Palaeoseismological investigations of the Aigion Fault (Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

Abstract

We performed palaeoseismological investigations along the Aigion Fault, one of the main faults that bound the southern side of the Corinth Gulf. The mapped trace of the Aigion Fault onland is about 8 km long and may extend as much as 14 km if one includes its offshore trace. We made detailed studies at two sites adjacent to the Meganitas River. Although dating of faulted sediments was a bit problematic, we present a preliminary estimate of the faults short-term slip rate and recurrence interval. Slip rates range from 1.6 to 4.3 mmyr−1, with a maximum up to 6.3 mmyr−1. Three surface faulting events occurred in the seven centuries prior to 1888 AD, yielding an average (maximum) recurrence interval of 360 yr.