Introducing the PhD themes of our young researchers - Lovro Rupar
High-resolution geophysical investigations for seismotectonic characterization of active fault structures with ground penetrating radar and electrical tomography
After earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering at the University of Ljubljana, Lovro Rupar is now working on his doctoral dissertation, which focuses on high-resolution geophysical and tectonic--geomorphological research, which he will apply to the regions of Slovenia and Croatia. These countries are located at the active convergent boundary between the Adriatic Microplate and the European Plate, featuring numerous active fault systems and moderate seismic activity. Therefore, the identification and characterization of active faults using geological and tectonic-geomorphological mapping methods is challenging. This is particularly due to the complex regional structural framework, numerous tectonic phases, low deformation rates, high rates of erosion and denudation, anthropogenic alterations to the drainage network, and slope mass movements, which can obscure the surface manifestation of a fault.
High-resolution geophysical and tectono-geomorphological surveys will be carried out on at least three major active faults characterised by poor seismotectonic parameterisation, different tectonic regimes, relatively low strain rates and very different composition and thickness of younger sediments at the surface. This represents a major challenge for the optimisation of survey design, field measurements and data processing for different geological and tectonic conditions, which will require new methodological solutions. The objective of the geophysical surveys is to identify possible deformation of Quaternary sediments shallow below the surface, to assess the complexity of the fault zone and its location in the basement, and to assess the potential for further palaeoseismological exploratory excavations.
The results of targeted research will provide an assessment of the applicability of individual geophysical methods in different tectonic and sedimentological settings. At the same time, they will provide an indication of the transferability of the geophysical methods used to other faults in similar geological settings. In addition, the integration of different high-resolution geophysical surveys will allow the identification and discrimination of the influence of deformation mechanisms on the sedimentation of Quaternary sediments. The identified seismotectonic parameters will contribute to the updating of the map of active faults in Slovenia. This is one of the key inputs for the new probabilistic seismic hazard calculation (PSHA) method, the estimation of the maximum possible earthquake magnitude and return period, and the estimation of the surface rupture probability.
The supervisor of the PhD thesis is doc. dr. Marjana Zajc.