Abstract
Recent and historical studies of earthquake-induced liquefaction, as well as paleoliquefaction studies, demonstrate the potential usefulness of liquefaction data in the assessment of the earthquake potential of seismic sources. Paleoliquefaction studies, along with other paleoseismology studies, supplement historical and instrumental seismicity and provide information about the long-term behavior of earthquake sources. Paleoliquefaction studies focus on soft-sediment deformation features, including sand blows and sand dikes, which result from strong ground shaking. Most paleoliquefaction studies have been conducted in intraplate geologic settings, but a few such studies have been carried out in interplate settings. Paleoliquefaction studies provide information about timing, location, magnitude, and recurrence of large paleoearthquakes, particularly those with moment magnitude, M, greater than 6 during the past 50,000 years. This review paper presents background information on earthquake-induced liquefaction and resulting soft-sediment deformation features that may be preserved in the geologic record, best practices used in paleoliquefaction studies, and application of paleoliquefaction data in earthquake source characterization. The paper concludes with two examples of regional paleoliquefaction studies—in the Charleston seismic zone and the New Madrid seismic zone in the southeastern and central United States, respectively—which contributed to seismic source models used in earthquake hazard assessment.
Highlights
Paleoseismology is the study of prehistoric earthquakes as preserved in the geologic record, and it improves our understanding of the long-term behavior of fault zones and seismic sources (e.g., Reference [1])
Results of radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating and information about the artifact assemblage of a site are used to estimate the ages of liquefaction features
It is advisable to date multiple samples at each site in order to have confidence in the results and to narrowly constrain the age estimates of the liquefaction features
Summary
Paleoseismology is the study of prehistoric earthquakes as preserved in the geologic record, and it improves our understanding of the long-term behavior of fault zones and seismic sources (e.g., Reference [1]). Paleoseismology is especially useful in regions where strain rates are relatively low and recurrence times of large earthquakes are longer than the historical record. The paleoliquefaction approach to paleoseismology focuses on soft-sediment deformation structures and related ground failures resulting from liquefaction induced by earthquakes This field of study developed over the past 40 years and provides important information about timing, source areas, magnitudes, and recurrence times of large paleoearthquakes during the Late Quaternary. MThicesleosasneds odtuheerteovleinqtusesfpacutriroend-rreelsaeteadrchdainmeaagreths qtuoatkhee-inbduuilct eednlviqiruoenfmacetniotn(ea.ngd., References [38,39]) These and other events spurred research in earthquake-induced liquefaction and Geosciences 2019, 9, 311. Research in the Charleston seismic zone of the southeastern US suggests that repeated liquefaction by large earthquakes every few hundred years can counter the effects of aging or “reset the clock” (e.g., References [40,76])
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