Active fault investigations in the Western Peloponnese and Eastern Crete, Greece

A study of active faults in Greece reveals that the northern Lapithas fault, near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Olympia, could generate earthquakes with magnitudes up to 6.9 if both its onshore and offshore segments rupture simultaneously. The southern Lapithas fault is estimated to have a maximum potential magnitude of 5.8. Historical records suggest that damage at Ancient Olympia in AD 522 or AD 551 was not caused by earthquakes, contrary to previous reports. Additionally, the Lastros-Sfaka Graben in eastern Crete shows evidence of seismic activity with a recurrence interval of approximately 499 ± 100 years for magnitude 6.42 earthquakes. The study used fault mapping, t-LiDAR, GPR, and palaeoseismological techniques to determine fault lengths, slip rates, and earthquake potential.

Mason, J. (2016). Active fault investigations in the Western Peloponnese and Eastern Crete, Greece [RWTH Aachen University]. In RWTH Aachen University: Vol. Diss. (pp. 2016; 221 p.(2016).). https://doi.org/10.18154/RWTH-2017-01871