Despite increased application of subsurface datasets below the limits of seismic resolution, reconstructing near‐surface deformation of shallow key stratigraphic markers beneath modern alluvial and coastal plains through sediment core analysis has received little attention. Highly resolved stratigraphy of Upper Pleistocene to Holocene (Marine Isotope Stage 5e to Marine Isotope Stage 1) alluvial, deltaic and coastal depositional systems across the southern Po Plain, down to 150 m depth, provides an unambiguous documentation on the deformation of previously flat‐lying strata that goes back in time beyond the limits of morphological, historical and palaeoseismic records. Five prominent key horizons, accurately selected on the basis of their sedimentological characteristics and typified for their fossil content, were used as highly effective stratigraphic markers (M1 to M5) that can be tracked for tens of kilometres across the basin. A facies‐controlled approach tied to a robust chronology (102 radiocarbon dates) reveals considerable deformation of laterally extensive nearshore (M1), continental (M2 and M3) and lagoon (M4 and M5) marker beds originally deposited in a horizontal position (M1, M4 and M5). The areas where antiformal geometries are best observed are remarkably coincident with the axes of buried ramp anticlines, across which new seismic images reveal substantially warped stratal geometries of Lower Pleistocene strata. The striking spatial coincidence of fold crests with the epicentres of historic and instrumental seismicity suggests that deformation of marker beds M1 to M5 might reflect, in part at least, syntectonically generated relief and, thus, active tectonism. Precise identification and lateral tracing of chronologically constrained stratigraphic markers in the ¹⁴C time window through combined sedimentological and palaeoecological data may delineate late Quaternary subsurface stratigraphic architecture at an unprecedented level of detail, outlining cryptic stratal geometries at the sub‐seismic scale. This approach is highly reproducible in tectonically active Quaternary depositional systems and can help to assess patterns of active deformation in the subsurface of modern alluvial and coastal plains worldwide.

中文翻译：

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意大利波盆地上第四纪地层变形模式及其与活跃构造的关系

尽管在地震分辨率的极限以下增加了地下数据集的应用，但是通过沉积物岩心分析重建现代冲积和沿海平原下浅层关键地层标志物的近地表变形却鲜有受到关注。上波隆平原南部直至150 m深度的上更新世至全新世（海洋同位素第5e阶段至海洋同位素第1阶段）的冲积，三角洲和沿海沉积系统的高分辨率地层，为先前平坦的变形提供了明确的证据地层可追溯到形态，历史和古地震记录范围之外。根据其沉积学特征精确选择并以化石含量为代表的五个突出的主要视野，被用作高效的地层标记（M1至M5），可在整个盆地上追踪数十公里。相控方法与可靠的年代学（102个放射性碳数据）相关联，揭示了横向沉积的近岸（M1），大陆（M2和M3）和泻湖（M4和M5）标记床的明显变形，这些标记床最初沉积在水平位置（M1， M4和M5）。最能观察到反正规几何的区域与埋藏的斜坡斜线的轴显着重合，新的地震图像在这些轴上揭示了下更新世地层的基本翘曲的地层几何。褶皱波峰与历史地震和仪器地震震中的惊人空间重合表明，标记床M1至M5的变形可能至少部分反映了构造上产生的浮雕，并且，因此，活跃的构造论。地层中时间约束地层标记的精确识别和横向追踪结合沉积学和古生态学数据得出的¹⁴ C时间窗可能以前所未有的详细程度描绘了晚期第四纪地下地层构造，概述了亚地震规模的隐伏地层几何。这种方法在构造活跃的第四纪沉积系统中是高度可重现的，可以帮助评估全世界现代冲积平原和沿海平原地下的活跃变形模式。