Quantifying rates of active extension and seismic hazard in the upper plate of subduction zones

Solid Earth Dynamics

BBK

I am interested in studying tectonic geomorphology and active tectonics in Southern Italy (Sicily and Calabria). I will be studying uplift rates derived from raised Quaternary palaeoshorelines which are commonly the only way to derive deformation rates from plate boundary zones over timescales that are long enough to average out deformation over multiple seismic cycles. Data spanning many tens of thousands of years are needed to average across transient strain rates associated with individual earthquakes, so that the results can be used to quantify and differentiate rates of long-term seismic hazard analysis associated with normal faulting earthquakes in the upper plate and tsunamis generated by slip of the subduction interface. I will map tectonically deformed palaeoshorelines in the field and on a DEM in the Calabrian Arc (Southern Italy), and date the associated terrace deposits using a combination of U/Th, OSL and cosmogenic dating. Regional study of tens of kilometres of palaeoshoreline sequences will be used to test the hypothesis that uplift is affected by local tectonics, identified by active crustal normal faults, rather than being affected by only slip on the subduction interface (see Roberts et al., 2013).

• Meschis, M., Roberts, G. P., Robertson, J., & Briant, R. M. (2018) The relationships between regional Quaternary uplift, deformation across active normal faults, and historical seismicity in the upper plate of subduction zones: The Capo D’Orlando Fault, NE Sicily. Tectonics DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2017TC004705