High-resolution seismic reflection data reveal major fault zone in Lake Geneva, Switzerland

Abstract

Along the northern rim of the Swiss Alps, a major thrust fault zone separetes Plateau Molasse to the northwest fiom Subalpine Molasse to the southeast. This feature runs across the city of Lausanne and extends into Lake Geneva. Although fit is not observed on the southern shore of Lake Geneva probably because fit lies under a thick Quaternary cover, configuration of the AIpine units in this area suggests that the hult zone crosses the lake. To find out the location of the fault zone across the lake and to investigate its configuration, we acquired several high-resolution multi-channel seismic reflection profiles. The high quality of the seismic images obtained indicate that the fault zone includes a series of individual fault that can be accurately located.