Active fault mapping in the onshore northern Banda Arc, Indonesia: implications for active tectonics and seismic potential

Understanding the location and nature of Quaternary active crustal faults is critical to reduce both the impact of fault rupture and strong ground motions hazards (when these faults rupture causing earthquakes). It is also important for understanding how and where deformation related to plate tectonics is accommodated along geological structures (oftentimes faults and folds). In Chile, work on active tectonics in the upper crust (neotectonics or earthquake geology) is relatively new, in particular regarding fault-focused studies. Therefore, any effort to further progress in our understanding of active fault systems for the benefit of the public, and for aiding local and regional governments and the earthquake engineering and scientific community with mitigation strategies should be applauded. Demonstrating where active faults are located through careful mapping, and to determine how fast they accommodate tectonic deformation and their seismic and fault rupture hazards are key questions in neotectonics. Recently Santibáñez et al. (2019) explore active fault systems in the Chilean Andes. In their paper they outline active and potentially seismogenic (i.e., earthquake producing) fault systems in the Chilean Andes through a review of the literature, seismicity, case studies (earthquakes), and modeling data and then they define potential tectonic domains for subdivision of Chile. These domains were suggested to allow “a first-order approach for seismic potential assessment” (Santibáñez et al., 2019). The three subdivisions they suggest, i.e., domains are the External Forearc, Inner Forearc and Volcanic Arc, were proposed based on several fault parameters (e.g., fault length), case studies, the morphotectonic setting and seismicity. Their paper generates a great foundation to build upon for both the active tectonics and geological hazards community, in addition to being useful for potential end users such as the Chilean local and national government from a planning perspective. Although the Santibáñez et al. (2019) paper takes steps in the right direction, and should be considered an important contribution to the scientific community, this comment addresses three potential issues with their analysis and conclusions that should be reflected upon by the seismic hazard and active tectonics community. These ideas are summarized below and expanded on in detail thereafter.

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Deep oceanic submarine fieldwork with undergraduate students, an exceptional immersive experience (Minerve software)

10.5194/se-2021-89 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marianne Métois ◽

Jean-Emmanuel Martelat ◽

Jérémy Billant ◽

Muriel Andreani ◽

Javier Escartin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Undergraduate Students ◽

Active Fault ◽

Active Tectonics ◽

Deep Ocean ◽

Remotely Operated Vehicle ◽

Promising Tool ◽

Active Tectonic ◽

Teachers And Students ◽

High Resolution Models ◽

To Come

Abstract. We present the content and scripting of an active tectonic lab-session conceived for third year undergraduate students studying Earth Sciences at Observatoire des Sciences de l’Univers of Lyon. This session is based on a research project conducted on the submarine Roseau active fault in Lesser Antilles. The fault morphology is particularly interesting to map as this structure in the deep ocean is preserved from weathering. Thus high resolution models computed from Remotely Operated Vehicle videos (ROV) provide exceptional educational material to link fault morphology and coseismic displacement. This5class, composed of mapping exercises on GIS and virtual fieldwork, aims at providing basic understanding of active tectonics,and in particular active fault morphology. The work has been conducted either in a full remote configuration via 3D online models or in virtual reality (VR) in a dedicated room using the Minerve software. During the VR sessions, students were either alone in the virtual environment or participated as a full group, including the teacher (physically in the classroom or remotely, from another location), which is to our knowledge one of the first attempts of this kind in France. We discuss on the efficiency10of virtual fieldwork using VR based on feedback from teachers and students, and we conclude that VR is a promising tool to learn observational skills, subject to certain improvements which should be possible in the years to come.

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Long- and intermediate-term seismic potential of Fen-Wei seismic belt: active fault data application

Acta Seismologica Sinica ◽

10.1007/bf02651045 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 553-564

Author(s):

Jing Liu ◽

Liang-Mou Wang

Keyword(s):

Active Fault ◽

Seismic Belt ◽

Seismic Potential ◽

Data Application

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The role of the remarkable Seram-Kumawa strike-slip fault in the tectonic process of the northern Banda Arc system

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-7300 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Xiaodong Yang ◽

Satish C. Singh ◽

Ian Deighton

Keyword(s):

Subduction Zones ◽

Surface Deformation ◽

Active Tectonics ◽

Strike Slip ◽

Strike Slip Fault ◽

Benioff Zone ◽

Accretionary Wedge ◽

Geophysical Research ◽

Fault Plane Solutions ◽

Banda Arc

The Banda Arc system is sited in a junction of convergence between the Eurasian, Indo-Australian, Philippine and Pacific plates. It has a remarkable 180&#176; curve in the Benioff zone. Two fundamental ideas have been invoked to explain this significant subduction-arc orientation change: (1) bent subduction zone around the Banda Sea (Hamilton, 1979; Spakman and Hall, 2010; Hall, 2012), or (2) oppositely dipping subduction zones (Cardwell and Isacks, 1978; McCaffrey, 1989), but no general agreement exists as to the cause of this curvature. However, a WNW-trending strike-slip fault, i.e. Seram-Kumawa fault, is observed at the north-eastern end of the Arc, cutting through the Seram accretionary wedge, prism and trench and seems to continue on the subducting plate (Hall et al., 2017). This fault is either inactive or locked temporarily at the present day, because there are very few strike-slip events along its trend while there are many thrust earthquakes on its north and northwest side. A few essential questions remain unanswered about this fault in relation to the evolution of the Banda Arc. For instance, what is the origin of this fault, what role does it play in the tectonic processes and large earthquakes along the Banda Arc. Could this fault eventually break-up the Banda Arc? What is its tectonic implication on the evolution of other highly curved subduction-arc systems? To address these questions, we will carry out a comprehensive investigation into active tectonics and seismicity occurrence along the northeast Banda Arc using high-resolution bathymetry, 2D marine seismic profiles and earthquake data. Reference:Cardwell, R.K. and Isacks, B.L., 1978. Geometry of the subducted lithosphere beneath the Banda Sea in eastern Indonesia from seismicity and fault plane solutions. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 83(B6): 2825-2838.Hall, R., 2012. Late Jurassic&#8211;Cenozoic reconstructions of the Indonesian region and the Indian Ocean. Tectonophysics, 570: 1-41.Hall, R., Patria, A., Adhitama, R., Pownall, J.M. and White, L.T., 2017. Seram, the Seram Trough, the Aru Trough, the Tanimbar Trough and the Weber Deep: A new look at major structures in the eastern Banda Arc.Hamilton, W.B., 1979. Tectonics of the Indonesian region. US Govt. Print. Off.McCaffrey, R., 1989. Seismological constraints and speculations on Banda Arc tectonics. Netherlands Journal of Sea Research, 24(2-3): 141-152.Spakman, W. and Hall, R., 2010. Surface deformation and slab&#8211;mantle interaction during Banda arc subduction rollback. Nature Geoscience, 3(8): 562.&#160;

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The Yenice–Gönen active fault (NW Turkey): Active tectonics and palaeoseismology

Tectonophysics ◽

10.1016/j.tecto.2007.07.010 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 453 (1-4) ◽

pp. 263-275 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Akın Kürçer ◽

Alexandros Chatzipetros ◽

Salih Zeki Tutkun ◽

Spyros Pavlides ◽

Özkan Ateş ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Active Fault ◽

Active Tectonics ◽

Nw Turkey

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Deep oceanic submarine fieldwork with undergraduate students: an immersive experience with the Minerve software

Solid Earth ◽

10.5194/se-12-2789-2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (12) ◽

pp. 2789-2802

Author(s):

Marianne Métois ◽

Jean-Emmanuel Martelat ◽

Jérémy Billant ◽

Muriel Andreani ◽

Javier Escartín ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Earth Sciences ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Geographical Information Systems ◽

Active Fault ◽

Active Tectonics ◽

Deep Ocean ◽

Geographical Information ◽

Remotely Operated Vehicle ◽

Promising Tool ◽

Teachers And Students

Abstract. We present the content and scripting of an active tectonic lab session conceived for third-year undergraduate students studying Earth sciences at Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers in Lyon. This session is based on a research project conducted on the submarine Roseau active fault in the Lesser Antilles. The fault morphology is particularly interesting to map as this structure in the deep ocean is preserved from weathering. Thus, high-resolution models computed from remotely operated vehicle (ROV) videos provide exceptional educational material to link fault morphology and coseismic displacement. This class includes mapping exercises on geographical information systems and virtual fieldwork to provide basic understanding of active tectonics and active fault morphology in particular. The work has been conducted either in a full remote configuration via 3D online models or in virtual reality (VR) in a dedicated room using the Minerve software. During the VR sessions, students were either alone in the VR environment or participated as a group that included the instructor (physically in the classroom or remotely from another location), which is to our knowledge one of the first attempts of this kind in France. We discuss the efficiency of virtual fieldwork using VR based on feedback from teachers and students. We conclude that VR is a promising tool to learn observational skills in Earth sciences, subject to certain improvements that should be possible in the years to come.

Download Full-text