The importance of site selection, sediment supply, and hydrodynamics: A case study of submarine paleoseismology on the northern Cascadia margin, Washington USA

In Cascadia, Sumatra and other locales globally, core siting, spatial sample density, high-resolution analysis of core and regional geophysics and understanding of flow dynamics are critical to capturing a paleoseismic record. Sedimentary records vary across turbidity current systems of varying sediment supply, physiography and sediment sources. Variations in the record will reflect these factors, yet may still present a consistent paleoseismic history. This analysis highlights the importance of a thorough understanding of flow paths, hydrodynamics and the interplay of sedimentation and local tectonics when testing for evidence of earthquakes in the sedimentary record of active margins.