Geological Society of America

42 Geophysics/Geodynamics (Posters)

Added due to amt of discipline abstracts submitted.

Wednesday, 11 March 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
RCC, Lower Level Hall

Fault Orientation Analysis in the Washington, D.C. Region Using 2D Refraction Microtremor and Electrical Resistivity Profiles

Paper number: 42-4
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Authors

Kassandra Laguna Presenting Author
University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
Ronald Counts
University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
Jennifer Gifford
University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS

Abstract

In order to detect previously unknown faults and update the National Seismic Hazard Model in the Washington D.C. region; Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), Seismic Reflection, and Refraction Microtremor (ReMi) data will be compared and analyzed. Synthesis of the ReMi data was done using VsSurf ReMi 2dS 2.1.8 to create 2D profiles of the topography including the faults. If the models identify faulting immediately north of the Washington Monument (WM) faults and/or on the grounds of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, south of the WM faults, then the fault trend is primarily N-S and likely underlies the White House. If there are no fault alignments then the WM faults are local, isolated structures. The first VsSurf model has already shown a clear fault in West Potomac Park in the crystalline basement and previous ReMi and ERT data at the WM show the same anomaly, which is consistent with this fault.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 1

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026SE-411641

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