Climate-controlled sensitivity of lake sediments to record earthquake-related mass wasting in tropical Lake Towuti during the past 40 kyr

Located at the triple junction of Pacific, Eurasian and Sunda plates, Island Sulawesi in Indonesia is one most tectonically active places on Earth. This highlighted by recurrence devastating earthquakes such as 2018 Mw 7.5 earthquake that damaged city Palu caused several thousand fatalities central Sulawesi. The majority large-magnitude are related to stress release along major strike-slip faults Palu-Koro Fault its southern extensions, Matano Lawanopo Faults. To date, information frequency magnitude past events these limited instrumental records historical sources restricted last century, whereas from natural archives completely lacking. Lake-sediment can fill this gap, but a detailed assessment various factors influence sensitivity sediment successions required evaluate their suitability. Lake Towuti, situated Eastern Sulawesi, known for paleoclimate record also promises be key site generate paleoseismology lake lies close highly thereby an ideal archive have occurred surrounding area. Here we combine high-resolution chirp seismic data with lithostratigraphic petrophysical piston cores assess seismically generated mass-transport turbidite deposits. Three seismic-stratigraphic units distinguished upper ∼10 m succession linked differences mass-wasting during 60 kyrs. evidence more turbidite-prone period between 12 40 ka roughly coincident dry phase associated lake-level lowstand glacial Towuti. Hence, suggest climate strongly influences slopes fail shaking tropical setting consequence lowstand-forced redeposition shelves onto into basins. As significantly impacts lacustrine sediments earthquake-related mass wasting deposits, deposits additionally employed quantitative indicator changes hydroclimate settings.