Special Issue on Paleoseismology (Historical Earthquakes)

Introduction:

As an important branch of seismology, paleoseismology, the study of  historical large earthquake, reveals the characteristics, occurrence patterns, and impacts on geological environments and human societal development of major earthquakes that occurred in ancient and historical periods, prior to the availability of modern seismic instrument records. Sustained and systematic investigations in this field represent a crucial approach to understanding the relationship between large earthquake activities and human societies over extended timescales.

With advancements in science and technology, particularly innovations in remote sensing, Quaternary dating, paleoseismic trenching, and data mining methods, notable progress has been made in paleoseismology. Not only has the accuracy of reconstructing paleoseismic event sequences improved, but robust connections between large earthquake events and human activity changes at global or regional scales have also been established.

Indeed, paleoseismology, is important for assessing future large earthquake risks and formulating effective disaster prevention and mitigation strategies. Through long-term statistical analysis of paleoseismic events, scientists can estimate the frequency and source parameters of large earthquakes in specific regions. Such research findings are also critical for urban planning, infrastructure development, and enhancing public awareness of earthquake safety. Moreover, paleoseismology provides valuable disaster perspectives for understanding how earthquakes have influenced the evolution of modern civilizations. Over the past four decades, scholars worldwide have conducted highly productive research on paleoseismic events along major active fault zones, guided by fundamental paleoseismological methodologies.

We intend for this special issue to bring together the latest research achievements from scholars around the globe, addressing frontier issues and future trends in paleoseismology. We believe that through interdisciplinary collaboration and exchange, paleoseismic research will offer deeper insights for the scientific community and the public, contributing to the reduction of potential risks posed by future earthquakes.

Topics covered:

• Mechanisms and dynamic analysis of paleoseismic events
• Identification and analytical methods of paleoseismic records and their application in model construction
• Periodicity and frequency analysis of large earthquakes
• Relationship between paleoseismic event sequences and geological structures or tectonic evolution
• Impact of paleoseismic events on paleoclimate and paleoenvironments
• Re-examination of historical records of large earthquake disaster chains and their implications for modern society
• Application of paleoseismic research results in seismic hazard assessment and seismic risk evaluation
• Interdisciplinary perspectives on paleoseismic research: integration of paleoseismology, geography, archaeology, and history

Submission Instructions

In preparing manuscripts, authors must carefully follow the ERA Author Guidelines before submitting. All articles should be submitted via the ERA Online submission system under the Special Issue category.

Important Deadlines: Submission deadline: 30 April 2026

Guest Editors:

• Prof. Zhikun Ren, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, China.
• Prof. Xuhua Shi, Zhejiang University, China.
• Prof. Yueren Xu, Institute of Earthquake Forecasting, China Earthquake Administration, China.
• Prof. Yanxiu Shao, Tianjin University, China.