Active faults explored by shallow seismic reflection surveys: A decade perspective and future research directions

Abstract

Shallow seismic reflection profiling across active faults reveals details of their subsurface structures. Especially in case of active thrusts, integration of multi-disciplinary dataset including seismic reflection data coupled with tectonic geomorphology and structural geology may be used to define coseismic behavior and kinematic evolution of active fold and thrust belts. Future research fields of active faults shed light by exploration geophysics may include (1) three dimensional structural models of active faults, (2) subsurface structures of segment boundaries between en-echelon active faults that may reveal their coseismic behavior, and (3) development of high-resolution seismic exploration to resolve upper Pleistocene to Holocene sediments, and deep seismic reflection and refraction experiments. Integration of these multi-scale sections across active faults may define their otherwise inaccessible structural and kinematic evolution at millennial timescales.