This part of SIM 3261 presents data for faults for the geologic and geomorphic map (see sheet 10, SIM 3261) of the Offshore of Carpinteria map area, California. The vector data file is included in "Faults_OffshoreCarpinteria.zip," which is accessible from
http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/781/OffshoreCarpinteria/data_catalog_OffshoreCarpinteria.html.
This map area lies within the Western Transverse Ranges geologic province, which is north of the California Continental Borderland (Fisher and others, 2009). This province has undergone significant north-south compression since the Miocene, and recent GPS data suggest north-south shortening of about 6 to 10 mm/yr (Larson and Webb, 1992; Donnellan and others, 1993). The active, east-west-striking, north-dipping Pitas Point Fault (a broad zone that includes south-dipping reverse faults), Red Mountain Fault, and Rincon Creek Fault are some of the structures on which this shortening occurs (see, for example, Jackson and Yeats, 1982; Sorlien and others, 2000; Fisher and others, 2009). This fault system, in aggregate, extends for about 100 km through the Ventura and Santa Barbara Basins and represents an important earthquake hazard (see, for example, Fisher and others, 2009).
References Cited:
Donnellan, A., Hager, B.H., and King, R.W., 1993, Discrepancy between geologic and geodetic deformation rates in the Ventura basin: Nature, v. 346, p. 333-336.
Fisher, M.A., Sorlien, C.C., and Sliter, R.W., 2009, Potential earthquake faults offshore southern California from the eastern Santa Barbara channel to Dana Point, in Lee, H.J., and Normark, W.R., eds., Earth science in the urban ocean--The Southern California Continental Borderland: Geological Society of America Special Paper 454, p. 271-290.
Jackson, P.A., and Yeats, R.S., 1982, Structural evolution of Carpinteria basin, western Transverse Ranges, California: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 66, p. 805-829.
Larson, K.M., and Webb, F.H., 1992, Deformation in the Santa Barbara Channel from GPS measurements 1987-1991: Geophysical News Letters, v. 19, p. 1,491-1,494.
Sorlien, C.C., Gratier, J.P., Luyendyk, B.P., Hornafius, J.S., and Hopps, T.E., 2000, Map restoration of folded and faulted late Cenozoic strata across the Oak Ridge fault, onshore and offshore Ventura basin, California: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 112, p. 1,080-1,090.
To expand geologic mapping to the seafloor within California's State
Waters, to update coastal geologic mapping, and to contribute to a
uniform regional geologic database. Additionally, to provide a geologic
map for the public and geoscience community to aid in assessments and
mitigation of geologic hazards in the Santa Barbara coastal plain region
and to provide sufficient geologic information for land-use and
land-management decisions both onshore and offshore.
Map political location: Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, California
Compilation scale: 1:24,000
Base maps used are hillshades generated from IfSAR, LiDAR, and multibeam
mapping both onshore and offshore (see sheets 1 and 2, SIM 3261, for more information).
