Seismic control of large prehistoric rockslides in the Eastern Alps

Patrick Oswald (), Michael Strasser, Christa Hammerl and Jasper Moernaut
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Patrick Oswald: University of Innsbruck, Department of Geology
Michael Strasser: University of Innsbruck, Department of Geology
Christa Hammerl: Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics
Jasper Moernaut: University of Innsbruck, Department of Geology

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Large prehistoric rockslides tend to occur within spatio-temporal clusters suggesting a common trigger such as earthquake shaking or enhanced wet periods. Yet, trigger assessment remains equivocal due to the lack of conclusive observational evidence. Here, we use high-resolution lacustrine paleoseismology to evaluate the relation between past seismicity and a spatio-temporal cluster of large prehistoric rockslides in the Eastern Alps. Temporal and spatial coincidence of paleoseismic evidence with multiple rockslides at ~4.1 and ~3.0 ka BP reveals that severe earthquakes (local magnitude ML 5.5–6.5; epicentral intensity I0 VIII¼–X¾) have triggered these rockslides. A series of preceding severe earthquakes is likely to have progressively weakened these rock slopes towards critical state. These findings elucidate the role of seismicity in preparing and triggering large prehistoric rockslides in the European Alps, where rockslides and earthquakes typically occur in clusters. Such integration of multiple datasets in other formerly glaciated regions with low to moderate seismicity will improve our understanding of catastrophic rockslide drivers.

Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-21327-9

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21327-9

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