Lake sediments record cycles of sediment flux driven by large earthquakes on the Alpine fault, New Zealand

Research Article| December 01, 2012 Lake sediments record cycles of sediment flux driven by large earthquakes on the Alpine fault, New Zealand Jamie D. Howarth; Jamie D. Howarth 1Department of Geography, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Sean J. Fitzsimons; Sean J. Fitzsimons 1Department of Geography, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Richard J. Norris; Richard J. Norris 2Department of Geology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geraldine E. Jacobsen Geraldine E. Jacobsen 3Institute for Environmental Research, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW 2232, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Jamie D. Howarth 1Department of Geography, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand Sean J. Fitzsimons 1Department of Geography, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand Richard J. Norris 2Department of Geology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand Geraldine E. Jacobsen 3Institute for Environmental Research, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW 2232, Australia Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 03 Apr 2012 Revision Received: 28 May 2012 Accepted: 29 May 2012 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2012 Geological Society of America Geology (2012) 40 (12): 1091–1094. https://doi.org/10.1130/G33486.1 Article history Received: 03 Apr 2012 Revision Received: 28 May 2012 Accepted: 29 May 2012 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Jamie D. Howarth, Sean J. Fitzsimons, Richard J. Norris, Geraldine E. Jacobsen; Lake sediments record cycles of sediment flux driven by large earthquakes on the Alpine fault, New Zealand. Geology 2012;; 40 (12): 1091–1094. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G33486.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Large earthquakes in mountain regions commonly trigger extensive landsliding and are important drivers of erosion, but the contribution of this landsliding to long-term erosion rates and seismic hazard remains poorly understood. Here we show that lake sediments record postseismic landscape response as a sequence of turbidites that can be used to quantify erosion related to large (moment magnitude, Mw > 7.6) earthquakes on the Alpine fault, New Zealand. Alpine fault earthquakes caused a threefold increase in sediment flux over the ∼50 yr duration of each postseismic landscape response; this represents considerable delayed hazard following earthquake-induced strong ground motion. Earthquakes were responsible for 27% of the sediment flux from the lake catchment over the past 1100 yr, leading us to conclude that Alpine fault earthquakes are one of the most important drivers of erosion in the range front of the Southern Alps. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.