Abstract
In seismically-active regions, mapping active and potentially-active faults is the first step to assess seismic hazards and site selection for paleoseismic studies that will estimate recurrence rates. Here, we present a comprehensive database of active and potentially-active continental faults in Chile based on existing studies and new mapping at 1:25,000 scale using geologic and geomorphic criteria and digital elevation models derived from TanDEM-X and LiDAR data. The database includes 958 fault strands grouped into 17 fault systems and classified based on activity (81 proved, 589 probable, 288 possible). The database is a contribution to the world compilation of active faults with applications among others in seismic hazard assessments, territorial planning, paleoseismology, geodynamics, landscape evolution processes, geothermal exploration, and in the study of feedbacks between continental deformation and the plate-boundary seismic cycle along subduction zones.
Highlights
Despite the fact that geologists have been mapping active faults for more than a century[1,2], the unexpected rupture of unknown or unmapped faults during recent large-magnitude earthquakes emphasizes our limited knowledge of the location and seismic potential of tectonically-active continental structures
The 2010 Pichilemu, 2010 Darfield, 2011 Christchurch, 2016 Kaikoura, and 2019 Ridgecrest events involved ruptures on either completely concealed faults or unmapped fault strands[3,4,5,6,7]. These earthquakes highlight the need to identify and map active faults at detail scales as a first step in the assessment of seismic hazards associated with continental faults
In addition to environmental and seismic hazards, land-use and territorial planning, and civil protection emergency management, mapping active continental faults and classifying them into fault systems is important for different disciplines in earth sciences
Summary
Background & SummaryDespite the fact that geologists have been mapping active faults for more than a century[1,2], the unexpected rupture of unknown or unmapped faults during recent large-magnitude earthquakes emphasizes our limited knowledge of the location and seismic potential of tectonically-active continental structures. These earthquakes highlight the need to identify and map active faults at detail scales as a first step in the assessment of seismic hazards associated with continental faults. The South American continental plate, as most upper-plates along subduction zones, includes numerous active faults, some associated with Mw > 6 earthquakes.
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