Airborne LiDAR analysis and geochronology of faulted glacial moraines in the Tahoe-Sierra frontal fault zone reveal substantial seismic hazards in the Lake Tahoe region, California-Nevada, USA

Research Article| July 01, 2012 Airborne LiDAR analysis and geochronology of faulted glacial moraines in the Tahoe-Sierra frontal fault zone reveal substantial seismic hazards in the Lake Tahoe region, California-Nevada, USA James F. Howle; James F. Howle † 1U.S. Geological Survey, P.O. Box 1360, Carnelian Bay, California 96140, USA †E-mails: jfhowle@usgs.gov; gbawden@usgs.gov; rschweickert@gmail.com; rfinkel@berkeley.edu; lewis.e.hunter@usace.army.mil; ronn.s.rose@usace.army.mil; bvtwist@journeyaroundhappy.com. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Gerald W. Bawden; Gerald W. Bawden † 2U.S. Geological Survey, 3020 State University Drive East, Modoc Hall, Suite 4004, Sacramento, California 95819, USA †E-mails: jfhowle@usgs.gov; gbawden@usgs.gov; rschweickert@gmail.com; rfinkel@berkeley.edu; lewis.e.hunter@usace.army.mil; ronn.s.rose@usace.army.mil; bvtwist@journeyaroundhappy.com. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Richard A. Schweickert; Richard A. Schweickert † 3University of Nevada, Reno, Department of Geological Sciences, 1900 Greensburg Circle, Reno, Nevada 89509, USA †E-mails: jfhowle@usgs.gov; gbawden@usgs.gov; rschweickert@gmail.com; rfinkel@berkeley.edu; lewis.e.hunter@usace.army.mil; ronn.s.rose@usace.army.mil; bvtwist@journeyaroundhappy.com. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Robert C. Finkel; Robert C. Finkel † 4University of California, Berkeley, Earth and Planetary Science Department, 371 McCone Hall, Berkeley, California 94720, USA †E-mails: jfhowle@usgs.gov; gbawden@usgs.gov; rschweickert@gmail.com; rfinkel@berkeley.edu; lewis.e.hunter@usace.army.mil; ronn.s.rose@usace.army.mil; bvtwist@journeyaroundhappy.com. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Lewis E. Hunter; Lewis E. Hunter † 5U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, 1325 J Street, Sacramento, California 95814, USA †E-mails: jfhowle@usgs.gov; gbawden@usgs.gov; rschweickert@gmail.com; rfinkel@berkeley.edu; lewis.e.hunter@usace.army.mil; ronn.s.rose@usace.army.mil; bvtwist@journeyaroundhappy.com. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ronn S. Rose; Ronn S. Rose † 5U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, 1325 J Street, Sacramento, California 95814, USA †E-mails: jfhowle@usgs.gov; gbawden@usgs.gov; rschweickert@gmail.com; rfinkel@berkeley.edu; lewis.e.hunter@usace.army.mil; ronn.s.rose@usace.army.mil; bvtwist@journeyaroundhappy.com. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Brent von Twistern Brent von Twistern † 6P.O. Box 5401, Incline Village, Nevada 89450, USA †E-mails: jfhowle@usgs.gov; gbawden@usgs.gov; rschweickert@gmail.com; rfinkel@berkeley.edu; lewis.e.hunter@usace.army.mil; ronn.s.rose@usace.army.mil; bvtwist@journeyaroundhappy.com. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information James F. Howle † 1U.S. Geological Survey, P.O. Box 1360, Carnelian Bay, California 96140, USA Gerald W. Bawden † 2U.S. Geological Survey, 3020 State University Drive East, Modoc Hall, Suite 4004, Sacramento, California 95819, USA Richard A. Schweickert † 3University of Nevada, Reno, Department of Geological Sciences, 1900 Greensburg Circle, Reno, Nevada 89509, USA Robert C. Finkel † 4University of California, Berkeley, Earth and Planetary Science Department, 371 McCone Hall, Berkeley, California 94720, USA Lewis E. Hunter † 5U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, 1325 J Street, Sacramento, California 95814, USA Ronn S. Rose † 5U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, 1325 J Street, Sacramento, California 95814, USA Brent von Twistern † 6P.O. Box 5401, Incline Village, Nevada 89450, USA †E-mails: jfhowle@usgs.gov; gbawden@usgs.gov; rschweickert@gmail.com; rfinkel@berkeley.edu; lewis.e.hunter@usace.army.mil; ronn.s.rose@usace.army.mil; bvtwist@journeyaroundhappy.com. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 30 Aug 2011 Revision Received: 08 Feb 2012 Accepted: 17 Feb 2012 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 © 2012 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2012) 124 (7-8): 1087–1101. https://doi.org/10.1130/B30598.1 Article history Received: 30 Aug 2011 Revision Received: 08 Feb 2012 Accepted: 17 Feb 2012 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation James F. Howle, Gerald W. Bawden, Richard A. Schweickert, Robert C. Finkel, Lewis E. Hunter, Ronn S. Rose, Brent von Twistern; Airborne LiDAR analysis and geochronology of faulted glacial moraines in the Tahoe-Sierra frontal fault zone reveal substantial seismic hazards in the Lake Tahoe region, California-Nevada, USA. GSA Bulletin 2012;; 124 (7-8): 1087–1101. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B30598.1 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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract We integrated high-resolution bare-earth airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) imagery with field observations and modern geochronology to characterize the Tahoe-Sierra frontal fault zone, which forms the neotectonic boundary between the Sierra Nevada and the Basin and Range Province west of Lake Tahoe. The LiDAR imagery clearly delineates active normal faults that have displaced late Pleistocene glacial moraines and Holocene alluvium along 30 km of linear, right-stepping range front of the Tahoe-Sierra frontal fault zone. Herein, we illustrate and describe the tectonic geomorphology of faulted lateral moraines. We have developed new, three-dimensional modeling techniques that utilize the high-resolution LiDAR data to determine tectonic displacements of moraine crests and alluvium. The statistically robust displacement models combined with new ages of the displaced Tioga (20.8 ± 1.4 ka) and Tahoe (69.2 ± 4.8 ka; 73.2 ± 8.7 ka) moraines are used to estimate the minimum vertical separation rate at 17 sites along the Tahoe-Sierra frontal fault zone. Near the northern end of the study area, the minimum vertical separation rate is 1.5 ± 0.4 mm/yr, which represents a two- to threefold increase in estimates of seismic moment for the Lake Tahoe basin. From this study, we conclude that potential earthquake moment magnitudes (Mw) range from 6.3 ± 0.25 to 6.9 ± 0.25. A close spatial association of landslides and active faults suggests that landslides have been seismically triggered. Our study underscores that the Tahoe-Sierra frontal fault zone poses substantial seismic and landslide hazards. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.