EFEL 1.0: An integrated set of components for Landlab to simulate landscape evolution from fault creep, earthquakes, and coseismic landslides

Abstract. I present a suite of new numerical model components for use with Landlab, collectively the Elastic Fault, Earthquake, and Landslide (EFEL) model that enable users to simulate surface deformation related to both interseismic creep and seismogenic events on faults of variable geometry and include the effects of coseismic landslides. The surface deformation from either interseismic creep or individual earthquakes are simulated as discrete, rectangular dislocations within an isotropic, linear elastic half-space. The location of coseismic landslides are determined through the implementation of several different empirical ground motion prediction equations coupled with a Newmark style sliding-block analysis. Used together, the components allow for the generation of either dipping or vertical faults of variable geometries with independent kinematics, the generation of earthquake catalogs with varying levels of complexity for simulating surface deformation, and coupling these with existing Landlab libraries for simulating surface processes. I present a variety of examples using these components, including landscape evolution above both an aseismic and seismogenic shallow dipping thrust fault, considered without and with coseismic landslides, landscape evolution above both aseismic and seismogenic simple high angle normal faults and listric normal faults, and landscape evolution along both aseismic and seismogneic strike-slip faults with or without a restraining bend. These components fill an important gap within existing Landlab libraries, and landscape evolution models more broadly, providing a prepackaged method for users to simulate complicated deformation of single-fault systems in concert with surface processes.