Assessment of Neotectonic Landscape Deformation in Evia Island, Greece, Using GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Analysis

Kanella Valkanou,Mauro Soldati,Kalliopi Gaki-Papanastassiou,Dimitris Papanastassiou,Christos Chalkias,Efthimios Karymbalis

doi:10.3390/ijgi10030118

Abstract

This study deals with the assessment and mapping of neotectonic landscape deformation in the northern part of the Evia Island (Central Greece). Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) utilizing Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) procedures were conducted for the calculation of the Neotectonic Landscape Deformation Index (NLDI). The study is based on the combination of morphotectonic, geomorphological and geological parameters. The GIS-based spatial MCDA led to the classification of the study area into five classes of neotectonic deformation (from very low to very high) and to a neotectonic deformation map. The results were compared with the outputs of a relative tectonic activity classification approach based on quantitative geomorphic analysis at a regional scale, including site-specific field observations. Areas of high and very high deformation are related to the major active faults of Dirfis, Kandili and Gregolimano–Telethrio. Other minor active normal faults of medium to high seismic risk level, affecting the northern and northeastern parts of the island, are also associated with areas of intense landscape neotectonic deformation.

Highlights

Published: 27 February 2021Geomorphic indices have been widely and successfully used as survey tools for the identification of areas experiencing rapid tectonic deformation [1,2,3,4,5,6]
Landscape Deformation Index (NLDI) and applied it successfully to assess the neotectonic deformation of the landscape in the active region of western Crete
The influence of the tectonic features of the study area is reflected on the SLk index map since the values significantly increase at the major fault-controlled areas

Summary

Introduction

Published: 27 February 2021Geomorphic indices have been widely and successfully used as survey tools for the identification of areas experiencing rapid tectonic deformation [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Many criteria for the classification of active tectonics in different areas have been proposed [7,8,9,10], there are only a few studies dealing with the classification of landscape deformation. Among the latter is the article of Argyriou et al [1], which proposed the Neotectonic. Landscapes and landforms in actively deforming areas are controlled by the interactions between tectonic movements and consequent surface processes that can lead to local erosion or deposition [11,12]. The landscape of Greece reflects in many ways the influence of horizontal and vertical crustal movements that have occurred in the geologically recent past and which are ongoing today

Objectives

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Conclusion