paleoseismologi

Paleoseismology, sometimes rendered as paleoseismologi in some languages, is the scientific study of past earthquakes through geological records and landforms created or disturbed by fault movement. By examining trench exposures across faults, fault scarps, tilt and sedimentary layering, researchers reconstruct the timing, size, and behavior of ancient earthquakes and extend seismic histories beyond instrumental records.

The methods typically involve excavating trenches across faults to reveal disrupted and undisturbed strata, mapping surface ruptures, and interpreting stratigraphy and soil development. Dating approaches such as radiocarbon dating, luminescence dating (OSL), tephrochronology, and dendrochronology constrain the ages of individual seismic events. Correlating earthquake-induced layers, slip distributions, and liquefaction features helps identify distinct paleoearthquake events and estimate slip per event.

Results yield a chronology of earthquakes for fault segments, estimates of average slip per event, rupture extent, and, when possible, magnitude. These data inform models of fault segmentation and recurrence intervals, which are used in seismic hazard assessments and to improve risk analyses. Paleoseismic information is integrated with instrumental records and historical accounts to refine hazard maps and infrastructure design.

Limitations include preservation bias, erosion, sedimentation rates, and dating uncertainties, along with challenges in correlating events across gaps or between adjacent faults. As a result, paleoseismology provides a crucial complementary perspective to seismology and geology, helping quantify long-term fault behavior and support risk reduction strategies.