Active Tectonics: Earthquakes, Uplift, and Landscape

Edward A. Keller, Nicholas Pinter

Prentice Hall, 2002 - Science - 362 pages

Active Tectonics is a carefully organized, easily understandable book. Extremely current throughout, this book thoroughly explores the effects of earthquakes and active tectonic systems on humans, geomorphic systems, and Earth's topography. Complete with numerous case studies in a variety of regions, the very latest advances in the field, separate quantitative techniques boxed sections, and a host of pedagogical aids. This comprehensive book focuses on new advances in the technology and new applications to geology and tectonics. Increased material on Quaternary chronology, including lichen chronology and micro stratigraphy of desert varnish. New studies, including research in the Olympic Mountains, Nepal, Australia, Taiwan, the Himalaya, and the New Madrid seismic zone of the central United States. New techniques such as cosmogenic surface-exposure dating, argon and helium geobarometry and geothermometry, regional hyposometric analysis using digital elevation models, geodetic positioning, and coupled geodynamical computer simulations of topographic evolution are covered. Covers a number of regions with case studies including: Alaska; Pacific Northwest; California; The basin and range; Midwest; and East Coast. Ideal for beginning readers in active tectonics, geomorphology and natural hazards. This book may also be of interest to city planners, seismic engineers, and other non-geologists.

Contents

• Emphasizing Earthquakes: 2
• Active Tectonics: 3
• Magnitude and Intensity of Earthquakes: 11
• Seismic Waves: 19
• Estimation of Seismic Risk: 27
• Effects of Earthquakes: 33
• The Earthquake Cycle: 39
• Summary: 46
• Landforms Tectonic Geomorphology and Quaternary Chronology: 49
• Geodesy: 87
• Geomorphic Indices of Active Tectonics: 122
• Drainage Basin Asymmetry: 123
• MountainFront Sinuosity Smi: 134
• Relic Mountain Fronts: 149
• INTRODUCTION: 155
• Active Tectonics and Rivers: 157
• Active Tectonics and Coastlines: 191
• Coseismic Deformation: 198
• Coastal Geomorphology and Sea Level: 206
• Deformation of Coastal Terraces: 212
• Summary: 218
• FoldandThrust Belts: 227
• Paleoseismology and Earthquake Prediction: 267
• Mountain Building: 313
• Appendix A: 347
• Index: 359

Bibliographic information

• Title: Active Tectonics: Earthquakes, Uplift, and Landscape; Books in the Prentice Hall earth science series; Series in International Business and Economics
• Authors: Edward A. Keller, Nicholas Pinter
• Edition: 2
• Publisher: Prentice Hall, 2002
• Original from: the University of California
• Digitized: Jun 15, 2009
• ISBN: 0130882305, 9780130882301
• Length: 362 pages
• Subjects: Science / Earth Sciences / Geology