SCEC Award Number 11116 View PDF
Proposal Category Collaborative Proposal (Data Gathering and Products)
Proposal Title New Slip Rate estimates from Wallace Creek and Phelan Creek Paleoseismic Sites. Re-sampling, Re-dating, and Re-Synthesizing
Investigator(s)
Name Organization
Lisa Grant Ludwig University of California, Irvine J Ramon Arrowsmith Arizona State University
Other Participants Sinan Akciz,Co-PI
SCEC Priorities A1, A2, A9 SCEC Groups Geology, SoSAFE, SHRA
Report Due Date 02/29/2012 Date Report Submitted N/A
Project Abstract
 During SCEC3, we utilized multiple methods to investigate the recent rupture history of the San Andreas fault in the Carrizo Plain with funding NSF, USGS and SCEC, leading to publication in high impact journals and broad dissemination by news media. SCEC provided essential support for publication activities, exploration of promising new methods, and opportunistic collection of supplemental data. Highlights include: A) 2010 cover of Science featuring our research at the Bidart fan (Zielke et al.) and a paper (Grant Ludwig et al.,) that utilized paleoclimate data (SCEC08) to measure slip in prior earthquakes; B) re-excavation of the famous Wallace Creek slip rate site in the Carrizo Plain (SCEC11); C) 3-D excavation of a small channel on the Bidart fan identified during field research (SCEC08,09) (Akciz et al., in prep); D) a ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey (SCEC10) of the Bidart fan to identify target stratigraphy for measuring slip; E) dates of 6 surface ruptures of the Bidart Fan since ~1350 AD constrained by radiocarbon dating and the historic record (Akciz et al., 2010) (SCEC09).
Intellectual Merit to be added
Broader Impacts Data on the spatial and temporal distribution of surface ruptures is essential for estimating the probabilities of future large-magnitude earthquakes on known active faults. The San Andreas fault is the most significant source of seismic hazard in California and its proximity to densely populated and economically vital regions makes the risk associated with this fault a major threat to the nation as well as the state. Results of this research provide input parameter for development of strong ground motion simulations, National seismic hazard maps, and forecasts by the Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities. Funding from SCEC provided support for a postdoc to publish and disseminate research results, and provided seed funding for graduate research by a Hispanic female who completed her Ph.D. in 2011.
Exemplary Figure Summary Figure, page 1