1. Key points

This is the first attempt to apply a computational fluid dynamic modeling-based quantitative “fossil seismograph” to develop a large earthquake record.

The record is calibrated to historic earthquakes, for which the Dead Sea area has a famously long span, and it confirms a clustered earthquake recurrence pattern and a group-fault temporal clustering model.

The record yields much shorter mean recurrence for large (≤ 1.4 kyr vs. 7-11 kyr) and moderate (≤ 500 yr vs. 1600 yr) earthquakes than previously obtained, thus reveals a much higher seismic hazard than previously appreciated on this slow-slipping plate boundary.

This year was truly a roller coaster ride! A large part of the world is still battling Covid-19; meetings, conferences, and workshops are held online, and teaching has also changed a lot. December is usually crowded with deadlines and (virtual) AGU, but I hope you find some time to check out the latest papers on earthquakes, paleoseismology, and active tectonics. We have a great list of papers, this time with exciting news from Italy, New Zealand and the Dead Sea, a lot of historical seismicity studies, and many contributions on Asian tectonics. Stay safe & happy researching!

To increase the visibility of activities of Paleoseismicity.org to Chinese in China and around the world and to promote potential interactions with Chinese, I opened an account for Paleoseismicity.org on the WeChat platform last week. The account was named “古地震”. (“古地震” means “paleoseismicity” in English).

The 2020 PATA Days in Chile, originally planned for November this year, had to be postponed to November 2021. Let’s keep the enthusiasm for the realization of this nice congress in the coastal Atacama Desert of northern Chile! On 18 December, 2020 there will be a webinar including lectures on paleoseismology and seismic hazard, as well as an introduction to recent advances in active tectonics along the major northern Chile seismic gap. In addition, the first short-abstract volume in digital version will be released.

Currently there are several Special Issues in the making that may be relevant for paleoseismology folk.
Update (2020-11-20): additional SI in Geosciences on morphogenic faulting

Since field work is not possible for many of us right now, it’s possibly a good idea to catch up with the latest literature on paleoseismology, active tectonics, and earthquake geology. This time there are many studies on Central Asian tectonics, but also interesting work on the Mediterranean and the US. Stay safe, enjoy reading, and please let me know if I’ve missed something.

Our colleagues Javier Elez and Jorge L. Giner-Robles invite contributions to a Special Issue in the journal Applied Sciences:

In recent decades, a prominent body of knowledge related to the geology of the earthquakes has provided new insights into seismic phenomena. The study of geology of present earthquakes allows a better understanding of the whole set of natural processes involved. The study of events from the past allows providing more comprehensive data within the temporal range (recurrence periods) of the seismic cycle and therefore completing the seismic catalogues and incorporating long-term data into seismic hazard assessment. The introduction of geological analysis of earthquakes, mainly based on the application of the Environmental Seismic Intensity Scale (ESI-07), also allows the parameterization of environmental earthquake effects and the emergence of multiple modeling procedures to assess intensity, hazard, risk, emergency scenarios, etc., most of them based on the application of GIS technologies.

The objective of this Special Issue on “The Contribution of Geology and Geomatics to Seismic Hazard and Earthquake Engineering” is to provide the latest advances, uses, and case studies related to the multiple applications of geological analysis of earthquakes.

My list of recent papers contains a surprisingly large number of cave studies. Also check out the really interesting contributions on earthquake & fault physics – cool stuff that is worth a read. Of course we also have fascinating studies on regional faults, including one that describes an active fault beneath Ulaanbaatar. Enjoy reading and let me know if I have missed something.

An interesting PhD position is open at GFZ Potsdam in the framework of the CRC1211- “Earth: evolution at the dry limit”. CRC1211 has the objective to study the mutual evolutionary relationships between earth surface processes and biota in arid to hyperarid conditions. Within the framework of project C05 “Adaptation of drainage to tectonic forcing”, the history of the macro‐scale drainages of the Atacama Desert will be examined using cosmogenic nuclide and amphipod speciation chronologies, combined with topographic analysis and kinematic modelling. Findings will be compared to the established broad‐scale tectonic and climatic context. More information and the link to the ad can be found here. Deadline for application is 15^th October 2020. For further queries relating to the role’s responsibilities you can contact Dr. Pia Victor by email (pia.victor@gfz-potsdam.de).

Today’s list is much shorter than that of August, but we have some pretty cool stuff on historical earthquakes, earthquake effects, and surface ruptures. Enjoy reading and stay safe!