Week 1: Crustal Deformation, Earthquakes, and Plate Tectonics
This introductory week covers the fundamentals of crustal deformation and its link to seismicity. Students will explore the principles of plate tectonics, the mechanisms driving earthquakes, and their global distribution. Key topics include the role of crustal deformation in earthquake generation and seismic hazard assessment. Discussions will focus on compressional, extensional, and transverse tectonic regimes, providing a foundation for understanding tectonic landforms and active faults.
Week 2: Signatures of Prehistoric Earthquakes (Primary and Secondary)
This week will examine the primary and secondary signatures of prehistoric earthquakes, such as fault scarps, surface ruptures, liquefaction features, and landslides. Emphasis will be placed on how these features are preserved in different tectonic settings. The week introduces methods for identifying and interpreting these features in landforms and sediment successions.
Week 3: Advanced Analysis of Earthquake Signatures
Building on the previous week, this section delves deeper into analyzing sedimentary successions that preserve deformation features. Students will learn about the development of primary and secondary earthquake signatures specific to different tectonic environments. Case studies will illustrate how these features contribute to paleoseismic reconstructions.
Week 4: Active Faults and Tectonic Landforms in Compressional, Extensional, and Transverse Settings (Part I)
This week focuses on identifying and mapping active faults and associated tectonic landforms. Topics include mapping of active fault scarps, sag ponds, shutter ridges, pressure ridges, and drainage anomalies using high resolution satellite data. Photogeologic mapping and remote sensing techniques will be introduced as tools to study these features in compressional, extensional, and transverse tectonic environments.
Week 5: Advanced Fault Mapping and Structural Analysis (Part II)
Continuing from the previous week, students will explore advanced mapping techniques and structural analyses of active faults. The implications of faults in different tectonic settings will be discussed in relation to regional-scale tectonics and seismic hazards. Special attention will be given to integrating remote sensing data and field observations.
Week 6: Field Techniques in Paleoseismology (Part I)
This week emphasizes practical methods for investigating active faults and prehistoric earthquakes. Students will learn precise surface and subsurface mapping of fault scarps, trenching techniques to expose deformed sedimentary layers, and methods to identify ancient seismic events. The interpretation of trench logs and deformation patterns in compressional, extensional, and transverse environments will be covered.
Week 7: Field Techniques and Quantitative Analysis (Part II)
Building on the previous week, students will develop skills to estimate key seismic parameters, including net displacement during individual events, slip rates, and earthquake magnitudes. Recurrence intervals and the prediction of future seismic activity will also be addressed. Field-based case studies will illustrate faulting behavior across various tectonic settings.
Week 8: Secondary Effects of Earthquakes and Dating Techniques
This week focuses on secondary earthquake effects, such as paleo-liquefaction features, and their importance in reconstructing seismic histories. Dating techniques, including Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) and Radiocarbon (C14), will be discussed in detail. Students will learn how these techniques are applied to constrain the timing of prehistoric earthquakes in compressional, extensional, and transverse tectonic environments.
Week 9: Paleo-Tsunami Geology (Part I)
Students will explore the identification and interpretation of paleo-tsunami deposits, focusing on their connection to mega-subduction zone earthquakes in compressional settings. Topics include tsunami sedimentology, coastal deformation processes, and the preservation of tsunami signatures in stratigraphic records.
Week 10: Land-Level Changes and Climatic vs. Tectonic Impacts (Part II)
This week covers land-level changes caused by major earthquakes, such as subsidence and uplift in compressional environments. Students will learn to differentiate between tectonic and climatic influences on coastal sedimentary records. Discussions will also explore the role of extensional and transverse settings in shaping coastal deformation and sedimentation.
Week 11: Effects of Near-Field and Far-Field Tsunamis (Part III)
The focus this week is on analyzing the stratigraphic records of near-field and far-field earthquakes and tsunamis. Students will learn how to differentiate between these events based on sedimentological and geomorphic evidence. Case studies from various tectonic settings will highlight the diverse impacts of tsunamis on geological records.
Week 12: Field Study on Active Faults and Tectonic Landforms
The course concludes with a hands-on field study focused on identifying and mapping active faults and associated landforms. Students will apply their theoretical knowledge to document fault scarps, tectonic landforms, and secondary earthquake effects in compressional, extensional, and transverse tectonic environments. The integration of field data into paleoseismic interpretations will consolidate their understanding of seismic hazards and their implications for society.
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