Paleoseismology based on lake sediments

Recurrence rates, magnitudes and epicentral locations of past earthquakes are essential elements of seismic hazard assessments for any given area. Knowledge of past earthquakes is thus important, however, in intraplate regions, where recurrence rates of strong earthquakes exceed the historic period, the study of geologic archives is required to provide the critical information.
Lake sediments are exceptional paleoseismic archives. They sensitively record seismic shaking with various deformation structures such as microdeformation or larger-scale mass movements, so that prehistoric earthquakes can be identified and dated through investigating the sedimentary subsurface of lakes. A regional assessment using multiple lake basins allows establishing a comprehensive earthquake event catalogue. Combination with geotechnical analysis further allows reconstructions of paleointensities, which provide the base to quantify paleomagnitudes of prehistoric earthquakes.

Scientific partners

• Michael Strasser (Univ. Bremen, Germany)

Publications

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• Monecke, K., Anselmetti, F.S., Becker, A., Sturm, M., Giardini, D. (2004) The record of historic earthquakes in lake sediments of Central Switzerland. Tectonophysics 394, 21-40.
  
  
• Monecke, K., Anselmetti, F. S., Becker, A., Schnellmann, M., Sturm, M., and Giardini, D. (2006) Earthquake-induced deformation structures in lake sediments - The paleoseismic record for Central Switzerland. Eclogae Geologicae Helvetiae, 343-362.
  
  
• Schnellmann, M., Anselmetti, F.S., Giardini, D., and McKenzie, J.A. (2006) 15,000 years of mass-movement history in Lake Lucerne: Implications for seismic and tsunami hazard, Eclogae Geologicae Helvetiae, 409-428.
  
  
• Schnellmann, M., Anselmetti, F.S., Giardini, D., McKenzie, J.A., and Ward, S., (2002) Prehistoric earthquake history revealed by lacustrine slump deposits. Geology, 30, 1131-1134.
  
  
• Strasser, M. Schindler, C., and Anselmetti, F. S. (2008) Late Pleistocene earthquake-triggered moraine dam failure and outburst of Lake Zurich. Switzerland, Journal of Geophysal Research 113, F02003, doi:10.1029/2007JF000802.
  
  
• Strasser, M. and Anselmetti, F.S. (2008) Mass-movement event stratigraphy in Lake Zurich; A record of varying seismic and environmental impacts. Beiträge zur Geologie der Schweiz, Beiträge zur Geologie der Schweiz, Geotechnische Serie 95, 23–41, Schweizerische Geotechnische Kommission, Zurich, Switzerland.
  
  
• Strasser, M., Stegmann, S., Bussmann, F., Anselmetti, F.S., Rick, B., and Kopf, A. (2007) Quantifying subaqueous slope stability during seismic shaking: Lake Lucerne as model for ocean margins. Marine Geology 240, 77-97.
  
  
• Strasser, M., Anselmetti, F.S., Fäh, D., Giardini, D. and Schnellmann, M. (2006) Magnitudes and source areas of large prehistoric northern Alpine earthquakes revealed by slope failures in lakes. Geology 34, 1005-1008.