Earthquake-Induced Liquefaction in the New Madrid Seismic Zone

Shallow subsurface geophysical techniques can be used to locate buried earthquake-induced liquefaction features and to target optimal areas for paleoseismic excavations.  This work has involved close collaboration with paleoseismic researchers (M. Tuttle of Tuttle & Associates, and E. Schweig of USGS-CERI), other geophysicists (P. Bodin, Univ of Memphis/CERI, and J. Gomberg, USGS), and archaeologists (R. Lafferty, Mid-Continent Research Assoc., M. Haynes, AR). 

Wolf, L. W., M. P. Tuttle, and S. Park, Geophysical surveys of earthquake-induced liquefaction deposits in the New Madrid seismic zone, Geophysics, in press.

Wolf, L.W., Lee, M.-K., Browning, S., and Tuttle, M., 2005, Numerical analysis of overpressure development in the New Madrid seismic zone, Bulletin of Seismological Society of America, 95, 135-144.

Wolf, L. W., Park, S., Browning, S., and Tuttle, M., 2004, Locating earthquake-induced liquefaction deposits at Native American cultural sites using non-invasive geophysical surveys, in Proceedings of the Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Environmental and Engineering Problems, Environmental and Engineering Geophysics Society, Colorado Springs.

Tuttle, M. P., Schweig, E. S., Sims, J. D., Lafferty, R. H., Wolf, L. W., and Haynes, M. L., 2002, The earthquake potential of the New Madrid seismic zone, Bulletin of Seismological Society of America, 92, 2080-2089.

Tuttle, M. P., J. Collier, L. W. Wolf, and R. H. Lafferty, 1999, New evidence for a large earthquake in the New Madrid seismic zone between A.D. 1400 and 1670, Geology, v. 27, p. 7771-7774.

Barnes, A., M. Tuttle, L. Wolf, R. Lafferty, W. Hoyt, E. Schweig, 1999, Evidence for two prehistoric earthquakes in the New Madrid seismic zone,  Seismological Society of America Eastern Section Abstracts, October 1999, University of Memphis, TN, p. 34.

Wolf, L., J. Collier, P. Bodin, and M. Tuttle, 1998, Geophysical reconnaissance of earthquake-induced liquefaction features in the New Madrid seismic zone, Journal of Applied Geophysics, v. 39, p. 121-129.

Student April Barnes (left) conducts resistivity survey in New Madrid Seismic Zone to pinpoint locations of buried earthquake-induced liquefaction features. Forested area in background is a Native American Indian mound. Artifacts and cultural features were used to determine the age of a prehistoric earthquake that caused liquefaction at the site.

Biogeophysics

These projects focus on groundwater bioremediation and on mapping chemical zones where anaerobic bacteria are involved in the remediation process.

Saunders, J.A., Lee, M.-K., Wolf, L.W., Morton, C., Feng, Y., Thomsin, I., and Park S., 2005, Geochemical, microbiological, and geophysical assessments of anaerobic immobilization of heavy metals, Bioremediation Journal, 9, 33-48.

Park, S., Wolf, L. W., Lee, M.-K., and Saunders, J. A., 2004, Self-potential and geochemical measurements of microbially mediated sulfate reduction in saturated sediments, EOS Transactions, American Geophysical Union, v. 85, Fall meeting Suppl.

Lee, M.-K., Saunders, J.A., Wolf, L.W., Park, S., and Hansom, J., 2003, Modeling of a field experiment on bioremediation of metals-contaminated groundwater,  Proceeding MODFLOW and More 2003, v. 2, p. 794-798, Sept. 16-19, Colorado School of Mines.

Saunders, J. A.,  R. C. Thomas, M-K. Lee, and L. W. Wolf, 1997, Geologic evidence for the utility of sulfate-reducing bacteria for in situ anaerobic bioremediation of heavy metal contaminated groundwater,  in Proceedings of the 4th International On Site and In Situ Bioremediation Symposium, New Orleans, LA, v. 3, p. 379-384.

Lee, M-K., J. A. Saunders, and L. W. Wolf, 1997, Stochastic analysis of in situ bioremediation within heterogeneous porous medium, in Proceedings of the 4th International On Site and In Situ Bioremediation Symposium, New Orleans, LA, v. 3, p. 583-588.

Floesser, J. A., L. W. Wolf, and J. A. Saunders, 1997, Use of GIS to map groundwater chemical evolution of Coastal Plain aquifers in southeast Alabama, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 29, p. 16-17.
 
 

Hydrogeophysics

This research examines the occurrence of small to moderate earthquakes and its possible relationship to changes in pore fluid pressures.

Wolf, L. W., Lee, M.-K., Browning, S., and Tuttle, M., 2005, Numerical analysis of overpressure development in the New Madrid seismic zone, Bulletin of Seismological Society of America, 95, 135-144.

Gomberg, J., and L. Wolf, 1999, A possible cause for an improbable earthquake: The 1997 Mw 4.9 southern Alabama earthquake and hydrocarbon recovery, Geology, v. 27, p. 367-370.

Lee, M-K., and L. W. Wolf, 1998, Analysis of fluid pressure propagation in heterogeneous rocks: Implications for hydrologically-induced earthquakes, Geophysical Research Letters, v. 25, p. 2329-2332.

Wolf, L. W., C. A. Rowe, and R. B. Horner, 1997, Periodic seismicity near Mt. Ogden on the Alaska-British Columbia border: A case for hydrologically-triggered earthquakes? Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, v. 87, p. 1473-1483.

Wolf, L. W., and J. N. Davies, 1986, Glacier-generated earthquakes from Prince William Sound, Alaska, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, v. 76, p. 367-379.

Crustal Structure and Controlled-Source Seismology 

Wolf, L. W., R. C. McCaleb, D. B. Stone, T. M. Brocher, K. Fujita, S. Klemperer, 2002, Crustal Structure across the Bering Strait, Alaska:  onshore recordings of a marine seismic survey, In: Tectonic evolution of the Bering Shelf-Chukchi Sea-Arctic Margin and adjacent landmasses, eds. E. L. Miller, A. Grantz and S. L. Klemperer, Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Paper 360, p. 25-37.

Brocher, T.M., R.M. Allen, D.B. Stone, L.W. Wolf, B.K. Galloway, 1996, Data report for onshore-offshore wide-angle seismic recordings in the Bering-Chukchi sea, western Alaska and eastern Siberia, U.S. Geol. Sury. Open File Rep 95-650, 57 pp.

McCaleb, R. C., F. Fujita, L. W. Wolf, and D. B. Stone, 1998, Crustal models of the Hope Basin, Chukchi Sea, Alaska, from gravity data, EOS Transactions American Geophysical Union, v.79, p. F 808.

Geophysical Mapping of Chemical Pollutants at the Tuskegee Sanitary Landfill

Work at old landfill sites often occurs after contamination has significantly advanced.  In these cases, the focus of work is on remediation and clean-up.  At the Tuskegee site, we sought to derive basic information on the hydrologic and geologic properties of the site before contamination had significantly advanced.  The work provides baseline information for future monitoring at no expense to the municipality.  In addition, the study provided practical training in the use of geophysical and hydrological methods for students enrolled in Auburn's geophysics and hydrogeology classes. The project was conceived by Auburn graduate student Todd Grant.

Grant, T. J., L. W. Wolf, and M-K Lee, 1999, Field investigation of a closed sanitary landfill in Tuskegee, Alabama, EOS Transactions American Geophysical Union, v. 80, p. F 213.

Grant, T. J., 1998, Detection of contamination at a closed sanitary landfill using geophysical and hydrogeochemical methods, M.S. Thesis, Auburn University, Alabama, 87 p.

Student Todd Grant conducting a resistivity survey
at the Tuskegee sanitary landfill

 

Wetumpka Impact Crater Studies

In 1976, T. Neathery published a paper suggesting that an unusual feature found in Wetumpka, Alabama, was actually an impact crater.  In 1994, we conducted a gravity survey over the feature and discovered that the data obtained were similar to that observed at other craters in the world.  Recent work by Prof. D. T. King, Jr., and others has added strong support for Neathery's original interpretation.

King, D. T., Jr., T. L. Neathery, L. W. Petruny, C. Koeberl, W. E. Hames, and L. W. Wolf, 1999, Evidence of meteoritic impact and crater-filling stratigraphy, Wetumpka Crater, Alabama, International Geological Congress Abstracts, Rio de Janiero, Aug 1999.

King, D. T., Jr., T. L. Neathery, L. W. Petruny, C. Koeberl, W. E. Hames, and L. W. Wolf, 1999, Evidence of meteoritic impact, crater-filling stratigraphy and collateral effects of impact at Wetumpka Crater, Alabama, GSA Abstracts with Programs, v. 31, #50205.

Wolf, L. W., M. G. Steltenpohl, and J. Plescia, 1997, Geophysical investigation of a "suspect" impact crater in Wetumpka, Alabama, 1997, in Neathery, T. L., D. T. King, Jr., and L. W. Wolf, The Wetumpka Impact Structure and Related Features, Southeastern Section of the Geological Society of America Field Trip Guidebook, p. 57-68.

For more information on the Wetumpka project see:  http://www.auburn.edu/academics/science_math/geology