Project Details
Projekt
Mountainbuilding in the Eastern and Southern Alps - large earthquakes and active faults
Applicants
Dr. Christoph Grützner; Professor Dr. Klaus Reicherter; Professor Dr. Kamil Marek Ustaszewski, Ph.D.
Subject Area
Palaeontology
Geophysics
Geophysics
Term
since 2020
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 442570483
The main aim of research theme 2 of the 2nd SPP 4D-MB call is the distinction between the influences of deep seated processes (such as slab tearing and slab break-off) and surface processes on active tectonics and erosion patterns. Our proposal focuses on this aim at the transition zone between the Eastern and Southern Alps/Dinarides, partly covered by SWATH-D. This is the only region of the Alps that is still tectonically active as of today. Here, the strongest historical events of the Alpine region occurred with magnitudes exceeding M6. In our project “Mountainbuilding in the Eastern and Southern Alps - large earthquakes and active faults” we will analyse the geological and geomorphological record for evidence of strong earthquakes. Using tectonic geomorphology techniques we will analyse new high-resolution digital elevation models to detect post-glacial surface deformation. Near-surface geophysical data will allow imaging faulted strata in the shallow subsurface. Paleoseismological trenching will be employed to investigate and to date surface-rupturing earthquakes. By working out the causative faults, the slip sense, magnitude, and recurrence intervals, we will extend the earthquake record to the Late Quaternary and we will address the question which major faults contribute to the present-day deformation of the Alps. We will also be able to shed light on the difference between events caused by glacial unloading and those that are triggered by the convergence of the Adriatic and European plates. Finally, we will compare our results to those from projects focussing on SWATH-D seismicity, geodetic measurements, erosion rates, and active fault studies on a Quaternary timescale to build a regional tectonic model covering multiple timescales. Integrating these datasets allows answering one of the most important questions related to the SWATH-D experiment: How representative is the short-term seismicity for active tectonics on larger timescales?
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes
