Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

6468

Date

2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Earth Sciences

Concentration

Geophysics

Committee Chair

Chris Cramer

Committee Member

Charles Langston

Committee Member

Christine Powell

Abstract

Ste. Genevieve, Missouri experienced historical earthquakes in 1811-1812. To understand the shaking hazard, we combine a gravity survey with seismic refraction profiles to determine sediment depth over bedrock (SDOB). We calculated SDOB from the refraction profile at the east end of Jefferson St. and then extrapolated it over a wider area of the city using the gravity data. The average sediment density is measured as 2.28 gm/cm3, which we used to estimate sediment thickness beneath the Ste. Genevieve historic district. Sediment thickness ranges from ~22 m to ~50 m from Bouguer gravity anomaly differences of ~2.7 mGal. Depth over bedrock around the historic houses is found to be relatively shallower than at other places around the city, indicating a possible reason for their survival during the 1811-1812 New Madrid Seismic Zone earthquakes. Longer refraction profiles indicate the presence of competent bedrock that has a similar P wave velocity to limestone.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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