Temporal clustering of surface ruptures on stable continental region faults: a case study from the Cadell Fault scarp, southeastern Australia

Authors / CoAuthors

Clark, D.J. | Van Dissen, R. | Cupper, M. | Collins, C.D.N.

Abstract

A characteristic of Australian stable continental region (SCR) faults appears to be the temporal clustering of surface rupturing earthquakes. With the possible exception of active faults in the Flinders Ranges and Mt Lofty Ranges regions of South Australia, active periods of earthquake activity comprising a finite number of events are separated by much longer periods of seismic quiescence. This behaviour poses particular problems for seismic hazard assessment in that it implies that recurrence of large earthquake events is not random (Poisson) as is implicitly assumed in most seismic hazard assessment methods. We present a model that helps to conceptualise the points critical to understanding the hazard posed by intraplate faults and in modelling this hazard probabilistically. Specifically, we look to identify whether the SCR fault in question is about to enter an active period, is in the midst of an active period, or is in a quiescent period. In relation to this issue it becomes important to know how many previous ruptures the fault has generated in its current active period (should it be in one), and specifically, if a fault is in an active period, what is the <i>average</i> recurrence interval and what is the variability around this average. This <i>average</i> could be incorporated statistically into probabilistic seismic hazard assessments.

Product Type

nonGeographicDataset

eCat Id

65709

Contact for the resource

Custodian

MNHD

Owner

Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)

Custodian

Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)
Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
ACT
2601
Australia

Keywords

External PublicationAbstract

( Theme )

earthquakes

( Theme )

geohazards

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

Earth Sciences

Published_External

Publication Date

2008-01-01T00:00:00

Creation Date

Security Constraints

Australian Government Security ClassificationSystem

Classification - unclassified

Legal Constraints

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence

Access - license

Use - license

Status

Purpose

Maintenance Information

unknown

Topic Category

geoscientificInformation

Series Information

Lineage

Unknown

Parent Information

Extents

[-45.0, -10.0, 138.0, 156.0]

Reference System

Spatial Resolution

Service Information

Associations

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