Reply to “Discussion on ‘Palaeoseismic structures in Quaternary sediments, related to an assumed fault zone north of the Permian Peissen-Gnutz Salt Structure (NW Germany) – Neotectonic activity and earthquakes from the Saalian to the Holocene’ (Grube, 2019)” by Pascal Bertran, Kevin Manchuel and Deborah Sicilia

Abstract

Bertran et al. (2019) have questioned the interpretation of wedge-like and other structures in northern Germany as being palaeotectonic- and palaeoseismic-related liquefaction structures (Grube, 2019). The comments of Bertran et al. (2019) are based on theoretical aspects, without ground survey at the study site. A sound basis of periglacial features and related processes in the near as well as wider surroundings of the investigation site allows for a differentiation of seismic and non-seismic periglacial forms. The shape and internal structure of the described wedges differ from periglacial wedges and polygon-related wedges documented in northern Germany and other regions; the main differences are summarised, in addition to a discussion of alternative interpretations for the existence of the brittle sediment deformation structures.