Pressure Ridges Research Articles

Arctic warming by cloud radiation enhanced by moist air intrusion observed at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard

At Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, Arctic, two distinct states were seen in downward longwave radiation (LD) during winter 2015/16. After the cold state with the temperature around −10 to −20 °C, a warm state with plus temperature appeared and LD increased from about 170 to 320–330 W m−2. This abrupt and large increase of LD was due to the change of cloud condition, from clear to overcast, which was examined from the cloud radar data taken during GRENE Arctic Research Project. However, only the cloud change could not explain this large change of LD. During the warm state, the atmospheric circulation patterns changed, distortion of tropospheric polar vortex appeared with a high pressure ridge (blocking high), and strong cyclone and intrusion of warm and moist air from the Atlantic Ocean together with longwave radiation from clouds influenced the warming at Svalbard. Thus, the discussions of two Arctic winter states in LD was much effective than those in net longwave. This intrusion of warm-moist air from the lower latitude was one of the major processes contributing to the Arctic amplification, just as also proposed using GCM by Yoshimori et al. (2017). The paper provided the actual observational evidence of this warming process.

Projected Changes in Summertime Circulation Patterns Imply Increased Drought Risk for the South‐Central United States

AbstractHistorically, extreme hot, dry summers over the South‐Central (SC) United States are dominated by an isolated dome of high pressure centered over the region. Applying self‐organizing map techniques to North American Regional Reanalysis reanalysis and historical and future Coupled Model Intercomparison Project version 5 (CMIP5) simulations, we find that as the world warms, this type of high‐pressure system is likely to become stronger and more frequent—even after removing the effect of surface warming on the expansion of the lower atmosphere. These projected changes appear to be related to self‐reinforcing ocean‐atmosphere interactions in a warming world. Specifically, intensified easterly winds over the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico drive an increase in the meridional sea surface temperature gradient due to oceanic Ekman transport, which further enhances the ridge of high pressure extending across the SC United States: a dynamical relationship that increases confidence in regional projections of summer drought risk over the SC United States.

Three-dimensional mapping and kinematic characterization of mass transport deposits along the outer Kumano Basin and Nankai accretionary wedge, southwest Japan

Three-dimensional (3D) seismic data from the southern Kumano Basin of southwest Japan image a nested series of moderately sized mass transport deposits (MTDs) that slid from a slope along the seaward side of the forearc basin. The deposits are dated to be approximately 0.3 to 0.9 Ma. These MTDs are likely linked to the movement along a prominent out-of-sequence thrust (OOST) fault, regionally steeper slopes that would have existed during deposition, and shifts in sedimentation over the past 0.9 Ma. The spatial resolution provided by the 3D seismic data permits the identification of kinematic characteristics and the internal geometries of the MTDs which total over 2.8 km3 in volume and cover more than 59 km2 of the seafloor at various stratigraphic levels. Each MTD is well imaged and exhibits various kinematic indicators while most of the basal glide planes and original headwall scarps above the deposits have been partially or fully eroded by subsequent MTDs. There are at least seven individual deposits that range in volume from 0.005 to 1.16 km3, in area from 0.2 to 21.8 km2; have runouts between 0.55 and 7.9 km, and generally translate downslope from the SE to NW. Basal, internal, and top surface kinematic indicators, such as grooves, thrust and fold systems, and pressure ridges, show that these MTDs originate from a prominent slide scar recognized in the high-resolution regional bathymetry. This, combined with a regionally shifting depocenter and faulting related to the earthquake cycle, points to regional tectonic activity as being the most likely failure trigger for these nested landslides.

A Distributed Snow‐Evolution Model for Sea‐Ice Applications (SnowModel)

AbstractSnow‐depth distributions on sea ice have substantial impacts on winter ice growth and summer ice melt. There are two types of wind‐related snow distributions in this environment: snowdrifts that form around ice pressure ridges; and snow dunes and other snow bedforms that form on relatively level, undeformed ice. A snow‐evolution modeling system (SnowModel) was tested against winter snow observations collected during the Norwegian young sea ICE expedition (N‐ICE2015) north of Svalbard, with an emphasis on reproducing these two types of snow distributions. The SnowModel simulation spanned 1 year, summer 2014 through summer 2015, over a 1.5 km by 1.5 km domain, using a 1 m horizontal grid increment and 3 h time step. Existing SnowModel components, created originally for terrestrial applications, performed energy balance, snow property, snowdrift, and data assimilation calculations in response to prescribed meteorological forcings. A new SnowModel component, SnowDunes, was created to simulate snow‐bedform distributions on level, undeformed ice. Model results reproduced observed snowdrift profiles around pressure ridges and snow‐depth distributions over level, undeformed ice, resulting in physically realistic snow heterogeneity and property information. We conclude that the SnowModel toolkit contains the components required to simulate most processes driving the seasonal distribution of snow on sea ice. SnowModel can evolve snow on sea ice over local to pan‐Arctic areas, using grid increments ranging from 1 m to tens of km, and time increments of subhourly to daily.

ON THE ROLE OF TROPOSPHERIC CIRCULATION IN RECENT CLIMATE CHANGES IN THE ANTARCTIC PENINSULA REGION

The state of tropospheric circulation in the West Antarctic sector (WAS) is considered during 1990s, the warmest decade in the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) region. Regional warming has progressed almost coherently with the second phase of global warming and is related to oceanic variability, specifically PDO-ENSO conditions. Atmospheric circulation in 1990s comprises a prevailing cyclogenesis west of the Antarctic Peninsula sector along with frequent weather modifications (the winter season in particular is examined) and the ridge of high pressure to the east. Predominant atmospheric circulation types for the recent decade are found to be stable in time causing smaller air temperature oscillations on different time scales. The circulation background responsible for the stabilization of air temperature growth in the AP region immediately after the turn of the millennium is shown.

Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) Signal over Kototabang, West Sumatera Based on the Mini Automatic Weather Station (MAWS) Data Analysis Using the Wavelet Technique

This study is mainly concerned an application of Mini Automatic Weather Station (MAWS) at Kototabang, West Sumatera nearby the location of an Equatorial Atmosphere Radar (EAR) side. We are interest to use this data to investigate the propagation of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO). We examined of daily MAWS data for 3 years observations started from January 2001 to Mei 2004. By applying wavelet analysis, we found the MJO at Kototabang have 32 days oscillations as shown in Fig.1 below. In this study, we concentrate just for local mechanis only. We will show in this paper that at the phase of the MJO with a dipole structure to the convection anomalies, there is enhanced tropical convection over the eastern Indian Ocean and reduced convection over the western Pacific. Over the equatorial western Indian Ocean, the equatorial Rossby wave response to the west of the enhanced convection includes a region of anomalous surface divergence associated with the anomalous surface westerlies and pressure ridge. This tends to suppress ascent in the boundary layer and shuts off the deep convection, eventually leading to a convective anomaly of the opposite sign. Over the Indonesian sector, the equatorial Kelvin wave response to the east of the enhanced convection includes a region of anomalous surface convergence into the anomalous equatorial surface easterlies and pressure trough, which will tend to favour convection in this region. The Indonesian sector is also influenced by an equatorial Rossby wave response (of opposite sign) to the west of the reduced convection over the western Pacific, which also has a region of anomalous surface convergence associated with its anomalous equatorial surface easterlies and pressure trough. Hence, convective anomalies of either sign tend to erode themselves from the west and initiate a convective anomaly of opposite sign via their equatorial Rossby wave response, and expand to the east via their equatorial Kelvin wave response.

High-resolution airborne observations of sea-ice pressure ridge sail height

ABSTRACTPressure ridges impact the mass, energy and momentum budgets of the sea-ice cover and present an obstacle to transportation through ice-infested waters. Quantifying ridge characteristics is important for understanding total sea-ice mass and for improving the representation of sea-ice dynamics in high-resolution models. Multi-sensor measurements collected during annual Operation IceBridge (OIB) airborne surveys of the Arctic provide new opportunities to assess the sea ice at the end of winter. We present a new methodology to derive ridge sail height from high-resolution OIB Digital Mapping System (DMS) visible imagery. We assess the efficacy of the methodology by mapping the full sail height distribution along 12 pressure ridges in the western and central Arctic. Comparisons against coincident Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM) elevation anomalies are used to demonstrate the methodology and evaluate DMS-derived sail heights. Sail heights and elevation anomalies were correlated at 0.81 or above. On average mean and maximum sail height agreed with ATM elevation to within 0.11 and 0.49 m, respectively. Of the ridges mapped, mean sail height ranged from 0.99 to 2.16 m, while maximum sail height ranged from 2.1 to 4.8 m. DMS also delivered higher sampling along ridge crests than coincident ATM data.

Multifaceted re-analysis of the enigmatic Kitimat slide complex, Canada

Repeat submarine landslides are challenging to study due to the tendency of subsequent slides to destroy previous deposits. Repeat slides are common in fjord head deltas where high amounts of sediment are focused in narrow valleys. This study examines a well-known slide deposit associated with the Kitimat Delta on Canada's west coast that has been linked to tsunamigenic landslides in 1974 and 1975. For the first time we incorporate multibeam bathymetry to a multifaceted dataset including new high resolution acoustic data and sediment cores to examine the history of submarine slides at the Kitimat Delta. Based on morphological analysis and age modelling using 210Pb and 14C data, we determine that the complex surface morphology of the slide lobe consists of at least two large slide deposits that reach 5 km from the delta: the known event that occurred in 1975 and an older event that occurred at 623 ± 83 cal BP (95% confidence interval). We demonstrate that slide deposits can be differentiated based on surface morphology and acoustic character. This is confirmed by age modelling. The 1975 slide resulted in a flow that ploughed through the seabed creating compression and translation along a basal shear plane, resulting in deep deformation and a surface characterized by pressure ridges. The 623 ± 83 cal BP event resulted in a large amount of blocky slide material that overran the former seafloor and was transported >5 km from the delta front. Several buried events are observed at depth, one of which occurred at 2592 ± 84 cal BP and appears to be on the same order of magnitude as the 1975 event and showing very similar acoustic characteristics. As for hazard implications, we show submarine landslides of varying sizes have naturally occurred on this delta throughout the past several thousand years.

Traversing Sea Ice—Linking Surface Roughness and Ice Trafficability Through SAR Polarimetry and Interferometry

Arctic landfast sea ice is widely utilized for transportation by local communities and industry, with trafficability largely governed by ice roughness. Here, we introduce an approach to evaluate ice roughness that can aid in routing of ice roads and assessment of spatial variability and long-term changes in trafficability. Drawing on synthetic aperture radar (SAR) polarimetry, SAR interferometry (InSAR), and other remote sensing techniques, we integrated approaches into the trafficability assessment that had rarely been applied over sea ice in the past. Analysis of aerial photogrammetry obtained through structure-from-motion helped verify cm-scale accuracy of X-band InSAR-derived ridge height and link L-band polarimetric classification to specific roughness regimes. Jointly, these approaches enable a km-scale evaluation of ridge topography and cm- to m-scale roughness—both critical for the assessment of trafficability. A trafficability index was derived from such SAR data in conjunction with analysis of ice trail routing and ice use near Utqiaġvik, Alaska. The index identifies areas of reduced trafficability, associated with pressure ridges or rubble ice, and served to delineate favorable trail routes for different modes of transportation, with potential uses ranging from ice road routing to emergency evacuation. Community outreach is needed to explore how this approach could assist different ice users in reducing risk, minimizing trail or ice construction efforts, and improving safety.

Width of surface rupture zone for thrust earthquakes: implications for earthquake fault zoning

Abstract. The criteria for zoning the surface fault rupture hazard (SFRH) along thrust faults are defined by analysing the characteristics of the areas of coseismic surface faulting in thrust earthquakes. Normal and strike–slip faults have been deeply studied by other authors concerning the SFRH, while thrust faults have not been studied with comparable attention. Surface faulting data were compiled for 11 well-studied historic thrust earthquakes occurred globally (5.4 ≤ M ≤ 7.9). Several different types of coseismic fault scarps characterize the analysed earthquakes, depending on the topography, fault geometry and near-surface materials (simple and hanging wall collapse scarps, pressure ridges, fold scarps and thrust or pressure ridges with bending-moment or flexural-slip fault ruptures due to large-scale folding). For all the earthquakes, the distance of distributed ruptures from the principal fault rupture (r) and the width of the rupture zone (WRZ) were compiled directly from the literature or measured systematically in GIS-georeferenced published maps. Overall, surface ruptures can occur up to large distances from the main fault ( ∼ 2150 m on the footwall and ∼ 3100 m on the hanging wall). Most of the ruptures occur on the hanging wall, preferentially in the vicinity of the principal fault trace ( > ∼ 50 % at distances < ∼ 250 m). The widest WRZ are recorded where sympathetic slip (Sy) on distant faults occurs, and/or where bending-moment (B-M) or flexural-slip (F-S) fault ruptures, associated with large-scale folds (hundreds of metres to kilometres in wavelength), are present. A positive relation between the earthquake magnitude and the total WRZ is evident, while a clear correlation between the vertical displacement on the principal fault and the total WRZ is not found. The distribution of surface ruptures is fitted with probability density functions, in order to define a criterion to remove outliers (e.g. 90 % probability of the cumulative distribution function) and define the zone where the likelihood of having surface ruptures is the highest. This might help in sizing the zones of SFRH during seismic microzonation (SM) mapping. In order to shape zones of SFRH, a very detailed earthquake geologic study of the fault is necessary (the highest level of SM, i.e. Level 3 SM according to Italian guidelines). In the absence of such a very detailed study (basic SM, i.e. Level 1 SM of Italian guidelines) a width of ∼ 840 m (90 % probability from "simple thrust" database of distributed ruptures, excluding B-M, F-S and Sy fault ruptures) is suggested to be sufficiently precautionary. For more detailed SM, where the fault is carefully mapped, one must consider that the highest SFRH is concentrated in a narrow zone, ∼ 60 m in width, that should be considered as a fault avoidance zone (more than one-third of the distributed ruptures are expected to occur within this zone). The fault rupture hazard zones should be asymmetric compared to the trace of the principal fault. The average footwall to hanging wall ratio (FW : HW) is close to 1 : 2 in all analysed cases. These criteria are applicable to "simple thrust" faults, without considering possible B-M or F-S fault ruptures due to large-scale folding, and without considering sympathetic slip on distant faults. Areas potentially susceptible to B-M or F-S fault ruptures should have their own zones of fault rupture hazard that can be defined by detailed knowledge of the structural setting of the area (shape, wavelength, tightness and lithology of the thrust-related large-scale folds) and by geomorphic evidence of past secondary faulting. Distant active faults, potentially susceptible to sympathetic triggering, should be zoned as separate principal faults. The entire database of distributed ruptures (including B-M, F-S and Sy fault ruptures) can be useful in poorly known areas, in order to assess the extent of the area within which potential sources of fault displacement hazard can be present. The results from this study and the database made available in the Supplement can be used for improving the attenuation relationships for distributed faulting, with possible applications in probabilistic studies of fault displacement hazard.

Remote Linkages to Anomalous Winter Atmospheric Ridging Over the Northeastern Pacific

AbstractSevere drought in California between 2013 and 2016 has been linked to the multiyear persistence of anomalously high atmospheric pressure over the northeastern Pacific Ocean, which deflected the Pacific storm track northward and suppressed regional precipitation during California's winter “rainy season.” Multiple hypotheses have emerged regarding why this high pressure ridge near the west coast of North America was so resilient—including unusual sea surface temperature patterns in the Pacific Ocean, reductions in Arctic sea ice, random atmospheric variability, or some combination thereof. Here we explore relationships between previously documented atmospheric conditions over the North Pacific and several potential remote oceanic and cryospheric influences using both observational data and a large ensemble of climate model simulations. Our results suggest that persistent wintertime atmospheric ridging similar to that implicated in California's 2013–2016 drought can at least partially be linked to unusual Pacific sea surface temperatures and that Pacific Ocean conditions may offer some degree of cool‐season foresight in this region despite the presence of substantial internal variability.

A novel strategy to analyse the form drag on pressure ridges and the air–ice drag coefficient in the north-western Weddell Sea

• A novel strategy for the form drag considering ridge morphologies and ice surface roughness is proposed. • A novel strategy for drag coefficient considering ridge morphologies and ice surface roughness is proposed. • The related conclusions of the form drag and drag coefficient is proved. • The variations of form drag and drag coefficient with ridging intensity and ice surface roughness is analysed. As the most important quantities needed in numerical modelling of sea ice dynamics, the form drag on pressure ridges and the air–ice drag coefficient are generally analysed based on wind velocities and sea-ice conditions. However, it is difficult to give exact values because these quantities have not been measured. Based on a large data set measured by a helicopter-borne laser altimeter during the Winter Weddell Outflow Study 2006, the influences of pressure-ridge morphologies and sea-ice surface roughness on the form drag of pressure ridges and the air–ice drag coefficient were considered to seek a novel strategy for analysing these two essential quantities. The results show that the contribution of form drag on pressure ridges to total air–ice drag increases at greater ridging intensity (the ratio of mean ridge height to spacing), but decreases with increasing roughness length. The air–ice drag coefficient shows a similar trend to the contribution of form drag with increasing ridging intensity. Moreover, a ridging intensity threshold was determined for the air–ice drag coefficient. These results imply that large values of the air–ice drag coefficient could be caused by form drag on pressure ridges as well as by skin drag over rough ice surfaces. Finally, the present results are consistent with reported measurements in the north-western Weddell Sea.

Object-Based Detection of Linear Kinematic Features in Sea Ice

Inhomogenities in the sea ice motion field cause deformation zones, such as leads, cracks and pressure ridges. Due to their long and often narrow shape, those structures are referred to as Linear Kinematic Features (LKFs). In this paper we specifically address the identification and characterization of variations and discontinuities in the spatial distribution of the total deformation, which appear as LKFs. The distribution of LKFs in the ice cover of the polar oceans is an important factor influencing the exchange of heat and matter at the ocean-atmosphere interface. Current analyses of the sea ice deformation field often ignore the spatial/geographical context of individual structures, e.g., their orientation relative to adjacent deformation zones. In this study, we adapt image processing techniques to develop a method for LKF detection which is able to resolve individual features. The data are vectorized to obtain results on an object-based level. We then apply a semantic postprocessing step to determine the angle of junctions and between crossing structures. The proposed object detection method is carefully validated. We found a localization uncertainty of 0.75 pixel and a length error of 12% in the identified LKFs. The detected features can be individually traced to their geographical position. Thus, a wide variety of new metrics for ice deformation can be easily derived, including spatial parameters as well as the temporal stability of individual features.

Factors Contributing to Record-Breaking Heat Waves over the Great Plains during the 1930s Dust Bowl

Record-breaking summer heat waves were experienced across the contiguous United States during the decade-long “Dust Bowl” drought in the 1930s. Using high-quality daily temperature observations, the Dust Bowl heat wave characteristics are assessed with metrics that describe variations in heat wave activity and intensity. Despite the sparser station coverage in the early record, there is robust evidence for the emergence of exceptional heat waves across the central Great Plains, the most extreme of which were preconditioned by anomalously dry springs. This is consistent with the entire twentieth-century record: summer heat waves over the Great Plains develop on average ~15–20 days earlier after anomalously dry springs, compared to summers following wet springs. Heat waves following dry springs are also significantly longer and hotter, indicative of the importance of land surface feedbacks in heat wave intensification. A distinctive anomalous continental-wide circulation pattern accompanied exceptional heat waves in the Great Plains, including those of the Dust Bowl decade. An anomalous broad surface pressure ridge straddling an upper-level blocking anticyclone over the western United States forced substantial subsidence and adiabatic warming over the Great Plains, and triggered anomalous southward warm advection over southern regions. This prolonged and amplified the heat waves over the central United States, which in turn gradually spread westward following heat wave emergence. The results imply that exceptional heat waves are preconditioned, triggered, and strengthened across the Great Plains through a combination of spring drought, upper-level continental-wide anticyclonic flow, and warm advection from the north.

Update on the Volcanic Geoheritage Values of the Pliocene to Quaternary Arxan–Chaihe Volcanic Field, Inner Mongolia, China

The Pliocene to Quaternary small-volume monogenetic volcanic field of the Arxan–Chaihe Volcanic Field (ACVF) hosts some typical volcanic landforms associated with continental basaltic volcanism. The volcanic field volcanic geoheritage values were used to establish two geoparks in 2004 and 2010 based on the volcanic geoheritage values of this region. The geoeducational program was quickly designed but shows signs of some lack of full understanding of the volcanic architecture of the region. This manifests in some misinterpretation of volcanic features that are relatively well-established and known elsewhere, and hence it hinders the effectiveness of the correct scientific information transition via geoeducational programs and geotourism. The geoparks established an excellent logistical network to promote volcanic geoscience, funded new educational centres and the local area economic growth created a situation that geotourism can be the main sector in economic growth in this part of Inner Mongolia. On the basis of these positive signs, we revisited some of the key volcanic geotopes of the region and cross-checked the already identified and established geosites mostly located in volcanologically important areas. There have been four major geotope groups identified such as (1) the scoria and spatter cones, (2) the lava flows and their surface morphological features, (3) the maar volcanism and its pyroclastic deposits and (4) the landscape and sedimentary evidence to demonstrate landscape evolution in a volcanically influenced continental region. Here, we provide new field observation-based evidence to demonstrate the volcanic geoheritage values of these geotopes. This information can be transmitted easily to the general public on the significance and formation of (1) scoria and spatter cones; (2) tumuli, pressure ridges, hornitos and various pahoehoe and transitional lava flow surface textures that are well-preserved on Quaternary lava flow surfaces; (3) base surge dominated tephra ring successions and large maars; and (4) landscape that evolved through the interplay of terrestrial sedimentation and monogenetic volcanic eruption influenced volcanic activity. The complex processes that can be seen at the ACVF make this field a high volcanic geodiversity one that can be used for a near-future application for UNESCO Global Geopark status.

On the Role of Tropical Ocean Forcing of the Persistent North American West Coast Ridge of Winter 2013/14a

Abstract The causes of the high pressure ridge at the North American west coast during winter 2013/14, the driest winter of the recent California drought, are examined. The ridge was part of an atmosphere–ocean state that included anomalies, defined relative to a 1979–2014 mean, of circulation across the Northern Hemisphere, warm sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the tropical western and northeastern Pacific and the south Indian Ocean, and cool SSTs in the central tropical Pacific. The SST anomalies differ sufficiently between datasets that, when used to force atmosphere models, the simulated circulation anomalies vary notably in realism. Recognizing uncertainty in the SST field, the authors use idealized tropical SST anomaly experiments to identify an optimal combination of SST anomalies that forces a circulation response that best matches observations. The optimal SST pattern resembles that observed but the associated circulation pattern is much weaker than observed, suggesting an important but limited role for ocean forcing. Analysis of the equilibrium and transient upper-troposphere vorticity balance indicates that the SST-forced component of the ridge arose as a summed effect of Rossby waves forced by SST anomalies across the tropical Indo-Pacific oceans and drives upper-troposphere convergence and subsidence at the west coast. The ridge, in observations and model, is associated with northward and southward diversion of storms. The results suggest that tropical Indo-Pacific ocean SSTs helped force the west coast ridge and drought of winter 2013/14.

Mapping Surface Features Produced by an Active Landslide

A large landslide reactivated on December 2013, at Montescaglioso, southern Italy, after 56 hours of rainfall. The landslide disrupted over 500 m of a freeway, involved a few warehouses, a supermarket, and private homes. After the event, it has been performed field surveys, aided by visual analysis of terrestrial and helicopter photographs, to compile a map of the surface deformations. The geomorphological features mapped included single fractures, sets of fractures, tension cracks, trenches, and pressure ridges. In this paper we present the methodology used, the map obtained through the intensive field work, and discuss the main surface features produced by the landslide.

Landfast sea ice breakouts: Stabilizing ice features, oceanic and atmospheric forcing at Barrow, Alaska

Landfast sea ice is an important seasonal feature along most Arctic coastlines, such as that of the Chukchi Sea near Barrow, Alaska. Its stability throughout the ice season is determined by many factors but grounded pressure ridges are the primary stabilizing component. Landfast ice breakouts occur when these grounded ridges fail or unground, and previously stationary ice detaches from the coast and drifts away. Using ground-based radar imagery from a coastal ice and ocean observatory at Barrow, we have developed a method to estimate the extent of grounded ridges by tracking ice motion and deformation over the course of winter and have derived ice keel depth and potential for grounding from cumulative convergent ice motion. Estimates of landfast ice grounding strength have been compared to the atmospheric and oceanic stresses acting on the landfast ice before and during breakout events to determine prevailing causes for the failure of stabilizing features. Applying this approach to two case studies in 2008 and 2010, we conclude that a combination of atmospheric and oceanic stresses may have caused the breakouts analyzed in this study, with the latter as the dominant force. Preconditioning (as weakening) of grounded ridges by sea level variations may facilitate failure of the ice sheet leading to breakout events.

Active tectonic and palaeoseismological features of the western section of Mustafakemalpaşa Fault; Bursa, NW Anatolia

The Mustafakemalpaşa Fault (MF), located among Manyas, Ulubat and Orhaneli faults, is a right lateral strike-slip and 47 km in length. The MF begins with a pressure ridge at the west and exhibits complex jog terminations at east ends in restraining left stepovers. The western section of the fault bounds Miocene and Quaternary units and continues towards İlyasçılar. The central segment of the fault, starts with approximately 750-m leftward stepover, exhibits a sinusoidal geometry between Kapaklıoluk and Kabulbaba. In this section, MF traverses mountainous terrain and cuts Ophiolite, Jurassic limestones and Miocene detritals, forming dextral faulting features and gaining reverse component. The eastern section exhibits left stepping en-echelon pattern and consists 2.5-km offset on the Orhaneli River. In this study, palaeoseismological findings related to the Holocene activity and active tectonic properties of the MF are presented. The trenches exposed mismatched stratigraphy, demonstrating evidence of events across the fault. We identified three events (before BC 2190, later AD 1425 and 1850) that have occurred during the past 4000 years. We suggest a long non-characteristic recurrence interval and ~0.7 mm/y slip-rate for MF, based on trench data and offset of the Late Pliocene drainage of Orhaneli River.

Evolution and progressive geomorphic manifestation of surface faulting: A comparison of the Wairau and Awatere faults, South Island, New Zealand: COMMENT

Zinke et al. (2015) documented a flight of Saxton River terraces deformed by the Awatere fault, South Island, New Zealand. They concluded that the manifestation of off-fault deformation (OFD) is a cumulative effect, and therefore may not be immediately apparent on younger terraces, with implications for slip rate determinations. I argue that they did not adequately consider the detailed structural setting of elements of OFD within the Saxton River releasing bend on the Awatere fault. The surface deformation at Saxton River is probably controlled by the coincidence of terraces with structural zones within the bend, and I contest the authors’ conclusion that off-plane deformation is simply hidden in younger terraces. The influence of structural complexity on the width and geometry of OFD is well established (e.g., Milliner et al., 2015). Zinke et al.’s figure DR2 (in GSA Data Repository 2015341) shows that OFD along the Awetere fault occurs at bends or steps in the fault plane, including at Saxton River where the fault bends right relative to the main trace by 5–10°, ~50 m east of the T2-T3 riser. This gives rise to a graben (T1 tread) and two pressure ridges (T2 tread and bedrock spur) that define and bound an overall 150-m-wide releasing bend (Mason et al., 2006) (Figs. 1A and 1B). The paired pressure-ridge and graben geometry is predicted when the wall rocks on either side of a strike-slip fault approach and interact with a fault bend during an earthquake (Sibson, 1989), and has been reported on the Hope (Cowan, 1990) and Greendale (Duffy et al., 2013) faults in New Zealand, and the San Andreas fault in California (Ben-Zion et al., 2012), among others.