Klaus R. Reicherter- Univ.-Prof. Dr. rer. nat.
- Professor at RWTH Aachen University
Klaus R. Reicherter
- Univ.-Prof. Dr. rer. nat.
- Professor at RWTH Aachen University
Bluesky: activefaults, left X for reasons
About
449
Publications
213,582
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Introduction
Dear visitors,
welcome!
I am an Earthquake Geologist, and work also on tsunami deposits as well as on multi-hazards in the geological record.
for more and my actual CV please send mail.
Or follow me on Bluesky: @activefaults
Current institution
Additional affiliations
February 2010 - February 2023
Position
- Professor (Full)
Description
- Teaching at GUTech and research in Oman
November 2013 - November 2013
Position
- Professor (Full)
Description
- Erasmus Staff Mobility Programm of RWTH Aachen University, teaching MSc students in Natural Hazards
October 2004 - April 2005
Position
- substitution of professor
Description
- teaching Structural Geology, geologic mapping and excursion to Southern Spain
Publications
Publications (449)
Playa-lakes are highly sensitive to hydroclimate changes, which are often reflected in their sediments. In this study, we investigate the paleohydrological evolution of the Fuente de Piedra playa-lake (southern Spain), in connection to climate fluctuations during the Late Pleistocene-Holocene transition. Stable isotopes (δ18O and
δ2H) of gypsum hyd...
This study presents an integrated approach to seismic microzonation in urban environments, emphasizing the importance of dynamic numerical modeling in enhancing earthquake hazard assessments. Our goal was to deepen the understanding of seismic wave behavior in the soils of the city of Dushanbe by combining extensive geological, geophysical, and eng...
Numerical modeling approach to support the future Seismic Microzonation of Dushanbe, Tajikistan
This study presents an integrated approach to seismic microzonation in urban environments, emphasizing the importance of dynamic numerical modeling in enhancing earthquake hazard assessments. Our goal was to deepen the understanding of seismic wave behavior in the soils of the city of Dushanbe by combining extensive geological, geophysical, and eng...
This study presents an integrated approach to seismic microzonation in urban environments, emphasizing the importance of dynamic numerical modeling in enhancing earthquake hazard assessments. Our goal was to deepen the understanding of seismic wave behavior in the soils of the city of Dushanbe by combining extensive geological, geophysical, and eng...
Projections based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scenarios predict a clear rise of the sea level in the near future, together with a decrease in frequency and magnitude of fluvial floods, which are one of the main sources of sediments for some coasts, as response to a decrease in rainfall.
We present a fluvial flood series for the...
Large-scale historical volcanic eruptions caused significant destruction in the Mediterranean region (e.g., Thera/Santorini explosion circa 1600 BCE). The South Aegean Volcanic Arc remains active, and in addition to primary volcanic hazards such as ashfall and lava flows, active submarine and coastal volcanoes have the potential to trigger tsunamis...
Our study focuses on the southern segment of the Rhine River Fault, located in one of the most seismically active regions in intraplate Europe, at the southern end of the Upper Rhine Graben and forming part of the eastern Rhine Graben Boundary Fault. It stands out due to its impressive geomorphological expression in the landscape near the village o...
In the years 2021 and 2022, new research work has been carried out at the Phoenician site of Cerro del Villar (Malaga, Spain), with a large research team led by the University of Malaga. Geoarchaeological
studies have been carried out that have allowed us to review the nature of the catastrophic events that occurred in the settlement throughout the...
Active deformation and landscape evolution in North Chilean forearc involve multiscale tectonic processes, such as crustal thickening causing orogenic‐scale uplift and faulting modulating the mountain‐front landscape. In the Central Depression, faults redirecting Quaternary drainages are poorly understood due to their subtle surface expressions and...
![The configuration of energy supply in Kazakhstan (Data:[⁵]).](publication/386380738/figure/fig2/AS:11431281308393195@1738903745113/The-configuration-of-energy-supply-in-Kazakhstan-Data_Q320.jpg)
Extreme temperature events such as heatwaves are becoming increasingly severe and frequent because of climate change, posing significant challenges to public health and energy infrastructure. This study explores the impacts of extreme temperature events leading to heat‐/cold waves on public health and energy consumption in Kazakhstan from 1959 to 2...
Playa lakes that developed in semi-arid regions are sensitive to water input reductions, which may be influenced not only by climate changes and human management, but also by changes in the size of the watershed. We conducted an interdisciplinary study combining structural, geomorphic, sedimentological, mineralogical and hydrological analyses to be...
Understanding the sedimentary dynamics of continental shelves is crucial for decoding past high-energy events like tsunamis. Based on data from HSV FISÁLIA cruise of the Portuguese Navy, this study investigates the geomorphological features of the southwestern Algarve shelf and the seismo-stratigraphic characteristics of sedimentary units attribute...
Gypsum (CaSO4∙2H2O) is one of the most common evaporitic minerals on Earth. Its crystals exhibit diverse morphologies that can provide insights into their depositional environment. We analyzed the morphologies of gypsum deposits in a 14 m sedimentary sequence of Fuente de Piedra playa-lake (Málaga, Spain) to link its variations to sedimentary facie...
The coastal cities of Gwadar and Pasni, situated along the Arabian Sea in the northwestern region of the Indian Ocean, are subjected to thorough investigation for inundation and vulnerability analysis. The estimation of maximum tsunami wave potential in the Arabian Sea involves evaluating paleomorphodynamic records of tsunamites found along its coa...
Playa-lakes developed in semi-arid regions are sensitive to water input reductions, which may be influenced not only by climate changes and human management but also by changes in the size of the watershed. We accomplished an interdisciplinary study combining structural, geomorphic, sedimentological, mineralogical and hydrological analyses to bette...
Background
The European flood that occurred between July 13th and 16th 2021, was a natural disaster that caused significant damage in Central European countries, including Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. This disaster resulted in the highest number of fatalities from a natural disaster in Germany during the twenty-first century, with...
In the territory of Dushanbe city, the capital of Tajikistan, detailed geological and geophysical data were collected during geophysical surveys in 2019–2020. The data comprise 5 microtremor array measurements, 9 seismic refraction tomography profiles, seismological data from 5 temporary seismic stations for standard spectral ratio calculations, 60...
This paper discusses recent archaeological fieldwork conducted at El Castillejo, a medieval Islamic settlement in Los Guájares, Granada, southern Spain. Results from combined archaeological excavation and archaeoseismological assessment of standing structures suggest that the site was affected by a destructive earthquake during its occupation. Radi...
The Mediterranean Sea has experienced extreme waves (including large tsunamis) in the past. However, the pattern of timing, frequency and magnitudes of these events, and the relative importance of possible storm and tsunamigenic mechanisms (undersea earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, major landslides) are not so well understood. The Maltese archipela...
Background
In July 2021, destructive floods in Western Europe were triggered by enormous precipitation rates related to a low-pressure system named "Bernd." These catastrophic events led not only to major damage to infrastructure, severe economic losses, and the loss of lives but also to significant landscape changes and modifications. Here, we foc...
Remote sensing techniques, namely Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry and t-LiDAR (terrestrial Light Detection and Ranging), two well-established techniques, were applied for seven years in a mountainous Mediterranean catchment in Greece (Ilioupoli test site, Athens), following a wildfire event in 2015. The goal was to monitor and quantify...
The seismic shaking observed around Delhi and the surrounding region due to near-field and far-field earthquakes is a matter of concern for the seismic safety of the national capital of India, as well as the historical monuments of the region. Historical seismicity indicates that the Delhi region has been affected by several damaging earthquakes or...
El presente trabajo resume el conjunto de nuevas investigaciones geológicas y arqueológicas que certifican la ocurrencia de un potente evento terremoto-tsunami que devastó la antigua ciudad romana de Baelo Claudia (Estrecho de Gibraltar) en la segunda mitad del siglo IV d.C. Aparte de las importantes deformaciones cosísmicas documentadas en forma d...
The eastern Rhine Graben Boundary Fault (eastern RGBF) forms the eastern margin of the Upper Rhine Graben (URG), the most seismically active area in the plate interiors of Europe. Despite seismic activity posing a significant threat to the densely populated URG and critical facilities therein, only a few studies have documented the paleoearthquake...
The northward motion and rotation of the Adriatic Plate leads to crustal deformation in the Southern Alps and in the Dinarides. Many aspects of the active tectonics in that area have not been properly understood, for example the distribution and localization of strain, the paleoseismic history of the largest faults, the seismic sources for large hi...
The coastal cities and areas of Gwadar and Pasni in Pakistan, being highly vulnerable to tsunamis, are investigated for inundation and risk analysis. For modelling, both dynamic and static approaches are used for better understanding and for their comparative analysis. The tsunami wave potential in the Arabian Sea is estimated by compiling and asse...
Passive seismic analyses are a key technology for the exploration and monitoring of subsurface reservoirs. Searching for alternative resources in the framework of the energy transition is creating a surge for identifying as many potential sites as possible suitable for geothermal exploitation. The Lower Rhine Embayment, at the western border of Nor...
The eastern Rhine Graben Boundary Fault (eastern RGBF) forms the eastern margin of the Upper Rhine Graben (URG), the most seismically active area in the plate interiors of Europe. Despite seismic activity posing a significant threat to the densely populated URG and critical facilities therein, only a few studies have documented the paleoearthquake...
Las variaciones climáticas acontecidas durante el Holoceno en el sur de la Península Ibérica quedaron registradas en las secuencias sedimentarias de las numerosas lagunas que ocupan la depresión del Guadalquivir. En el presente trabajo se ha analizado la composición isotópica del oxígeno y el hidrógeno (δ18O, δ2H y d-exceso) del agua de hidratación...
The well-known 1755 CE Lisbon tsunami caused widespread destruction along the Iberian and northern Moroccan
coastlines. Being affected by the powerful 1755 CE Lisbon tsunami, the southwestern Algarve shelf provides environments for detecting offshore tsunami imprints. Our multidisciplinary investigations (hydroacoustics, sedimentology,
geochemistry...
Tsunamis and cyclones are sea-borne hazards capable of inundating vast coastal areas. This study aims at an
extreme wave hazard assessment with a preliminary inundation analysis along the Makran Coast, Pakistan. The
coastal hazard, particularly tsunamis, is evaluated by integrating five approaches: (i) probabilistic tsunami
hazard assessment (PTHA)...
This study presents results from two sediment cores collected on the southern Portuguese shelf attempting to, partially, fill the knowledge gap of the offshore record of high-energy events. The results were obtained based on description of cores, microtextural analysis of quartz grains, and foraminiferal taphonomy. The lithostratigraphy corresponds...
Passive seismic datasets are a key technology for exploration and monitoring of subsurface reservoirs. Searching for alternative resources in the framework of the energy transition creates a surge for identifying as many potential sites as possible suitable for geothermal exploitation. The Lower Rhine Embayment, at the western border of North Rhine...
This study presents results from two sediment cores collected on the southern Portuguese shelf attempting to, partially, fill the knowledge gap of the offshore record of high-energy events. The results were obtained based on description of cores, microtextural analysis of quartz grains and foraminiferal taphonomy. The lithostratigraphy, correspondi...
This research focuses on the application of an emerging technique such as the UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) photogrammetry and the widely used terrestrial LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) in geomorphological change detection (Gulyaev and Buckeridge, 2004, Niethammer et al., 2012, Rosca et al., 2018) and soil erosion modeling validation. The UAV...
We report on the tsunami deposits burying the coastal Roman remains of the Baelo Claudia archeologic site and its environs up to ca. +8 m above the sea-level. New data on 2D ERT profiles (Electric Resistivity Tomography) of the lagoonal zone near the eastern necropolis adjacent to the city walls as well as new sedimentologic insights on the paleots...
The Eifel Volcanic Field in the west of Germany has received increased scientific attention in recent years due to new findings on ongoing deep magma-related seismicity and regional uplift. Related CO2-degassing phenomena in the region have also been investigated, more specifically in and around the Laacher See volcanic lake, formed by a series of...
Fast growing coastal population centers face an increasing vulnerability to several emission sources of anthropogenic and industrial pollutants. The ongoing industrialization in emerging countries increases the environmental and human risk for people living in coastal megacities, especially in the global south of Asia. Extreme weather events, such...
Gypsum is an important environmental archive in hyperarid settings, but its application in earth sciences has been hampered by the limited availability of suitable dating methods. Here we re-evaluate the potential of ²³⁰Th/U dating for sedimentary gypsum as well as anhydrite samples in different depositional environments. We provide a robust analyt...
This chapter offers an overview of the current knowledge of the southwest Iberian tsunami geological record. Specifically, this chapter summarizes three decades of research on tsunami and storm deposit recognition, differentiation and establishing chronologies of past events. The impact and signature of the CE 1755 within coastal stratigraphic unit...
The Mediterranean coast of Spain, much of which is built-up and densely populated, is today a tourist hot spot. Additionally, there are vital infrastructures, including airports, harbours and industrial facilities along its coastal motorways. In comparison with the western and southern Atlantic coastlines, the region is relatively protected from st...
The Roman fish-salting industry in the Western Mediterranean was concentrated in a high-risk geological area as regards extreme wave events. It underwent a significant and sudden decline and reorganisation between the second and third centuries AD. The few explanations that have been hitherto offered for this abrupt transformation range from politi...
The study area, El Palmar de Vejer, located in the Gulf of Cadiz in southwestern Spain, was severely struck by the AD 1755 Lisbon tsunami. El Palmar de Vejer was chosen as the study area due to the topographical setting, characterized by the flat alluvial floodplain, which has good preconditions as a sedimentary archive for tsunami deposits in orde...
We describe two 5–7 km long normal fault scarps (NFSs) occurring atop fault-related anticlines in the coastal ranges of the Dinarides fold-and-thrust belt in southern Montenegro, a region under predominant contraction. Both NFSs show well-exposed, 6–9 m high, striated, and locally polished fault surfaces, cutting uniformly northeastward-dipping lim...
Over the past decades, substantial progress has been made in tsunami research. Be that as it may, little is still known about tsunami deposits and their related depositional mechanisms in coastal areas in historical and archaeological contexts. In particular, the Phoenician, Greek and Roman trade and military networks along the Mediterranean and At...
Recent archaeological work in the so-called “Baluarte de la Bandera” in Septem (modern Ceuta), on the African coast of the Strait of Gibraltar, has led to the discovery of a series of defensive features. These probably belonged to the city wall built in the late second or early third century AD. The upper section of a wall, which was originally ove...
The 2011 Tohoku-oki tsunami left a characteristic geochemical signature in the sediments of the Misawa harbor on the Aomori coastline (northern Japan), not only in vertical stratigraphy but also in lateral distribution. Suitable indicator compounds for the tsunami impact were used to identify and characterize the distribution of geochemical pattern...
The Zagros Mountains accommodate intense seismicity due to the ongoing deformation; however, surface faulting has been rarely observed and/or documented. The earthquakes of Furg (November 6th, 1990) and Qir-Karzin (April 10th, 1972) are unique events in the Zagros associated with a surface rupture. We use tectonic geomorphology and paleoseismology...
![Paleogeography of Baelo Claudia (after [11,24]). (1) Betic Substratum...](publication/360769598/figure/fig2/AS:11431281351848726@1743799281585/Paleogeography-of-Baelo-Claudia-after-11-24-1-Betic-Substratum-Almarchal-Fm_Q320.jpg)
Featured Application
this work offers methods for the quantification of the deformation in Archaeoseismological scenarios using drone-based high-resolution 3D models.
Abstract
This study deals with the morphometric characterization and quantification of earthquake damage in the ancient Roman city of Baelo Claudia in South Spain (Gibraltar Arc) by...
Tsunamis pose a substantial threat to coastal communities around the globe. To counter their effects, several hard and soft mitigation measures are applied, the choice of which essentially depends on regional expectations, historical experiences and economic capabilities. These countermeasures encompass hard measures to physically prevent tsunami i...
In eastern Crete, several normal faults trend both NNE-SSW and E-W. Most of them form impressive bedrock fault scarps indicating ongoing extension in the Hellenic fore-arc. No earthquakes from historical and instrumental catalogues can be directly associated with these faults. Geomorphologic profiles across five different faults in sites well-prese...
The 2011 Tohoku-oki tsunami released and mobilized many anthropogenic and natural organic compounds and, hereby, left a clear signature in its sedimentary remnants. In this study, a wide variety of organic marker substances were analyzed in 15 sediment profiles from the Aomori coast (Northern Japan). Total organic carbon (TOC) and fine grain fracti...
In this paper we present the results of a multidisciplinary study performed in the Carrasqueira valley, a tributary of the River Sado (SW Portugal), aimed at characterising the Holocene environmental conditions during the late Mesolithic occupation of this valley. Our findings are based on a 13.5 m long sediment core (Arez3) collected on the alluvi...
Geoarchaeological Research on Roman fish-sauce production sites in Lusitania: Boca do Rio and Tróia
The present-day human footprint is traceable in all environments. Growing urban centers, tourism, agricultural and industrial activities in combination with fishery, aquacultures and intense naval traffic, result in a large output of pollutants onto coastal regions. The Algarve shelf (Portugal) is one exemplary highly affected coastal system. With...
![Figure 6. [Modified from Larroque et al., 2011]: (A) Map of the...](profile/Clement-Perrin-3/publication/358182451/figure/fig5/AS:1118286154608645@1643631604949/Modified-from-Larroque-et-al-2011-A-Map-of-the-Ligurian-fault-system-B-Path-of_Q320.jpg)
Mainland France is part of a plate interior with a strong structural heritage, undergoing a low rate of deformation, where destructive earthquakes can nevertheless occur. In this paper, we emphasize that the knowledge of active faults is still largely fragmentary, and that significant efforts are needed to generate robust data, in particular on the...
The Kalabagh Fault forms a lateral offset in the Main Frontal Thrust in the Sub-Himalayan area of Pakistan, forming a push-up block within the stepover zone of its segments. Deformed sediments along the frontal part of this push-up block have cross cutting relations with morphotectonic and paleoseismic features. These sediments are dated using lumi...
Mainland France is part of a plate interior with a strong structural heritage, undergoing a low rate of deformation, where destructive earthquakes can nevertheless occur. In this paper, we emphasize that the knowledge of active faults is still largely fragmentary, and that significant efforts are needed to generate robust data, in particular on the...
The Kalabagh Fault Zone in the western Sub-Himalayas is a dextral strike slip fault zone that exhibits a push-up block in the stepover zone of the two fault segments. The inception of the push-up block occurred along the restraining faults that form two morphotectonic bends along the mountain front at Zaluch and in the South of Thathi. The landform...
Soil changes, including landslides and erosion, are some of the most prominent post-fire effects in Mediterranean ecosystems. Landslide detection and monitoring play an essential role in mitigation measures. We tested two different methodologies in five burned sites with different characteristics in Central Greece. We compared Unmanned Aerial Vehic...
Throughout the island of Java, several shallow faults located in the vicinity of densely populated areas accommodate the tectonic strain generated by the subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate beneath the Sunda Plate. These faults are characterized by a poor surface geomorphological expression due to the tropical climate that masks paleoseismologi...
The island of Java is located above a plate boundary within the Indonesian archipelago as part of the volcanic arc resulting from the subduction of the Indo-Australian plate beneath the Eurasian plate. Due to its emplacement, it is exposed to several geohazards, including active volcanoes and earthquakes, and its secondary effects (e.g., landslides...
Questions
Question (1)
We observe a dramatic drop in export of fish products of the Iberian Atlantic coast in the middle of the 3 cent. AD. We discuss presently cooling, Mega-ENSO, catastrophic event (tsunami), pirates, political or economic crisis in the western outskirts of the Roman Empire. Who can contribute? We need high-resolution data in terms of years or decades. Thanks in advance, Klaus
