Lacustrine sedimentary responses to earthquakes—soft-sediment deformation structures since late Pleistocene: A review of current understanding

The traces left by earthquakes in lacustrine sediments are studied to determine the occurrence of ancient earthquakes by identifying seismically induced soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS). Dating can help reconstruct the relative frequency of earthquakes. Identifying seismically induced seismites, which carry abundant seismic information from numerous SSDS, is both critical and challenging. Studying the deformation mechanism of SSDS and learning about the common criteria of seismically induced SSDS improve the identification of earthquake triggers. With better research into SSDS, seismic events can be effectively captured, and temporal constraints can be carried out by 14C dating and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating to identify and date the occurrence of ancient earthquakes. The present contribution primarily addresses the meaning and mechanism of SSDS and their relationship with earthquake magnitude as well as the common criteria of the SSDS induced by earthquakes.