Earthquake Geology of Plate Margins and Plate Interiors: Integrating Classical Methods with New Approaches

Dear Colleagues,

Earthquakes are extremely complex natural phenomena that are studied from different perspectives using a variety of scientific disciplines and methods which operate over a range of spatial and temporal scales. However, over the last couple of decades, there has been a general agreement to bridge the gaps in spatial and temporal domains to gain unprecedented insights into deformation and earthquake processes. Nonetheless, not undermining the importance of all data and current methods, most of these investigations are guided by geological characteristics and site effects of earthquakes, which are of primary importance for proper seismic hazard assessment.

It is notable that different geological (and in its broadest sense ‘Earth Sciences’) approaches could examine a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, both of which analyze a single event as well as the cumulative effects of earthquakes. Accordingly, geological approaches to the investigation of past and recent earthquakes contribute to the fundamentally important parameters for seismic hazard assessment such as the maximum expected magnitude, the return period for a given magnitude and the mean slip rate.

The proposal of this Special Issue stems from the need to emphasize the importance of a sound geological framework to the extent that it could be integrated with different data and methods to bridge the space and time gap, thus providing a better picture and more accurate quantitative assessment of this complex phenomenon. The Special Issue aims to emphasize the value of the geological record which typically has a more complete spatiotemporal coverage but has yet to be properly documented and better understood. Therefore, we invite contributions highlighting how a comprehensive knowledge of earthquake geology could be linked to short-term geodetic data and seismic catalogs and could eventually contribute to improving our analyses of seismic hazard assessment.

The aim is to bring forth insightful contributions that build on current geological frameworks and employ conventional methods of earthquake investigation, such as deformed stratigraphic and geomorphic markers, together with new techniques. The new techniques able to expand on the classical methods could include morphotectonic mapping, basin morphometry, surface/sediment dating, photogrammetry, satellite geodetic measurements, InSAR, pixel-offset tracking, seismology, shallow sub-surface profiling, GNSS geodesy, etc.

It is expected that such a volume will not only highlight the integration of such techniques but also encourage young researchers to look into the advantages of such an integrated multiapproach. Moreover, it is anticipated that the volume will motivate young minds to explore new and innovative methods while still being strongly rooted in the fundamental concepts of Earth Sciences and Earthquake Geology. It will emphasize the indispensable nature of ground-based investigations and measurements, which are the best suited approaches to adopt in dynamic terranes located on plate margins and in plate interiors.

We welcome contributions describing and critically discussing any Earth Sciences aspects of earthquakes and seismogenic faults from both plate boundaries and plate interior regions, these being characterized by higher and lower seismic hazard, respectively, but commonly by the inversely distributed vulnerability of the buildings. As a consequence, either condition is generally characterized by relatively high seismic risks.

This Special Issue shall focus on the new knowledge and practices that bring together a multidisciplinary faculty of scientific investigation to unravel past earthquakes and cumulative deformation phases from landforms.

This Special Issue will welcome manuscripts that link the following themes: morphotectonics; paleoseismology; satellite-based analyses of landscape deformation; digital topographic analyses; retro-deformational structural models; reconstruction of landforms, earthquake modeling and seismological analyses of earthquake sequences; modeling stress changes due to earthquakes and future loading and unloading of probable/suspect faults. 

We are looking forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Prof. Dr. Riccardo Caputo
Prof. Dr. Chittenipattu P. Rajendran
Dr. Tejpal Singh
Guest Editors

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• active faults
• tectonic geomorphology
• earthquake geology
• paleoseismology
• surface deformation
• remote sensing