Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Paleoseismic Features in the Southern Terminus of the New Madrid Seismic Zone in Eastern Arkansas

Abstract

Other| July 01, 2005 Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Paleoseismic Features in the Southern Terminus of the New Madrid Seismic Zone in Eastern Arkansas Haydar J. Al-Shukri; Haydar J. Al-Shukri Department of Applied Science University of Arkansas 2801 S. University Avenue Little Rock, AR 72204 alshukri@seismo.ualr.edu (H.J.A.-S.) Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Robert E. Lemmer; Robert E. Lemmer Leighton and Associates, Inc. Irvine, CA (R.E.L.) Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Hanan H. Mahdi; Hanan H. Mahdi Department of Applied Science University of Arkansas 2801 S. University Avenue Little Rock, AR 72204 alshukri@seismo.ualr.edu (H.H.M., J.B.C.) Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jeffrey B. Connelly Jeffrey B. Connelly Department of Applied Science University of Arkansas 2801 S. University Avenue Little Rock, AR 72204 alshukri@seismo.ualr.edu (H.H.M., J.B.C.) Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Haydar J. Al-Shukri Department of Applied Science University of Arkansas 2801 S. University Avenue Little Rock, AR 72204 alshukri@seismo.ualr.edu (H.J.A.-S.) Robert E. Lemmer Leighton and Associates, Inc. Irvine, CA (R.E.L.) Hanan H. Mahdi Department of Applied Science University of Arkansas 2801 S. University Avenue Little Rock, AR 72204 alshukri@seismo.ualr.edu (H.H.M., J.B.C.) Jeffrey B. Connelly Department of Applied Science University of Arkansas 2801 S. University Avenue Little Rock, AR 72204 alshukri@seismo.ualr.edu (H.H.M., J.B.C.) Publisher: Seismological Society of America First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1938-2057 Print ISSN: 0895-0695 © 2005 by the Seismological Society of America Seismological Research Letters (2005) 76 (4): 502–511. https://doi.org/10.1785/gssrl.76.4.502 Article history First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Haydar J. Al-Shukri, Robert E. Lemmer, Hanan H. Mahdi, Jeffrey B. Connelly; Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Paleoseismic Features in the Southern Terminus of the New Madrid Seismic Zone in Eastern Arkansas. Seismological Research Letters 2005;; 76 (4): 502–511. doi: https://doi.org/10.1785/gssrl.76.4.502 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietySeismological Research Letters Search Advanced Search Abstract The focus of this study is to identify and characterize specific features related to historic or prehistoric earthquakes south of the southern terminus of the New Madrid seismic zone in eastern Arkansas. Aerial photography, field surveys, and trenching reveal the existence of several liquefaction features (sand blows) and linear structures as far as south of Marianna, Arkansas. This is more than 100 km from the currently active segments of the New Madrid seismic zone. Radiocarbon dating indicts that the event(s) that generated some of these features took place about 5500 years B.P. The discovered liquefaction features are significant because they are at a considerable distance from present-day earthquake activity. The implication of this is that they either represent a new earthquake source not previously recognized or that they are related to an earthquake(s) of very large magnitude in the source region of the New Madrid seismic zone. These liquefaction features have very large dimensions (∼110 by 60 m), resembling features in the immediate vicinity of the New Madrid seismic zone, implying that regardless of where the source region was, the ground shaking had to be severe in order to generate them. Detailed investigation of these features may have important implications for earthquake risk mapping in the central United States, as they may provide important constraints on the southern terminus of the New Madrid seismic zone and the magnitude of the characteristic earthquake in the region. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.