Paleoseismicity of the western Humps fault on the Emu Plain, North Canterbury, New Zealand

The 2016 MW 7.8 Kaikōura Earthquake nucleated on Humps fault, which ruptured across the Emu Plain in North Canterbury. paleoearthquake history of fault was poorly constrained prior to earthquake. To determine timing and single-event displacements (SED) earthquakes we use Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) radiocarbon dates faulted stratigraphy analysis faulting (i.e. geometry slip) at McLean-1 trench site. At trace trends east–west primarily accommodated right-lateral strike-slip (2 ± 0.2 m strike slip 0.35 0.05 vertical northside downthrow). is more seismically active than previously thought accrued during least six surface rupturing paleoearthquakes. these was: 9.8–15.3 ka BP (Event 1), 8.6–11.5 2), 8.1–10.9 3), 6.0–8.6 4), 1840 AD 4.5 5), 6). These have a mean recurrence interval 1.8–3.4 kyr could intervals up ~9 kyr. Kaikōura-type ruptures occur as frequently every ∼2 maybe longer if rupture geometries are not characteristic.