Holocene fault scarps near Tacoma, Washington, USA

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 2004 Holocene fault scarps near Tacoma, Washington, USA Brian L. Sherrod; Brian L. Sherrod 1U.S. Geological Survey, Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Box 351310, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Thomas M. Brocher; Thomas M. Brocher 2U.S. Geological Survey, MS 977, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Craig S. Weaver; Craig S. Weaver 3U.S. Geological Survey, Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Box 351310, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Robert C. Bucknam; Robert C. Bucknam 4U.S. Geological Survey, MS 966, Denver Federal Center, Lakewood, Colorado 80225, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Richard J. Blakely; Richard J. Blakely 5U.S. Geological Survey, MS 989, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Harvey M. Kelsey; Harvey M. Kelsey 6Department of Geology, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California 95521, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Alan R. Nelson; Alan R. Nelson 7U.S. Geological Survey, MS 966, Denver Federal Center, Lakewood, Colorado 80225, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ralph Haugerud Ralph Haugerud 8U.S. Geological Survey, Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Box 351310, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2004) 32 (1): 9–12. https://doi.org/10.1130/G19914.1 Article history received: 17 Jun 2003 rev-recd: 20 Sep 2003 accepted: 23 Sep 2003 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Brian L. Sherrod, Thomas M. Brocher, Craig S. Weaver, Robert C. Bucknam, Richard J. Blakely, Harvey M. Kelsey, Alan R. Nelson, Ralph Haugerud; Holocene fault scarps near Tacoma, Washington, USA. Geology 2004;; 32 (1): 9–12. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G19914.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Airborne laser mapping confirms that Holocene active faults traverse the Puget Sound metropolitan area, northwestern continental United States. The mapping, which detects forest-floor relief of as little as 15 cm, reveals scarps along geophysical lineaments that separate areas of Holocene uplift and subsidence. Along one such line of scarps, we found that a fault warped the ground surface between A.D. 770 and 1160. This reverse fault, which projects through Tacoma, Washington, bounds the southern and western sides of the Seattle uplift. The northern flank of the Seattle uplift is bounded by a reverse fault beneath Seattle that broke in A.D. 900–930. Observations of tectonic scarps along the Tacoma fault demonstrate that active faulting with associated surface rupture and ground motions pose a significant hazard in the Puget Sound region. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.