About this Research Topic
At convergent margins, seismic and aseismic subduction processes control the uplift signal recorded within overriding plates. Uplift and uplift rates in the upper plate are recorded at different time scales through geodetic (a few decades) and geological (hundreds of thousands of years) measurements. This data is used, for instance, to infer (i) the slip distribution of earthquakes occurring along the subduction interface and (ii) mantle upwelling-driven dynamic topography. Upper plates also record crustal deformation produced by active faulting and historically damaging earthquakes.
Despite the effort and recent advances in methodologies, the effect of active faulting on upper plate deformation is still poorly understood compared to that of subduction-related earthquakes and dynamic topography. For instance, it has been shown that the uplift of seismically deforming upper plates may be highly variable along short length scales of a few tens of kilometres, suggesting that active faults may actually contribute more than previously thought to upper plate deformation. Understanding the role of active faulting on upper plate deformation is however crucial as it provides insights into the dominant processes responsible for deformation in the context of studies of subduction processes and mantle-driven dynamic topography investigations. Quantifying the kinematics and rates of active crustal faults is also imperative to better assess seismic hazard at subduction zones. Finally, these upper-plate faults may be also classified as being part of the subduction-zone seismic cycle. Do they move at the same time as the subduction earthquake? Or after some lag time (days to years) when the upper plate relaxes after the subduction earthquake? Or much later in the interseismic part of the cycle? These distinctions are of practical importance in Seismic Hazard Assessment (SHA), because they determine seismic source parameters such as recurrence interval and rupture scenarios.
Given that cities located in such tectonically-active environments with poorly-constrained related hazards are highly populated, a better understanding of the processes driving upper plate deformation is of great importance for society.
This Research Topic welcomes research papers that investigate seismically-deforming and uplifting upper plates. We encourage original contributions from diverse fields of research, such as morphotectonics, geodesy, paleoseismology, geodynamics and modelling. We particularly welcome research papers using field based multidisciplinary methodologies at different, and possibly integrated, timescales.
Despite the effort and recent advances in methodologies, the effect of active faulting on upper plate deformation is still poorly understood compared to that of subduction-related earthquakes and dynamic topography. For instance, it has been shown that the uplift of seismically deforming upper plates may be highly variable along short length scales of a few tens of kilometres, suggesting that active faults may actually contribute more than previously thought to upper plate deformation. Understanding the role of active faulting on upper plate deformation is however crucial as it provides insights into the dominant processes responsible for deformation in the context of studies of subduction processes and mantle-driven dynamic topography investigations. Quantifying the kinematics and rates of active crustal faults is also imperative to better assess seismic hazard at subduction zones. Finally, these upper-plate faults may be also classified as being part of the subduction-zone seismic cycle. Do they move at the same time as the subduction earthquake? Or after some lag time (days to years) when the upper plate relaxes after the subduction earthquake? Or much later in the interseismic part of the cycle? These distinctions are of practical importance in Seismic Hazard Assessment (SHA), because they determine seismic source parameters such as recurrence interval and rupture scenarios.
Given that cities located in such tectonically-active environments with poorly-constrained related hazards are highly populated, a better understanding of the processes driving upper plate deformation is of great importance for society.
This Research Topic welcomes research papers that investigate seismically-deforming and uplifting upper plates. We encourage original contributions from diverse fields of research, such as morphotectonics, geodesy, paleoseismology, geodynamics and modelling. We particularly welcome research papers using field based multidisciplinary methodologies at different, and possibly integrated, timescales.
Keywords: upper plate deformation, subduction zones, active faults, uplift, earthquakes, paleoseismicity
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