Active Tectonics and the Earthquake Cycle

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Earthquakes represent the increments by which the motion of tectonic plates is accommodated. Knowledge of the physical processes and interactions that control the size and recurrence characteristics of those strain-releasing events will enable better informed models of plate motion and the underlying driving forces. The recurrence of earthquakes, especially of large and surface rupturing ones, is also important for well informed seismic hazard assessments. Surface and shallow sub-surface data (topography and stratigraphy) are commonly used to constrain occurrence of past surface-rupturing earthquakes, following the assumption that the observed past behavior of a fault is representative for its future seismic behavior. Based on this assumption a range of earthquake recurrence models have been formulated in the past. Recently, the growing amount of high-resolution data (along with laboratory and numerical experiments as well as theoretical analysis) has helped to further inform those models.

Within the course we will provide an overview of the current understanding of earthquake rupture and its recurrence. We will introduce techniques that are used to identify past earthquake ruptures and how they are used to reconstruct past earthquakes ruptures and learn how to identify evidence of faulting and thus (re-)construct a rupture history. After brief lectures to introduce key concepts, the participants will have the opportunity to work on real data to analyze evidence of faulting and slip accumulation. The participants will analyze geomorphic and stratigraphic data to constrain accumulation as well as release of tectonically accumulated strain. The exercises will be in part computer-based, in part with pen and paper.

In the flyer below you will find more information on the course and how to register.