Free Access

Can deglaciation trigger earthquakes in N. America?

Patrick Wu

Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Search for more papers by this author
Paul Johnston

Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 01 May 2000
Cited by: 45

Abstract

A spherical, self‐gravitating viscoelastic earth model is used to calculate the spatial and temporal evolution of the glacially induced lithospheric stress and fault stability in North America. The predicted onset time of a pulse of earthquake activities, the mode of failure and the magnitude of instability are investigated for three sites with different distance from the former ice margin. It is found that glacial unloading is able to trigger paleo‐earthquakes within the ice margin near Charlevoix (47.5°N, 70.1°W) and in Wabash Valley (38.5°N, 87°W) outside the ice margin. However, rebound stress decays away from the former ice margin, thus glacial unloading is unlikely to have triggered the large M8 earthquakes in New Madrid (36.6°N, 89.5°W).

Number of times cited: 45

  • , Structural Inheritance Control on Intraplate Present‐Day Deformation: GPS Strain Rate Variations in the Saint Lawrence Valley, Eastern Canada, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 123, 8, (7004-7020), (2018).
  • , Control of tectonic inheritance on continental intraplate strain rate and seismicity, Tectonophysics, 10.1016/j.tecto.2017.12.014, (2017).
  • , Variation in slip rates on active faults: Natural growth or stress transients?, Geology, 45, 3, (287), (2017).
  • , Mid-continental earthquakes: Spatiotemporal occurrences, causes, and hazards, Earth-Science Reviews, 10.1016/j.earscirev.2016.09.016, 162, (364-386), (2016).
  • , The emergence of seismic cycles from stress feedback between intra-plate faulting and far-field tectonic loading, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 10.1016/j.epsl.2016.05.002, 447, (112-118), (2016).
  • , Evidence for the release of long‐term tectonic strain stored in continental interiors through intraplate earthquakes, Geophysical Research Letters, 43, 13, (6826-6836), (2016).
  • , Comment on “Stress and fault parameters affecting fault slip magnitude and activation time during a glacial cycle” by Steffen et al., Tectonics, 34, 6, (1348-1353), (2015).
  • , Ice melting and earthquake suppression in Greenland, Polar Science, 10.1016/j.polar.2014.09.004, 9, 1, (94-106), (2015).
  • , Dynamic Triggering, Treatise on Geophysics, 10.1016/B978-0-444-53802-4.00078-6, (273-304), (2015).
  • , A comparison of strain rates and seismicity for Fennoscandia: depth dependency of deformation from glacial isostatic adjustment, Geophysical Journal International, 10.1093/gji/ggv207, 202, 2, (1021-1028), (2015).
  • , Spectral coherence between climate oscillations and the M ≥ 7 earthquake historical worldwide record, Natural Hazards, 10.1007/s11069-014-1571-z, 76, 3, (1807-1829), (2015).
  • , Strain accumulation in the New Madrid and Wabash Valley seismic zones from 14 years of continuous GPS observation, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 119, 12, (9110-9129), (2014).
  • , Sedimentological evidence of Pleistocene earthquakes in NW Poland induced by glacio-isostatic rebound, Sedimentary Geology, 300, (1), (2014).
  • , Crust and upper mantle structure of the New Madrid Seismic Zone: Insight into intraplate earthquakes, Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 10.1016/j.pepi.2014.01.016, 230, (1-14), (2014).
  • , Sea-level–induced seismicity and submarine landslide occurrence, Geology, 41, 9, (979), (2013).
  • , Rapid Ice Mass Loss: Does It Have an Influence on Earthquake Occurrence in Southern Alaska?, Active Tectonics and Seismic Potential of Alaska, (369-384), (2013).
  • , Mineral, Virginia, earthquake illustrates seismicity of a passive‐aggressive margin, Geophysical Research Letters, 39, 2, (2012).
  • , Hazardous Responses of the Solid Earth to a Changing Climate, Climate Forcing of Geological Hazards, (1-33), (2012).
  • , Intraplate earthquakes, regional stress and fault mechanics in the Central and Eastern U.S. and Southeastern Canada, Tectonophysics, 10.1016/j.tecto.2012.04.002, 581, (182-192), (2012).
  • , Is Isostatic Rebound in Slow Spreading Gakkel Ridge of Arctic Region Due to the Climate Change? A Case Study, International Journal of Geosciences, 10.4236/ijg.2012.32037, 03, 02, (339-348), (2012).
  • , Activity along the Osning Thrust in Central Europe during the Lateglacial: ice-sheet and lithosphere interactions, Quaternary Science Reviews, 10.1016/j.quascirev.2012.01.021, 38, (49-62), (2012).
  • , Projected Future Climate Changes in the Context of Geological and Geomorphological Hazards, Climate Forcing of Geological Hazards, (34-55), (2012).
  • , Paraglacial rock-slope stability, Geomorphology, 153-154, (1), (2012).
  • , Toward a consistent model for strain accrual and release for the New Madrid Seismic Zone, central United States, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 116, B3, (2011).
  • , Glacial isostatic adjustment in Fennoscandia—A review of data and modeling, Journal of Geodynamics, 10.1016/j.jog.2011.03.002, 52, 3-4, (169-204), (2011).
  • , Upper mantle dynamics and quaternary climate in cratonic areas (DynaQlim)—Understanding the glacial isostatic adjustment, Journal of Geodynamics, 10.1016/j.jog.2010.01.014, 50, 1, (2-7), (2010).
  • , Triggering of New Madrid seismicity by late-Pleistocene erosion, Nature, 10.1038/nature09258, 466, 7306, (608-611), (2010).
  • , Potential for a hazardous geospheric response to projected future climate changes, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 10.1098/rsta.2010.0080, 368, 1919, (2317-2345), (2010).
  • , Projected future climate changes in the context of geological and geomorphological hazards, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 10.1098/rsta.2010.0072, 368, 1919, (2347-2367), (2010).
  • , Structure and age of volcanic fissures on Mount Morning: A new constraint on Neogene to contemporary stress in the West Antarctic Rift, southern Victoria Land, Antarctica, GSA Bulletin, 10.1130/B26333.1, 121, 7-8, (1071-1088), (2009).
  • , Lithosphere Stress and Deformation, Treatise on Geophysics, 10.1016/B978-044452748-6.00105-X, (253-273), (2007).
  • , Neoproterozoic glaciomarine and cap dolostone facies of the southwestern Taoudéni Basin (Walidiala Valley, Senegal/Guinea, NW Africa), Comptes Rendus Geoscience, 339, 3-4, (186), (2007).
  • , Approaches to continental intraplate earthquake issues, Special Paper 425: Continental Intraplate Earthquakes: Science, Hazard, and Policy Issues, 10.1130/2007.2425(01), (1-16), (2007).
  • , Effects of a lithospheric weak zone on postglacial seismotectonics in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, Special Paper 425: Continental Intraplate Earthquakes: Science, Hazard, and Policy Issues, 10.1130/2007.2425(09), (113-128), (2007).
  • , Stress evolution and seismicity in the central-eastern United States: Insights from geodynamic modeling, Special Paper 425: Continental Intraplate Earthquakes: Science, Hazard, and Policy Issues, 10.1130/2007.2425(11), (149-166), (2007).
  • , Observation of glacial isostatic adjustment in “stable” North America with GPS, Geophysical Research Letters, 34, 2, (2007).
  • , Response of normal faults to glacial‐interglacial fluctuations of ice and water masses on Earth's surface, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 111, B6, (2006).
  • , Deformation of the North American plate interior from a decade of continuous GPS measurements, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 111, B6, (2006).
  • , LONG-TERM RATES OF FAULTING DERIVED FROM COSMOGENIC NUCLIDES AND SHORT-TERM VARIATIONS CAUSED BY GLACIAL-INTERGLACIAL VOLUME CHANGES OF GLACIERS AND LAKES, International Journal of Modern Physics B, 10.1142/S0217979206033255, 20, 03, (261-276), (2006).
  • , Rates and uncertainties on seismic moment and deformation in eastern Canada, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 110, B9, (2005).
  • , Lateral viscosity variations beneath Antarctica and their implications on regional rebound motions and seismotectonics, Journal of Geodynamics, 10.1016/j.jog.2004.08.009, 39, 2, (165-181), (2005).
  • , Soft-sediment deformation at the base of the Neoproterozoic Puga cap carbonate (southwestern Amazon craton, Brazil): Confirmation of rapid icehouse to greenhouse transition in snowball Earth, Geology, 31, 7, (613), (2003).
  • , Glacial isostatic stress shadowing by the Antarctic ice sheet, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 108, B12, (2003).
  • , Steady-State Failure Equilibrium and Deformation of Intraplate Lithosphere, International Geology Review, 10.2747/0020-6814.44.5.383, 44, 5, (383-401), (2002).
  • , Did deglaciation trigger intraplate seismicity in the New Madrid seismic zone?, Geology, 10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0175:DDTISI>2.0.CO;2, 29, 2, (175), (2001).