New constraints on the activity and evolution of the young Aigion‐Erineos fault system, gulf of Corinth, Greece
Author(s)
Whittaker, Alexander C
Hook, Joel
Bell, Rebecca E
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Young active faults pose an underestimated seismic hazard as they can have limited geomorphic and structural expression. The Aigion-Erineos fault system (AEFS) is a young normal fault on the south coast of the Gulf of Corinth, Greece that provides a key structural link with the Gulf of Patras. However, uncertainties remain regarding its geomorphic expression, throw, slip rate, age and whether its fault segments are linked. We combine geomorphic and field observations, with seismic data and InSAR-derived data to produce the most complete characterization of the AEFS to-date. Our findings show the AEFS has 5 active fault segments, arranged in an en-echelon structure and partially to fully linked together. Field-derived fault traces of the AEFS correspond closely with an abrupt transition from uplift to subsidence in the European Ground Motion Service data set, potentially indicating ongoing aseismic deformation. The Aigion Fault (AF) segment has an initiation age of 200–240 ka, displays a significant increase in slip rate since 80 ka and has a Holocene slip rate of 5–6 mm/yr. Fault segments to the west initiated after 80 ka, may be as young as 25 ka and are partially to fully linked with the AF. Maximum Holocene slip rates for these segments are 5–9 mm/yr. To the east an offshore fault segment is likely soft-linked with the AEFS and has a Holocene slip rate of 2.7 mm/yr. Our results suggest the fault system has a total length of ca. 20 km, with a maximum credible earthquake size of Mw = 6.6.
Date Issued
2026-04-01
Date Acceptance
2026-03-19
Citation
Tectonics, 2026, 45 (4)
ISSN
0278-7407
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Journal / Book Title
Tectonics
Volume
45
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
© 2026. The Author(s). This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
e2025TC009049
Date Publish Online
2026-04-08