Development of the Global Earthquake Model’s neotectonic fault database

Abstract The Global Earthquake Model (GEM) aims to develop uniform, openly available, standards, datasets and tools for worldwide seismic risk assessment through global collaboration, transparent communication and adapting state-of-the-art science. GEM Faulted Earth (GFE) is one of GEM’s global hazard module projects. This paper describes GFE’s development of a modern neotectonic fault database and a unique graphical interface for the compilation of new fault data. A key design principle is that of an electronic field notebook for capturing observations a geologist would make about a fault. The database is designed to accommodate abundant as well as sparse fault observations. It features two layers, one for capturing neotectonic faults and fold observations, and the other to calculate potential earthquake fault sources from the observations. In order to test the flexibility of the database structure and to start a global compilation, five preexisting databases have been uploaded to the first layer and two to the second. In addition, the GFE project has characterised the world’s approximately 55,000 km of subduction interfaces in a globally consistent manner as a basis for generating earthquake event sets for inclusion in earthquake hazard and risk modelling. Following the subduction interface fault schema and including the trace attributes of the GFE database schema, the 2500-km-long frontal thrust fault system of the Himalaya has also been characterised. We propose the database structure to be used widely, so that neotectonic fault data can make a more complete and beneficial contribution to seismic hazard and risk characterisation globally.

[1]  Roberto Basili,et al.  Is blind faulting truly invisible? Tectonic-controlled drainage evolution in the epicentral area of the May 2012, Emilia-Romagna earthquake sequence (northern Italy) , 2012 .

[2]  Robert E. Wallace,et al.  STRUCTURE OF A PORTION OF THE SAN ANDREAS RIFT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA , 1949 .

[3]  David J. Wald,et al.  Slab1.0: A three‐dimensional model of global subduction zone geometries , 2012 .

[4]  G. K. Gilbert.  A theory of the earthquakes of the Great Basin, with a practical application , 1884, American Journal of Science.

[5]  Richard G. Gordon,et al.  Geologically current plate motions , 2010 .

[6]  B. Kotô.  On the Cause of the Great Earthquake in Central Japan, 1891 , 1990 .

[7]  A. Holmes,et al.  Principles of Physical Geology , 1965 .

[8]  D. Jackson,et al.  Magnitude Limits of Subduction Zone Earthquakes , 2014 .

[9]  James H. Dieterich,et al.  Progressive failure on the North Anatolian fault since 1939 by earthquake stress triggering , 1997 .

[10]  Charles S. Mueller,et al.  Documentation for the 2008 update of the United States National Seismic Hazard Maps , 2008 .

[11]  M. Machette,et al.  AN OVERVIEW OF THE MAIN QUATERNARY DEFORMATION OF SOUTH AMERICA , 2006 .

[12]  R. Yeats,et al.  Introduction to special section: Paleoseismology , 1996 .

[13]  Domenico Di Giacomo,et al.  ISC-GEM: Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue (1900–2009), I. Data collection from early instrumental seismological bulletins , 2015 .

[14]  Lin Ding,et al.  Convergence rate across the Nepal Himalaya and interseismic coupling on the Main Himalayan Thrust: Implications for seismic hazard , 2011 .

[15]  Tom Parsons,et al.  Comparison of characteristic and Gutenberg—Richter models for time-dependent M ≥ 7.9 earthquake probability in the Nankai-Tokai subduction zone, Japan , 2012 .

[16]  Roberto Basili,et al.  The European Database of Seismogenic Faults (EDSF) compiled in the framework of the Project SHARE. , 2013 .

[17]  G. Weatherill,et al.  OpenQuake Engine: An Open Hazard (and Risk) Software for the Global Earthquake Model , 2014 .

[18]  R. Yeats.  Active Faults of the World , 2012 .

[19]  K. Sieh,et al.  Neotectonic architecture of Taiwan and its implications for future large earthquakes , 2005 .

[20]  Y. Kagan,et al.  Plate-Tectonic Analysis of Shallow Seismicity: Apparent Boundary Width, Beta, Corner Magnitude, Coupled Lithosphere Thickness, and Coupling in Seven Tectonic Settings , 2004 .

[21]  D. Wells,et al.  New empirical relationships among magnitude, rupture length, rupture width, rupture area, and surface displacement , 1994, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America.

[22]  V. G. Trifonov,et al.  The World Map of Major Active Faults Project , 1993 .

[23]  Peter Bormann,et al.  Public Release of the ISC-GEM Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue (1900-2009) , 2013 .

[24]  Zachary E. Ross,et al.  Probabilistic Fault Displacement Hazard Analysis for Reverse Faults , 2011 .

[25]  Yan Y. Kagan,et al.  Tohoku earthquake: a surprise? , 2011, 1112.5217.

[26]  Tatiana Goded,et al.  Selection of Earthquake Scaling Relationships for Seismic‐Hazard Analysis , 2013 .

[27]  Map and database of Quaternary faults in Bolivia and Chile , 2000 .

[28]  Dan Clark,et al.  Long-term behaviour of Australian stable continental region (SCR) faults , 2012 .

[29]  R. Basili,et al.  The Database of Individual Seismogenic Sources (DISS), version 3: Summarizing 20 years of research on Italy's earthquake geology , 2008 .

[30]  Developing Seismogenic Source Models Based on Geologic Fault Data , 2011 .

[31]  Timothy E. Dawson,et al.  Uniform California earthquake rupture forecast, version 3 (UCERF3): the time-independent model , 2013 .

[32]  Kathleen M. Haller,et al.  Map and database of Quaternary faults and folds in Argentina , 2000 .

[33]  M. Machette,et al.  Map and database of Quaternary faults in the vicinity of Managua, Nicaragua , 2000 .

[34]  Shamita Das.  Seismicity gaps and the shape of the seismic zone in the Banda Sea region from relocated hypocenters , 2004 .

[35]  Geoffrey Blewitt,et al.  A geodetic plate motion and Global Strain Rate Model , 2014 .

[36]  M. Machette,et al.  Quaternary fault and fold database of the United States , 2003 .

[37]  M. Machette,et al.  Map and Database of Quaternary Faults in Venezuela and its Offshore Regions , 2000 .

[38]  M. Machette,et al.  Database and Map of Quaternary Faults and Folds in Peru and its Offshore Region , 2003 .

[39]  R. Basili,et al.  DISS3 TUTORIAL SERIES: GUIDELINES FOR COMPILING RECORDS OF THE DATABASE OF INDIVIDUAL SEISMOGENIC SOURCES, VERSION 3 , 2009 .

[40]  Peter Bormann,et al.  The ISC-GEM Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue (1900-2009): Introduction , 2015 .

[41]  Kaye M. Shedlock,et al.  The GSHAP Global Seismic Hazard Map , 2000 .

[42]  M. Machette,et al.  Map and database of Quaternary faults and lineaments in Brazil , 2003 .

[43]  Damiano Monelli,et al.  A summary of hazard datasets and guidelines supported by the Global Earthquake Model during the first implementation phase , 2015 .

[44]  K. Shimazaki.  Small and large earthquakes: The effects of the thickness of seismogenic layer and the free surface , 2013 .

[45]  T. Jordan,et al.  Earthquake scaling relations for mid‐ocean ridge transform faults , 2004 .

[46]  M. Machette,et al.  Database and map of Quaternary faults and folds of Ecuador and its offshore regions , 2003 .

[47]  M. Machette,et al.  Maps of major active faults, Western Hemisphere, International Lithosphere Program (ILP), Project II-2; guidelines for U.S. database and map, June 1993 , 1993 .

[48]  R. D. Koehler,et al.  Quaternary Faults and Folds (QFF) , 2013 .

[49]  Robert McCaffrey,et al.  Global frequency of magnitude 9 earthquakes , 2008 .

[50]  Steven G. Wesnousky,et al.  Earthquakes, quaternary faults, and seismic hazard in California , 1986 .

[51]  Rui Pinho,et al.  Assessing global earthquake risks: the Global Earthquake Model (GEM) initiative , 2013 .

[52]  M. Bond,et al.  Introduction to Special Section , 2008, American journal of community psychology.

[53]  Pilar Villamor,et al.  National Seismic Hazard Model for New Zealand: 2010 Update , 2012 .

[54]  Kenneth S. Rukstales,et al.  Map and Database of Probable and Possible Quaternary Faults in Afghanistan , 2007 .

[55]  Massimiliano Stucchi,et al.  Global Historical Earthquake Archive and Catalogue (1000-1903) , 2013 .