f 3D Ground penetrating radar applied to paleoseismology: Examples from the San Andreas fault, California, USA

One goal of paleoseismology is to estimate future seismic hazard through an improved characterization of past fault behaviour in seismically active environments. Earthquake-related features (e.g. faults, folds and fissure fills) observed in trenches and outcrops show complex three-dimensional structures in strike-slip faulting environments. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a non-destructive, inexpensive technique that may allow localized paleoseismic information obtained from conventional approaches to be complemented and extrapolated. We have carried out detailed 2D and 3D GPR surveys across the active San Andreas Fault (SAF) at the Pitman Canyon and Alder Creek trench sites in California.