What is "paleoliquefaction"

Paleoliquefaction is a term used to describe ancient liquefaction features, namely features attributed to seismic events occurring before measurements or written records were kept of earthquakes. The study of these features can reveal a great deal about the seismicity of regions where large earthquakes happen infrequently. This is a subset of the broader field of paleoseismology.

Paleoliquefaction studies in areas like the New Madrid Seismic Zone, and the Wabash Valley have helped scientists and engineers determine the severity of ground shaking to expect when planning for future earthquakes.