More and more studies are showing that fault systems in areas of slow deformation, such as northern Europe, can also cause strong earthquakes, even if they have little or no seismicity. Old faults in particular, which were created in other stress systems millions of years ago, surprisedly cause earthquakes that occur relatively unexpectedly and can cause damage. The Aller fault zone is one of the longest old faults in northern Germany. However, there is still a lack of crucial information to better assess the active tectonics.

Near-surface analysis with shear-wave seismics and georadar

The project will analyse the near-surface fault structure of the Allertal fault system near Hämelhausen and Lehringen in Lower Saxony. To do this, we are using the shear-wave seismics and georadar developed at LIAG, which can be used to analyse structures with a particularly high resolution down to a depth of 200 metres. At the same time, we are investigating whether locally high sediment thicknesses are driven by fault activity which caused small fault-controlled basins to be formed.