Earth surface response to Quaternary faulting and shallow crustal structure in the eastern Adria-Alpine collision zone and the Friulian plain

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The eastern Southern Alps-Dinarides region of the Alps is subjected to the strongest crustal motion in the entire Alps and thus allows to directly explore the response of Earth's surface to tectonic activity. In a consortium of geologists, geophysicists, and geochemists we will investigate the geometry of major active faults, their sense of motion, and how they drive erosion using a set of interdisciplinary tools: a) new high-resolution digital elevation models from airborne LiDAR surveys, stereo satellite data, and low-cost local surveys with drones; b) seismic tomography data (mainly based on SWATH C) and near-surface geophysical surveys to image surface traces and the sub-surface structure of active faults; c) 3D imaging techniques to investigate earthquake site effects; d) dating of the recent deformation in outcrops and palaeoseismological trenches to determine long-term slip rates, earthquake recurrence intervals, and palaeo-magnitudes; e) quantification of the erosional response to active faulting using catchment-wide erosion rates from in situ cosmogenic 10Be in river sediment. This study shall bridge the gaps between the distribution of seismicity (recorded with the seismograph array in the 4D-MB project), the surficial manifestation of Quaternary faulting, and erosion as driven by active tectonics. The research is linked to research theme 4 (motion patterns and seismicity) and theme 2 (surface response) of the SPP 4D-MB. This study will provide important insight towards analysing seismic risk and hazard in this densely populated area.