Field estimate of paleoseismic slip on a normal fault using the Schmidt hammer and terrestrial LiDAR: Methods and application to the Hebgen fault (Montana,USA)

The weathering characteristics of bedrock fault scarps provide relative age constraints that can be used to determine fault displacements. Here, we report Schmidt hammer rebound values (R‐values) for a limestone fault scarp that was last exposed in the 1959 Mw 7.3 Hebgen Lake, Montana earthquake. Results show that some R‐value indices, related to the difference between minimum and maximum R‐values in repeated impacts at a point, increase upward along the scarp, which we propose is due to progressive exposure of the scarp in earthquakes. An objective method is developed for fitting slip histories to the Schmidt hammer data and produces the best model fit (using the Bayesian Information Criterion) of three earthquakes with single event displacements of ≥ 1.20 m, 3.75 m, and c. 4.80 m. The same fitting method is also applied to new terrestrial LiDAR data of the scarp, though the LiDAR results may be more influenced by macro‐scale structure of the outcrop than by differential weathering. We suggest the use of this fitting procedure to define single event displacements on other bedrock fault scarps using other dating techniques. Our preliminary findings demonstrate that the Schmidt hammer, combined with other methods, may provide useful constraints on single event displacements on exposed bedrock fault scarps. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismogenic destruction of the Kamenka medieval fortress, northern Issyk-Kul region, Tien Shan (Kyrgyzstan)

A paleoseismological study of the medieval Kamenka fortress in the northern part of the Issyk-Kul Lake depression, northern Tien Shan in Kyrgyzstan, revealed an oblique slip thrust fault scarp offsetting the fortification walls. This 700 m long scarp is not related to the 1911 Kebin Earthquake (Ms 8.2) fault scarps which are widespread in the region. As analysis of stratigraphy in a paleoseismic trench and archaeological evidence reveal, it can be assigned to a major twelfth century a.d. earthquake which produced up to 4 m of oblique slip thrusting antithetic to that of the nearby dominant faults. The inferred surface rupturing earthquake apparently caused the fortress destruction and was likely the primary reason for its abandonment, not the Mongolian–Tatar invasions as previously thought.     

Schmidt hammer exposure‐age dating (SHD) of late Quaternary fluvial terraces in New Zealand

Schmidt hammer (SH) R‐values are reported for surface clasts from numerically dated Holocene and Pleistocene fluvial terraces in the South Island of New Zealand. The R‐values are combined with previously obtained weathering rind, radiocarbon, terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide and luminescence terrace ages to derive SH R‐value chronofunctions for greywacke clasts from four distinct locations. Our results show that different weathering rates affect the form of the SH R‐value versus Age curve, however a fundamental dependency between the two remains constant over timescales ranging from 10² to 10⁵ years. Power law scaling constants suggest changes in clast weathering rates are primarily affected by climatic (precipitation and temperature) and sedimentologic variables (source terrane petrology). Age uncertainties of ~22% of the surface age suggest that Schmidt hammer exposure‐age dating (SHD) is a reliable calibrated‐age dating technique for fluvial terraces. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Use of the Acoustic Energy Meter (AEM) for rapid geomorphological field assessment of rock hardness: comparison with Schmidt hammer R‐value

Rapid, field‐based assessments of rock hardness are required in a broad range of geomorphological investigations where rock intact strength is important. Several different methods are now available for taking such measurements, in particular the Schmidt hammer, which has seen increasing use in geomorphology in recent decades. This is despite caution from within the engineering literature regarding choice of Schmidt hammer type, normalization of rebound (R‐) values, surface micro‐roughness, weathering degree and moisture content, and data reduction/analysis procedures. We present a pilot study of the use of an Acoustic Energy Meter (AEM), originally produced, tested and developed within the field of underground mining engineering as a rapid measure of rock surface hardness, and compare it with results from a mechanical N‐Type Schmidt hammer. We assess its capabilities across six lithological study sites in southeast Queensland, Australia, in the Greater Brisbane area. Each rock exposure has been recently exposed in the 20th/21st century. Using a ‘paired’ sampling approach, the AEM G‐value shows an inverse relationship with Schmidt hammer R‐value. While both devices show variability with lithology, the AEM G‐values show less scatter than the Schmidt hammer. We conclude that each device can contribute to useful rock hardness testing in geomorphological research, but the AEM requires further field testing in a range of environments, and in particular on older and naturally‐exposed rock surfaces. Future evaluations can extend this pilot study by focusing on sampling procedures, energy sources, and data reduction protocols, within the framework of a comparison study with other rock hardness testing apparatus. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

北京平谷地区地表陡坎的成因识别

根据对北京平谷三河地区地表陡坎的观察比较,研究了河流侵蚀陡坎与断层陡坎的微地貌形态差异。河流侵蚀形成陡坎的方向追随河流的冲沟方向,具不稳定性,并且陡坎的倾向沿河对称。断层陡坎的展布不受河流方向的影响,断层以倾向活动为主时,陡坎两盘的运动方向稳定。研究结果表明,平谷地区的地表陡坎是河流侵蚀陡坎。同时,还从构造地貌学与地层沉积学的角度,分析了平原区河流侵蚀沉积与断层断错沉积的特征,指出平谷地区的浅层人工地震探测及浅钻资料存在两种解释的可能性     

Calculation of shielding factors for production of cosmogenic nuclides in fault scarps

The distribution of concentration of cosmogenic nuclides in fault scarps is used to determine slip histories. The complicated part is the calculation of cosmic radiation shielding by the escarpment body and the overlying wedge of the colluvial sediment. To improve reconstruction of earthquake ages and slip histories, we developed a mathematical model and corresponding MATLAB^® code for computation of shielding factor profiles in fault scarp geometry. In the model, cosmic radiation received by a point of footwall is represented as unit rays attenuated exponentially in scarp geometry. This approach allows producing very precise results both for the fault scarp and the sloped surface. The code is presented as a m-function and as a stand-alone program with a user-friendly interface. Shielding factors are calculated by the code for fast neutrons or for muons and include all general shieldings: topographical, sloped surface, fault scarp surface, colluvium cover, snow cover and self-shielding. A variety of input parameters enables one to adjust the model and the code to almost all possible shielding cases. The code and stand-alone version are provided as supplementary materials and equipped with help and explanatory notes.     

The schmidt hammer,weathering and rock surface roughness

Measures of the differential relief of adjacent feldspar and pyroxene grains provide the first clear negative correlation of Schmidt hammer rebound (R-) values and degree of weathering. However, weathering and roughness are intimately related, so the latter cannot be seen simply as a source of error limiting the utility of the Schmidt hammer. Only where surfaces had similar textures prior to weathering can R-values be compared directly. Even where surface texture is well controlled, differences in R-values should be viewed critically rather than assigned indiscriminately to differences in degree of weathering.     

祁漫塔格北缘断裂晚第四纪以来活动特征初步研究

祁漫塔格北缘断裂处于青藏高原内部造山带地区,其构造活动反映了青藏高原的构造演化特征。本文采用活动构造和构造地貌相结合的研究方法,对该断裂的活动性进行初步分析研究。首先采用航卫片解译和野外调查,发现该断裂断错了山前全新世冲洪积扇,形成的断层陡坎高度在1.5~2.5m。通过扩散方程,并参考前人研究结果,认为祁漫塔格北缘断裂晚第四纪的抬升速率初步限定在1~2mm/a。我们基于数字高程模型提取的地形高程纵剖面和面积-高程积分,其结果也支持祁漫塔格北缘存在构造活动。     

Clast transport history influences Schmidt hammer rebound values

The Schmidt hammer (SH) is widely used in geomorphology for relative- and calibrated-exposure age dating surfaces and deposits within landforms. This study employs a laboratory-based methodology to assess the effects of surface roughness, clast roundness, and clast volume on SH rebound values (R-values) by analyzing samples from three modern depositional environments (i.e. river, alluvial fan, talus). Each environment contains clasts of Torlesse supergroup greywacke sandstones with distinct roundness and micro-scale roughness characteristics. Roundness, surface roughness, and clast volume were all found to influence R-values significantly. The R-values from different deposit types are statistically significant and could potentially create an apparent age divergence of several thousand years for samples with the same exposure-age. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of electronic and mechanical Schmidt hammers in the context of exposure‐age dating: are Q‐ and R‐values interconvertible?

Application of Schmidt‐hammer exposure‐age dating (SHD) to landforms has substantially increased in recent years. The original mechanical Schmidt hammer records R‐(rebound) values. Although the newly introduced electronic Schmidt hammer (SilverSchmidt) facilitates greatly improved data processing, it measures surface hardness differently, recording Q‐(velocity) values that are not a priori interconvertible with R‐values. This study is the first to compare the performance of both instruments in the context of field‐based exposure‐age dating with a particular focus on the interconvertibility of R‐values and Q‐values. The study was conducted on glacially polished pyroxene‐granulite gneiss, Jotunheimen, southern Norway. Results indicate that mean Q‐values are consistently 8–10 units higher than mean R‐values over the range of values normally encountered in the application of SHD to glacial and periglacial landforms. A convenient conversion factor of ±10 units may, therefore, be appropriate for all but the softest rock types close to the technical resolution of the instruments. The electronic Schmidt hammer should therefore be regarded as a useful complement and potential replacement for the mechanical Schmidt hammer. Conversion of published R‐values data to Q‐values requires, however, careful control and documentation of instrument calibration. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

祁连山北缘玉门-北大河断裂晚第四纪活动特征

通过卫星影像解译、野外实地调查并结合前人研究成果,对位于祁连山北缘的玉门—北大河断裂晚第四纪构造活动特征进行研究。结果表明,玉门—北大河断裂为一条全新世活动的逆冲断裂,该断裂西起玉门青草湾,向东经老玉门市、大红泉止于骨头泉,全长约80km,整体走向NWW。根据断裂的几何结构及活动习性可将其分为三段:东段构造形态简单连续,为逆冲断层陡坎为主的古地震地表破裂带;中段结构复杂,由多条次级断层组成,以逆冲扩展为主;西段未出露地表而成为盲断裂-褶皱带。通过对断层陡坎差分GPS测量及相应地貌面年代测试,得到断裂晚更新世以来逆冲速率约为(0.73±0.09)mm/a。     

COSMOGENIC NUCLIDES EXPOSURE DATING FOR BEDROCK FAULT SCARP: RECONSTRUCTING THE PALEOEARTHQUAKE SEQUENCE

The bedrock scarps are believed to have recorded the continuous information on displacement accumulation and sequence of large earthquakes. The occurrence timing of large earthquakes is believed to be correlated positively with the exposure duration of bedrock fault surfaces. Accordingly, cosmogenic nuclides concentration determined for the bedrock footwall can offer their times, ages, and slip over long time. In general, multiple sites of fault scarps along one or even more faults are selected to carry out cosmogenic nuclide dating in an attempt to derive the temporal and spatial pattern of fault activity. This may contribute to explore whether earthquake occurrence exhibits any regularity and predict the timing and magnitude of strong earthquakes in the near future. Cosmogenic nuclide ³⁶ Cl dating is widely applied to fault scarp of limestone, and the height of fault scarp can reach as high as 15~20m. It is strongly suggested to make sure the bedrock scarp is exhumed by large earthquake events instead of geomorphic processes, based on field observation, and data acquired by terrestrial LiDAR and ground penetration radar (GPR). In addition, it is better for the fault surface to be straight and fresh with striations indicating recent fault movement. A series of bedrock samples are collected from the footwall in parallel to the direction of fault movement both above and below the colluvium, and each of them is~15cm long,~10cm wide, and~3cm thick. The concentrations of both cosmogenic nuclide ³⁶ Cl and REE-Y determined from these samples vary with the heights in parallel to fault scarps. Accordingly, we identify the times of past large earthquakes, model the profile of ³⁶ Cl concentration to seek the most realistic one, and determine the ages and slip of each earthquake event with the errors. In general, the errors for the numbers, ages, and slips of past earthquake events are ±1-2, no more than ±0.5-1.0ka, and ±0.25m, respectively.     

THE DELINEATION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL SHALLOW GEOMETRY OF ACTIVE FAULT BASED ON TLS AND GPR: A CASE STUDY OF AN NORMAL FAULT ON THE NORTH MARGIN OF MAOYABA BASIN IN LITANG,WESTERN SICHUAN PROVINCE

It is crucial to reveal the surface traces and activity of active faults by obtaining high-precision microtopography and three-dimensional shallow geometry. However, limited by the traditional geological investigation methods in the field and geological condition factors, the measurement method on microtopography and shallow geometry of active fault is badly insufficient. In this study, the TLS and GPR are firstly used comprehensively to delineate the microtopography and shallow geometry of the normal fault scarp on the north margin of Maoyaba Basin in Litang. Firstly, the vertical displacements of two landforms produced by the latest two periods of normal faulting and the two-dimensional GPR profiles are obtained separately. Secondly, the three-dimensional measurement method of active fault based on TLS and GPR is preliminarily established. On this basis, three-dimensional model of fault scarp and three-dimensional images of subsurface geometry are also obtained. These data all reveal a graben structure at normal fault scarps. Thirdly, the fusion and interpretation of three-dimensional data from the surface and subsurface are realized. The study results show:1)the vertical displacements of the T₁ and T₂ terraces by the normal fault movement is 1.4m and 5.7m, the GPR profile shows a typical fault structure and indicates the existence of small graben structure with a maximum width of about 40m in the shallow layer, which further proves that it is a normal fault. 2)the shallow geometry of the normal fault scarp can be more graphically displayed by the three-dimensional radar images, and it also makes the geometry structure of the fault more comprehensive. The precise location and strike of faults F₁ and F₂ on the horizontal surface are also determined in the three-dimensional radar images, which further proves the existence of small graben structure, indicating the extensional deformation characteristics in the subsurface of the fault scarps. Furthermore, the distribution of small graben structure on the surface and subsurface is defined more precisely. 3)the integrated display of microgeomorphology and shallow geometry of normal fault scarp is realized based on the three-dimensional point cloud and GPR data. The fusion of the point cloud and GPR data has obvious advantages, for the spatial structure, morphological and spectral features from the point cloud can improve the recognition and interpretation accuracy of GPR images. The interpreted results of the GPR profiles could minimize the transformation of the surface topography by the external environment at the most extent, restore the original geomorphology, relocate the position and trend of faults on the surface and constrain the width of deformation zones under the surface, the geological structure, and the fault dislocation, etc. In a word, the TLS and GPR can quickly and efficiently provide the spatial data with multi-level and multi-visual for non-destructive inspection of the microgeomorphology and shallow structure for the active fault in a wide range, and for the detection of active fault in the complex geological environments, and it is helpful to improve the accuracy and understanding of the investigation and research on microtopography and shallow geometry of active faults. What's more, it also offers important data and method for more comprehensive identification and understanding of the distribution, deformation features, the behaviors of active faults and multi-period paleoseismicity. Therefore, to continuously explore and improve this method will significantly enhance and expand the practicability and application prospects of the method in the quantitative and elaborate studies of active faults.     

Techniques for measuring rock weathering: application to a dated fan segment sequence in southern Tunisia

There are a number of techniques for estimating the amount of weathering a clast has undergone. These usually have the objective of establishing an ordinal chronology of geomorphological surfaces, or investigation of site-specific conditions affecting weathering rates. Three such techniques are applied to a dated sequence of alluvial fan segments in southern Tunisia. Two of these techniques depend on measuring surface roughness (the micro-roughness meter and a displacement approach) and one uses the structural weakening of the rock fabric (Schmidt hammer). The micro-roughness meter enables calculation of standard deviation of surface height variation, root mean square roughness and surface autocorrelation function. Of these techniques, Schmidt hammer rebound values, standard deviation, root mean square roughness and the displacement technique show systematic changes on the three fan segments which are statistically significant at the 0·05 level. However, the amount of variance in all datasets is very large, indicating the need for caution in application of these techniques for relative dating. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

卡兹克阿尔特断裂带活动特征

卡兹克阿尔特断裂带是帕米尔和天山新生代造山带间一个重要的活动构造边界,通过对其活动构造特征的详细地质调查和大比例尺填图,可将卡兹克阿尔特断裂带进一步划分为吉勒格由特断裂带、乌恰地震断裂带和木什断裂带3段.吉勒格由特断裂带的地表破裂为一系列的断层陡坎和偏转的冲积扇,经过别尔托阔依河出山口处时,切割了T1至T3堆积阶地.断裂带在T1、T2和T3阶地的断层陡坎高度分别为0.67m、3.90m和36.50m.对采自T2阶地顶部和底部的粉砂样品进行光释光测年,测定的初步结果分别为8900aBP和10500aBP,因此对T3、T2阶地以来的滑动速率估计分别约为3.5mm/a、0.8mm/a.断裂的前缘开挖的探槽揭示出全新世以来有4次古地震活动.乌恰地震带主要切割克兹勒苏河的T3阶地后缘,沿断裂带分布有大小不等的断塞塘和断层陡坎.1985年8月23日在乌恰地震带上发生Ms7.4地震,地震最大位错为1.5m.根据断层陡坎计算出断裂的滑动速率约为0.54mm/a.卡帕河的东岸探槽同样揭示出有4次古地震活动.在乌恰地震带的东端,木什断裂带地表长度约6km,由数十条左阶排列的反向断层陡坎(坡向北)组成,沿这些断坎多处可见冲沟被断错,横跨断层陡坎的探槽揭示出3次古地震活动.     

Progressive changes in the morphology of fluvial terraces and scarps along the Rappahannock River,Virginia

Progressive geomorphic changes in the flight of fluvial terraces along the Rappahannock River, Virginia, provide a framework for analysing the effect of time on landforms. The oldest terrace is probably no younger than early Quaternary, and the youngest major fill terrace probably correlates with the high sea level of the last major interglacial. A uranium-series date of 187,000 yr has been obtained on coral from marine sediments related to this terrace. Indices of terrace preservation, especially drainage densities and area to perimeter ratios, show systematic changes with terrace age. Hence, these variables appear to satisfactorily indicate relative age, and could perhaps be used to estimate actual ages if suitably calibrated. The morphology of scarps formed by entrenchment of the fluvial terraces is more variable than analogous morphology of fault scarps and wave-cut bluffs. However, measurements of the fluvial scarps clearly indicate that for a given terrace age, higher scarps tend to have steeper slopes, and that for a given scarp height, older scarps tend to have gentler slopes. The terrace forms themselves are preserved for at least several million years. Depositional features such as bars and channels with l–3m of relief are preserved on terraces on the order of 10⁵ yr old. Scarps related to the formation of terraces of this age are well preserved and have slopes of about 6–8 degrees where the scarp height is about 5 m. The preservation of fluvial landforms and scarps suggests that, if fault scarps comparable to these features were commonly formed by earthquakes in low relief areas of the eastern United States, many should be recognizable.     

THE COSEISMIC VERTICAL DISPLACEMENTS OF SURFACE RUPTURE ZONE OF THE 1556 HUAXIAN EARTHQUAKE

Coseismic displacement plays a role in earthquake surface rupture, which not only reflects the magnitude scale but also has effect on estimates of fault slip rate and earthquake recurrence intervals. A great historical earthquake occurred in Huaxian County on the 23^rd January 1556, however, there was lack of surface rupture records and precise coseismic vertical displacements. It's known that the 1556 Huaxian earthquake was caused by Huashan front fault and Weinan plateau front fault, which are large normal faults in the east part of the southern boundary faults in Weihe Basin controlling the development of the basin in Quaternary. Here, we made a study on three drilling sites in order to unveil the coseismic vertical displacements. It is for the first time to get the accurate coseismic vertical displacements, which is 6m at Lijiapo site of Huashan front fault, 7m at Caiguocun site, and 6m at Guadicun site of Weinan plateau front fault. These coseismic displacements measured based on same layers of drilling profiles both at footwall and hanging wall are different from the results measured by former geomorphological fault scarps. It's estimated that some scarps are related with the nature reformation and the human beings' activities, for example, fluviation or terracing field, instead of earthquake acticity, which leads to some misjudgment on earthquake displacements. Moreover, the vertical displacements from the measurement of geomorphological scarps alone do not always agree with the virtual ones. Hence, we assume that the inconsistency between the results from drilling profiles and geomorphological scarps in this case demonstrates that the fault scarp surface may have been demolished and rebuilt by erosion or human activities.     

Fault Roughness at Seismogenic Depths from LIDAR and Photogrammetric Analysis

Fault surface roughness is a principal factor influencing earthquake mechanics, and particularly rupture initiation, propagation, and arrest. However, little data currently exist on fault surfaces at seismogenic depths. Here, we investigate the roughness of slip surfaces from the seismogenic strike-slip Gole Larghe Fault Zone, exhumed from ca. 10 km depth. The fault zone exploited pre-existing joints and is hosted in granitoid rocks of the Adamello batholith (Italian Alps). Individual seismogenic slip surfaces generally show a first phase of cataclasite production, and a second phase with beautifully preserved pseudotachylytes of variable thickness. We determined the geometry of fault traces over almost five orders of magnitude using terrestrial laser-scanning (LIDAR, ca. 500 to <1 m scale), and 3D mosaics of high-resolution rectified digital photographs (10 m to ca. 1 mm scale). LIDAR scans and photomosaics were georeferenced in 3D using a Differential Global Positioning System, allowing detailed multiscale reconstruction of fault traces in Gocad^®. The combination of LIDAR and high-resolution photos has the advantage, compared with classical LIDAR-only surveys, that the spatial resolution of rectified photographs can be very high (up to 0.2 mm/pixel in this study), allowing for detailed outcrop characterization. Fourier power spectrum analysis of the fault traces revealed a self-affine behaviour over 3–5 orders of magnitude, with Hurst exponents ranging between 0.6 and 0.8. Parameters from Fourier analysis have been used to reconstruct synthetic 3D fault surfaces with an equivalent roughness by means of 2D Fourier synthesis. Roughness of pre-existing joints is in a typical range for this kind of structure. Roughness of faults at small scale (1 m to 1 mm) shows a clear genetic relationship with the roughness of precursor joints, and some anisotropy in the self-affine Hurst exponent. Roughness of faults at scales larger than net slip (>1–10 m) is not anisotropic and less evolved than at smaller scales. These observations are consistent with an evolution of roughness, due to fault surface processes, that takes place only at scales smaller or comparable to the observed net slip. Differences in roughness evolution between shallow and deeper faults, the latter showing evidences of seismic activity, are interpreted as the result of different weakening versus induration processes, which also result in localization versus delocalization of deformation in the fault zone. From a methodological point of view, the technique used here is advantageous over direct measurements of exposed fault surfaces in that it preserves, in cross-section, all of the structures which contribute to fault roughness, and removes any subjectivity introduced by the need to distinguish roughness of original slip surfaces from roughness induced by secondary weathering processes. Moreover, offsets can be measured by means of suitable markers and fault rocks are preserved, hence their thickness, composition and structural features can be characterised, providing an integrated dataset which sheds new light on mechanisms of roughness evolution with slip and concomitant fault rock production.     

构造与地表过程相互作用:正断层陡崖形态和几何特征分析

量化分析构造、侵蚀与气候之间的相互作用关系是现代地球动力学的前沿.断层陡崖是伸展构造环境中的一种常见地貌特征,是构造与地表过程密切耦合作用下演化的结果.断层崖面形态各异,如断层陡坎、断层三角面和断层梯形面等.本文基于数值模拟方法,对断层滑动速率、断层滑动周期、河流下切系数、山坡蠕移系数等关键性控制因素对断层崖形态和几何特征的影响进行了系统分析,主要结论为：依据参数空间的动力学对比模拟结果,可以将断层陡崖分为三个主要类型,即沟壑型、断层三角面型和尖锥型;断层陡崖的最终形态主要受地表演化过程（即河流下切、山坡蠕移）的控制;三角面型陡崖的高度和宽度随时间增大,但坡度角在演化过程中基本不变,其几何特征主要受控于断层滑动速率,且在相同的气候和岩性条件下,与断层滑动速率呈正相关;在十万年时间尺度下,断层滑动周期与三角面的形态和几何特征基本无关.断层滑动速率与三角面坡度角间的正相关关系可用于解释观测数据的统计结果,如希腊和保加利亚的观测数据.     

Physical modelling of fault scarp degradation under freeze–thaw cycles

Physical modelling has been developed in order to simulate the effects of periglacial erosion processes on the degradation of slopes and scarps. Data from 41 experimental freeze–thaw cycles are presented. They attest to the efficiency of periglacial processes that control both erosion and changes in scarp morphology: (i) cryoexpulsion leads to an increase of scarp surface roughness and modifies significantly the internal structure of the active layer; (ii) combined effects of frost creep and gelifluction lead to slow and gradual downslope displacements of the active layer (0·3 cm/cycle); (iii) debris flows are associated with the most significant changes in scarp morphology and are responsible for the highest rate of scarp erosion; (iv) quantification of the erosion rate gives values close to 1 cm³ cm^?2 for 41 freeze–thaw cycles. These experimental results are consistent with field data acquired along the La Hague fault scarp (Normandy, France) where an erosion rate of 4·6 ± 1 m³ m^?2 per glacial stage has been computed from the volume of natural slope deposits stored during the Weichselian glacial stage. These results show that moist periglacial erosion processes could lead to an underestimation of Plio‐Quaternary deformation in the mid‐latitudes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.