending, 16to 33 km-long, normal and normal-oblique faults orfault systems have caused the displacement of LatePleistocene–Holocene deposits and landforms within theinvestigated sector. Available data on verticaloffsets indicate that both Late Pleistocene–Holoceneand Quaternary (since the later part of the EarlyPleistocene; 0.9–1 Ma) slip rates range between 0.4and 1.2 mm/yr (range 0.6–0.8 mm/yr preferred).Paleoseismological investigations show that recurrenceintervals for surface faulting events are alwaysgreater than 1,000 years and are usually greater than2,000 years. Both paleoseismological data andlong-term seismicity show that activation of theinvestigated faults may result in earthquakes ofM = 6.5–7.0. The extension rate across the two sets ofprimary faults ranges between 0.7 and 1.6 mm/yr.Horizontal seismic strain has been calculated to be0.5–0.6 mm/yr, based on the summation of the seismicmoment of M > 5.3 earthquakes which have affected theinvestigated area since 1200 AD. This value may belower than that inferred through geological data,probably because the seismological record reliable forthe addition of the seismic moments covers a too shorttime window (about 800 years) to be consideredrepresentative of the tectonic activity in theinvestigated area. This conclusion iscorroborated by the large recurrence intervalper fault (>1,000–2,000 years) inferred frompaleoseismological analysis. A comparison of theactive-fault framework and historical-seismicitydistribution indicates that the entire eastern set ofactive faults has likely not been activated since 1000AD, thus indicating that the elapsed time since thelast activation for several faults of the investigatedarea may be greater than 1,000 years. In terms ofhazard, the highest probability of activation isrelated to the eastern set faults, due to theobservation that the elapsed time for some of thesefaults may be similar to the recurrence interval. Asan example, paleoseismological andarchaeoseismological data indicate that the elapsedtime for the Mt. Vettore and Mt. Morrone Faults may begreater than 1,650 and 1,850 years, respectively.These data may have significant implications for riskrelated to a number of towns in central Italy and tothe city of Rome. As for the latter, in fact,monumental heritage has suffered significant damagedue to earthquakes of M > 6.5 which originated in theinvestigated Apennine sector.     

湖泊沉积对地震动的响应特征与古地震序列重建

湖泊沉积因其对地震动的敏感而被认为是“天然地震仪”,湖泊沉积古地震研究有机会重建长时间尺度的地震(动)序列,对认识区域发震孕震环境和地震复发规律具有潜在优势,是当前古地震学研究的重要方向之一。本文旨在总结现今湖泊沉积古地震研究的主要进展、存在的问题和未来展望。首先通过与传统古地震研究关注的记录对比,扼要介绍了湖泊沉积地震动记录在形成和保存潜力、空间分布以及感应能力等方面的相对优势。然后从过程角度总结了湖泊沉积对地震动响应的主要机制,着重剖析了液化、流化和沉积物再悬浮等不同机制在控制因素、过程特点、响应阈值等方面的异同。再结合湖泊沉积对地震动响应的过程特点和研究现状,总结了不同类型的湖泊沉积地震动记录,对比分析了变形构造、块体运动堆积、浊流堆积和再悬浮沉积等4种类型记录的沉积学和动力学特征;对不同类型记录的古地震学含义和研究手段进行了梳理。再总结了地球物理勘探、结构构造和理化代理指标等现阶段流行的方法在不同尺度湖泊沉积古地震识别和古地震序列重建中的适用性和局限性,后者主要缘于湖泊沉积系统本身的复杂性和外部扰动过程的多样性。最后指出,当前湖泊沉积古地震研究面临的主要问题是缺乏普适性的响应模式、判别依据和甄别准则;今后工作应致力于对湖泊沉积地震动响应过程的深入理解,积极引进数字或试验模拟等理论工具与方法,从二维观察扩展到三维重建;数据解释力求宏观结合微观,由单一指标转向综合性组合式指标,为最终建立普适性的诊断指标和判别依据服务。     

Paleoseismology of the 2016 MW 6.1 Petermann earthquake source: Implications for intraplate earthquake behaviour and the geomorphic longevity of bedrock fault scarps in a low strain-rate cratonic region

The 20 May 2016 M_W 6.1 Petermann earthquake in central Australia generated a 21 km surface rupture with 0.1 to 1 m vertical displacements across a low-relief landscape. No paleo-scarps or potentially analogous topographic features are evident in pre-earthquake Worldview-1 and Worldview-2 satellite data. Two excavations across the surface rupture expose near-surface fault geometry and mixed aeolian-sheetwash sediment faulted only in the 2016 earthquake. A 10.6 ± 0.4 ka optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) age of sheetwash sediment provides a minimum estimate for the period of quiescence prior to 2016 rupture. Seven cosmogenic beryllium-10 (¹⁰Be) bedrock erosion rates are derived for samples < 5 km distance from the surface rupture on the hanging-wall and foot-wall, and three from samples 19 to 50 km from the surface rupture. No distinction is found between fault proximal rates (1.3 ± 0.1 to 2.6 ± 0.2 m Myr⁻¹) and distal samples (1.4 ± 0.1 to 2.3 ± 0.2 m Myr⁻¹). The thickness of rock fragments (2–5 cm) coseismically displaced in the Petermann earthquake perturbs the steady-state bedrock erosion rate by only 1 to 3%, less than the erosion rate uncertainty estimated for each sample (7–12%). Using ¹⁰Be erosion rates and scarp height measurements we estimate approximately 0.5 to 1 Myr of differential erosion is required to return to pre-earthquake topography. By inference any pre-2016 fault-related topography likely required a similar time for removal. We conclude that the Petermann earthquake was the first on this fault in the last ca. 0.5–1 Myr. Extrapolating single nuclide erosion rates across this timescale introduces large uncertainties, and we cannot resolve whether 2016 represents the first ever surface rupture on this fault, or a > 1 Myr interseismic period. Either option reinforces the importance of including distributed earthquake sources in fault displacement and seismic hazard analyses.     

Vented sediments and tsunami deposits in the Puget Lowland,Washington – differentiating sedimentary processes

The sandy deposits produced by tsunamis and liquefaction share many sedimentary features, and distinctions between the two are important in seismically active coastal zones. Both types of deposits are present in the wetlands bordering Puget Sound, where one or more earthquakes about 1100 years ago caused both tsunami flooding and sediment venting. This co‐occurrence allows an examination of the resulting deposits and a comparison with tsunami and liquefaction features of modern events. Vented sediments occur at four of five wetland field localities and tsunami deposits at two. In comparison with tsunami deposits, vented sediments in this study and from other studies tend to be thicker (although they can be thin). Vented sediments also have more variable thickness at both outcrop and map scale, are associated with injected dykes and contain clasts derived from underlying deposits. Further, vented sediments tend to contain a greater variety of sedimentary structures, and these structures vary laterally over metres. Tsunami deposits compared with vented sediments are commonly thinner, fine and thin landward more consistently, have more uniform thickness on outcrop and map scales, and have the potential of containing coarser clasts, up to boulders. For both tsunami deposits and vented sediments, the availability and grain size of source material condition the characteristics of the deposit. In the cases presented in this paper, both foraminifera and diatom assemblages within tsunami deposits and vented sediments consisted of brackish and marine species, and no distinction between processes could be made based on microfossils. In summary, this study indicates a need for more careful analysis and mapping of coastal sediments associated with earthquakes to avoid misidentification of processes and misevaluation of hazards.