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Quantitative study of tectonic geomorphology along Haiyuan fault based on airborne LiDAR

  • Article
  • Geology
  • Published:
Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

High-precision and high-resolution topography are the fundamental data for active fault research. Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) presents a new approach to build detailed digital elevation models effectively. We take the Haiyuan fault in Gansu Province as an example of how LiDAR data may be used to improve the study of active faults and the risk assessment of related hazards. In the eastern segment of the Haiyuan fault, the Shaomayin site has been comprehensively investigated in previous research because of its exemplary tectonic topographic features. Based on unprecedented LiDAR data, the horizontal and vertical coseismic offsets at the Shaomayin site are described. The measured horizontal value is about 8.6 m, and the vertical value is about 0.8 m. Using prior dating ages sampled from the same location, we estimate the horizontal slip rate as 4.0 ± 1.0 mm/a with high confidence and define that the lower bound of the vertical slip rate is 0.4 ± 0.1 mm/a since the Holocene. LiDAR data can repeat the measurements of field work on quantifying offsets of tectonic landform features quite well. The offset landforms are visualized on an office computer workstation easily, and specialized software may be used to obtain displacement quantitatively. By combining precious chronological results, the fundamental link between fault activity and large earthquakes is better recognized, as well as the potential risk for future earthquake hazards.

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Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Dr. Chai Chizhang, Dr. Lei Qiyun, and Dr. Du Peng for their help in the field campaigns. We thank the anonymous reviewers for their critical comments and valuable suggestions. This work was funded by the Fundamental Research Funds in the Institute of Geology (IGCEA1125), the Public Service Funds for Earthquake Studies (201308012), the National Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (41225010), and the Foundation of Returned Overseas Scholars of China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamics, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing, 100029, China

    Tao Chen, Pei Zhen Zhang, Jing Liu, Chuan You Li & Zhi Kun Ren

  2. National Earthquake Infrastructure Service, Beijing, 100036, China

    Tao Chen

  3. United States Geological Survey, Pasadena, CA, 91106, USA

    Kenneth W. Hudnut

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  1. Tao Chen
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  2. Pei Zhen Zhang
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  3. Jing Liu
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Correspondence to Pei Zhen Zhang.

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Chen, T., Zhang, P.Z., Liu, J. et al. Quantitative study of tectonic geomorphology along Haiyuan fault based on airborne LiDAR. Chin. Sci. Bull. 59, 2396–2409 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-014-0199-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-014-0199-4

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