Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T15:26:41.216Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Morphometric analysis of active normal faulting in slow-deformation areas : examples in the Lower Rhine Embayment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2016

T. Camelbeeck ,
H. Martin ,
K. Vanneste ,
K. Verbeeck  and
M. Meghraoui
T. Camelbeeck
Affiliation:
Royal Observatory of Belgium, avenue circulaire 3, B-l 180 Bruxelles; e-mail: [email protected]
H. Martin
Affiliation:
Royal Observatory of Belgium, avenue circulaire 3, B-l 180 Bruxelles; e-mail: [email protected]
K. Vanneste
Affiliation:
Royal Observatory of Belgium, avenue circulaire 3, B-l 180 Bruxelles; e-mail: [email protected]
K. Verbeeck
Affiliation:
Royal Observatory of Belgium, avenue circulaire 3, B-l 180 Bruxelles; e-mail: [email protected]
M. Meghraoui
Affiliation:
EOST, Institut de Physique du Globe, rue René Descartes 5, F-67084 Strasbourg

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

We studied the applicability of classical scarp degradation modelling to active normal faults in the Lower Rhine Embayment. Our quantitative analysis was conducted on the frontal Bree fault scarp (Feldbiss fault) in Belgium and the Peel fault scarp near the city of Neer in the Netherlands. Vertical offset and diffusion age of these scarps have been modelled from elevation profiles across the studied faults using the diffusion equation. For that purpose, a computer-program (profil 2000) has been written, providing a sensitivity analysis of the determined parameters in function of the spatial repartition of the elevation measurements along the considered profiles. The results of this morphometric analysis have been validated by a comparison with the geologic record of the tectonic activity observed in the trenches excavated at the sites where the measurements have been conducted.

We conclude that the modelling can only be applied to study tectonic activity since the Last Glacial Maximum (±14-19 kyr BP) because the surface expression of older paleoearthquakes in unconsolidated Late Pleistocene sediments has been erased by the strong erosive phase that occurred at the end of this glacial period. Even for Holocene scarps, morphologic dating seems very difficult because man-made perturbations destroyed surface evidence of the very recent fault activity in many sites. Nevertheless, we estimate that an appropriate value for the mass diffusivity constant for~ 1-m-high scarps in the investigated region is 0.002 to 0.010 m2/yr. On the other hand, vertical offsets can be determined with a good precision. These amount to respectively ~1 m and 1,3 m since the Last Glacial Maximum on the Feldbiss fault in Belgium and the Peel fault near Roermond in the Netherlands.

Keywords

Erosionfault scarp modellinggeomorphologyRoer Graben
Type
Research Article
Information
Netherlands Journal of Geosciences , Volume 80 , Issue 3-4 , December 2001 , pp. 95 - 107
Copyright
Copyright © Stichting Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 2001

References

Ahorner, L., 1968. Erdbeben und jüngste tektonik im Braun-kohlenrevier der Niederrheinischen Bucht. Z. Deutsch. Geol.Ges, 118, 150–160.Google Scholar
Ahorner, L., 1975. Present-day stress field and seismotectonic block movements along major fault zones in Central Europe. Tectonophysics, 29, 233–249.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ahorner, L., 1997. How reliable are speculations about large paleoearthquakes at the western border fault of the Roer Valley Graben near Bree. Comptes Rendus of the 81th JLG-meeting.Google Scholar
Andrews, D. J., Hanks, T. C. 1985. Scarp Degraded by Linear Diffusion : Inverse Solution for Age, Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 90, NO. B12, 10193–10208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Andrews, D.J. and Bucknam, R.C., 1987. Fitting degradation of shoreline scarps by a nonlinear diffusion model.Google Scholar
Beerten, K., Brabers, P., Bosch, P., and Gullentops, P., 1999 – The passage of the Feldbiss Bundle through the Maas Valley. Aardkundige Mededelingen, 9: 153–158.Google Scholar
Briquet, A. 1908. La Meuse en aval de Sittard. Bulletin de la Société Belge de Géologie, 25, 347–385.Google Scholar
Bucknam, R. C., Anderson, R. E., 1979. Estimation of Fault Scarp Ages from a Scarp-height-slope-angle Relationship, Geology, Vol.7, 11–14.Google Scholar
Camelbeeck, T., and van Eck, T., 1994. The Roer Valley Graben earthquake of 13 April 1992 and its seismotectonic setting. Terra Nova, 6: 291–300.Google Scholar
Camelbeeck, T., and Meghraoui, M., 1996 – Large earthquakes in northern Europe more likely than once thought. EOS, Transactions, AGU, 77(42) : 405, 409.Google Scholar
Camelbeeck, T. and Meghraoui, M., 1998. Geological and geophysical evidence for large palaeo-earthquakes with surface faulting in the Roer Graben (northwest Europe). Geophysical Journal International, 132, 347–362.Google Scholar
Demanet, D., Evers, L.G., Teerlynk, H., Dost, B. and Jongmans, D. Geophysical investigation along the Peel Boundary fault (The Netherlands) for a paleoseismological study. This volume.Google Scholar
Hanks, T. C., Andrews, D. J., 1989. Effect of the Far-Field Slope on Morphologic Dating of Scarplike Landforms. Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 94, NO. Bl, 565–573.Google Scholar
Kolstrup, E., 1980. Climate and stratigraphy in northwestern Europe between 30,000 B.P., and 13,000 B.P., with special reference to the Netherlands. Mededelingen Rijks Geologische Di-enst, 32(15), 181–253.Google Scholar
Lehman, K., Klostermann, J., Pelzing, R. and Hinzen, K., 2001. Paleo-seismic investigations at the Rurrand fault, FRG. Cahiers du Centre Européen de Géodynamique et de Séismologie, 18, 93–96.Google Scholar
Meghraoui, M., Camelbeeck, T., Vanneste, K., Brondeel, M., and Jongmans, D., 2000. Active faulting and paleoseismology along the Bree fault, Lower Rhine Graben (Belgium). Journal of Geophysical Research, 105, 13,809–13, 841.Google Scholar
Nash, D.B., 1980. Morphologic dating of degraded normal fault scarps. Journal of Geology, 88, 353–360.Google Scholar
Niviere, B. and Marquis, G., 2000. Evolution of terrace risers along the upper Rhine graben inferred from morphologic dating methods: evidence of climatic and tectonic forcing. Geophysical Journal International, 141, 577–594.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schaefer, W., 1999. Bodenbewegungen und Bergschadensre-gulierung im Rheinischen Braunkohlenrevier. Report Rhein-braun AG.Google Scholar
Van den Berg, M.W., 1996. Fluvial sequences of the Maas. A 10 Ma record of neotectonics and climate change at various time-scales. Thesis University Wageningen, 181 pages.Google Scholar
Van den Berg, M.W., Groenewoud, W., Lorenz, G.K., Lubbers, P.J., Brus, D.J. & Kroonenberg, S.B., 1994. Patterns and velocities of recent crustal movements in the Dutch part of the Roer Valley rift system. Geol. en Mijnbouw, 73, 2-4, p. 157–168.Google Scholar
Van den Berg, M. and Lokhorst, A., 2001. Paleoseismic investigations along the Peel boundary fault: geological setting, site selection and trenching results. Cahiers du Centre Européen de Géodynamique et de Séismologie, 18,139–144.Google Scholar
Van den Berg, M.., Vanneste, K., Dost, B., Lokhorst, A., Van Eijk, M. and Verbeek, K., 2001. Paleoseismic investigations along the Peel Boundary fault: geological setting, site selection and trenching results. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences/Geologie en Mijnbouw, 81, (1), 2002.Google Scholar
Vanneste, K., Meghraoui, M. and Camelbeeck, T., 1999. Late Quaternary earthquake-related soft-sediment deformation along the Belgian portion of the Feldbiss fault, Lower Rhine Graben system. Tectonophysics, 309, 57–79.Google Scholar
Vanneste, K., Verbeeck, K., Camelbeeck, T., Renardy, F., Meghraoui, M., Jongmans, D., Paulissen, E. & Frechen, M., 2001. Surface rupturing history of the Bree fault escarpment, Roer Valley Graben : new trench evidence for at least six successive events during the last 150 to 185 kyr. Journal of Seismology, 5,323–359.Google Scholar
Vanneste, K. & Verbeeck, K., 2001. Detailed paleoseismic investigation of the Rurrand fault in Hambach trench, Germany. Cahiers du Centre Européen de Géodynamique et de Séismologie, 18, 153–156.Google Scholar