Hosgri Fault Transpressional Slip Rates Reproduce Observed Central California Coast Uplift Rates

Abstract

Coastal uplift is a common feature of Pacific Rim tectonic deformation. The 1989 M_w 7.0 Loma Prieta earthquake illustrated that reverse‐oblique slip on a transpressive segment of the predominantly horizontal slip San Andreas transform fault produces coastal uplift. In west‐central California the 400 km long San Gregorio‐Hosgri coastal fault system of near‐vertical to steeply northeast‐dipping, reverse‐oblique, dextral strike‐slip faults also contribute to coastal uplift. Published southern Hosgri fault dextral slip rates are ∼4× reverse rates. Viscoelastic deformation modeling using published transpressional slip rates along the southern Hosgri fault reproduces observed emergent marine terrace uplift rates, offshore Hosgri fault deformation morphology, and crustal structure from San Luis Obispo Bay to Estero Bay. Our coastal uplift rate modeling is constrained by a unique combination of measurements: (1) offshore reverse‐ and strike‐slip Hosgri fault zone (HFZ) slip rates, and (2) ≤125 ka onshore emergent terrace uplift rates adjacent to the HFZ. The previously proposed conceptual rigid block models of the southern central California coast (CCC) invoke local onshore thrust or reverse faults to explain coastal uplift. Observed transpressional offshore Hosgri fault deformation rates alone rigorously reproduce observed coastal uplift rates and crustal structure along the southern CCC.