Fault-scarp degradation modeling in central Greece: The Kaparelli and Eliki faults (Gulf of Corinth) as a case study

Morphologic analysis of fault-scarps of known age, combined with data from palaeoseismological trenches, is used to determine the mass diffusivity (c) for central Greece. Seventeen scarp profiles were accurately measured, in areas ruptured during two strong seismic events: the Eliki and Kaparelli areas within the Gulf of Corinth. Application of the linear diffusion model to our data showed that the diffusion coefficient c decreases with time from a mean value of 6.99 ± 2.03 m2/ka in fault-scarps formed 23 years ago (Kaparelli fault) to 1.167 ± 1.038 m2/ka in scarps formed 145 years ago (Eliki area), consistent with an exponential decay equation. The relatively high values of c indicate a young fault-scarp, representing the initial stages of the degradation process. Mass diffusivity values display irregularities and increase locally in composite fault-scarps (from 0.2 to 2.45 m2/ka). The mass diffusivity coefficient in a specific area appears to retain a memory of the geometric features of the most recent events. In the case of multiple-event fault-scarps, the mass diffusivity constant c yields lower values for a long-term estimate than that of the most recent event taken individually. We conclude that morphotectonic analysis of fault-scarps integrated with palaeoseismic reconstructions can be a valuable method for age determination of active structures and the estimation of potential hazards in tectonically active areas.