Quaternary tectonic faulting in the Eastern United States

Wheeler, Russell L.

doi:10.1016/j.enggeo.2005.10.005

Cited by 14 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…They do not suggest, however, tectonic influence for any braided-meandering shifts or changes in meander size. Wheeler (2006) asserts that no definite fault line has been identified, casting doubt on the fault-induced changes noted by Marple and Talwani (2000). Although different rates of uplift on parts of the Coastal Plain may cause variations in sinuosity and valley orientations, no clear indication of tectonic activity explains the pronounced changes from braided to meandering at 16-15 ka or the large meandering channels noted above in Sections 3.3 and 3.4.…”

Section: Forcing Mechanisms Of River Channel Changementioning

confidence: 91%

“…These authors also suggested maximum rates of late Pleistocene and Holocene uplift along the east coast fault system of about 1.5 mm/yr. Despite several Holocene earthquakes near Charleston, however, no definite faults have been identified (Wheeler, 2006). The Cape Fear Arch is a prominent tectonic feature in central North Carolina that has been found to influence the position of the Cape Fear River (Soller, 1988) by pushing it to the west on the western flank of the Cape Fear Arch.…”

Section: Regional Settingmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Late Quaternary climates and river channels of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, Southeastern USA

Leigh

2008

Geomorphology

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Section: Forcing Mechanisms Of River Channel Changementioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Regional Settingmentioning

confidence: 98%

Late Quaternary climates and river channels of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, Southeastern USA

Leigh

2008

Geomorphology

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“…Along much of the U.S. Atlantic coast, the tectonic contribution to RSL change is assumed to be negligible over timescales of centuries to millennia (e.g., Rowley et al, 2013), but parts of the North Carolina coastal plain are underlain by the Cape Fear Arch (Sheridan, 1976) (Figure 1b). Geologic and geomorphic data suggest that uplift of the crest of the Cape Fear Arch began during the Pliocene (Wheeler, 2006) and is ongoing (Brown, 1978). Late Holocene rates of uplift (RSL fall) have been estimated at ∼0.2 ± 0.2 mm/yr (e.g., Marple and Talwani, 2004;van de Plassche et al, 2014).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Past and future sea-level rise along the coast of North Carolina, USA

et al. 2015

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We evaluate relative sea level (RSL) trajectories for North Carolina, USA, in the context of tide-gauge measurements and geological sea-level reconstructions spanning the last $\mathord{\sim}$11,000 years. RSL rise was fastest ($\mathord{\sim}$7 mm/yr) during the early Holocene and slowed over time with the end of the deglaciation. During the pre-Industrial Common Era (i.e., 0--1800 CE), RSL rise ($\mathord{\sim}$0.7 to 1.1 mm/yr) was driven primarily by glacio-isostatic adjustment, though dampened by tectonic uplift along the Cape Fear Arch. Ocean/atmosphere dynamics caused centennial variability of up to $\mathord{\sim}$0.6 mm/yr around the long-term rate. It is extremely likely (probability $P = 0.95$) that 20th century RSL rise at Sand Point, NC, (2.8 $\pm$ 0.5 mm/yr) was faster than during any other century in at least 2,900 years. Projections based on a fusion of process models, statistical models, expert elicitation, and expert assessment indicate that RSL at Wilmington, NC, is very likely ($P = 0.90$) to rise by 42--132 cm between 2000 and 2100 under the high-emissions RCP 8.5 pathway. Under all emission pathways, 21st century RSL rise is very likely ($P > 0.90$) to be faster than during the 20th century. Due to RSL rise, under RCP 8.5, the current `1-in-100 year' flood is expected at Wilmington in $\mathord{\sim}$30 of the 50 years between 2050-2100.Comment: 13 main text pages, 4 figures, 4 supplemental pages. Published in Climatic Chang

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“…Second, it is hard to assess the recurrence of large passive margin earthquakes. Except in the Charleston area [ Talwani and Schaeffer , 2001], little paleoseismic data exist [ Wheeler , 2006]. As a result, one can only use regional frequency‐magnitude data.…”

Section: Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mineral, Virginia, earthquake illustrates seismicity of a passive‐aggressive margin

Wolin

Stein

Pazzaglia

et al. 2012

Geophysical Research Letters

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The August 2011 M 5.8 Mineral, Virginia, earthquake that shook much of the northeastern U.S. dramatically demonstrated that passive continental margins sometimes have large earthquakes. We illustrate some general aspects of such earthquakes and outline some of the many unresolved questions about them. They occur both offshore and onshore, reaching magnitude 7, and are thought to reflect reactivation of favorably‐oriented, generally margin‐parallel, faults created during one or more Wilson cycles by the modern stress field. They pose both tsunami and shaking hazards. However, their specific geologic setting and causes are unclear because large magnitude events occur infrequently, microseismicity is not well recorded, and there is little, if any, surface expression of repeated ruptures. Thus presently active seismic zones may be areas associated with higher seismicity over the long term, the present loci of activity that migrates, or aftershock zones of large prehistoric earthquakes. The stresses causing the earthquakes may result from platewide driving forces, glacial isostatic adjustment, localized margin stresses, and/or dynamic topography. The resulting uncertainties make developing cost‐effective mitigation strategies a major challenge. Progress on these issues requires integrating seismic, geodetic, and geological techniques.

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Quaternary tectonic faulting in the Eastern United States

Cited by 14 publications

References 49 publications

Late Quaternary climates and river channels of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, Southeastern USA

Late Quaternary climates and river channels of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, Southeastern USA

Past and future sea-level rise along the coast of North Carolina, USA

Mineral, Virginia, earthquake illustrates seismicity of a passive‐aggressive margin

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