Abstract
ABSTRACTThe Eastern Pontides (EP), which is the under transpressional deformation zone, is an active mountain belt that has been rising rapidly since the Cenozoic era because of the Arabian-Eurasian convergence. Morphometric studies have been performed to investigate the tectonic activity of this region and better understand the characteristics of the faults geomorphologically; the faults control the mountain fronts in the drainage basin of the EP. The results show the Hypsometric Curve (HC)-Hypsometric Integral (0.37-HI-0.67), Basin-Shaped Analysis (1.2-Bs-7), Valley-Floor-Width to Height-Ratio (0.4-Vf-1.2) and Asymmetry Factor (35-AF-81) applied to 46 drainage basins together with 9 tectonically controlled geomorphic indices (1.2-Smf-1.5) and a Stream Length Gradient (30-SL-120) indicate that the EP is tectonically active, and when the areas are evaluated according to Smf and Vf analyses, the tectonic level is relatively high. According to our conceptual model for the uplifting of the EP, with respect to field studies and morphometric analysis, (i) the EP is the active deformation zone and has a “push-up” geometry in conjunction with the North Anatolian Fault; (ii) the EP is progressively uplifting at a rate of more than 0.5 mm/yr in along with the thrust faults of the Black Sea Fault (BSF) and Borjomi-Kazbegi Fault (BKF).
Highlights
Landscape evolution is mostly related between active tectonics and surface processes
Width to Height Ratio (Vf), Hypsometric Curves (HC), Hypsometric integrals (HI), Basin Shape Analysis (Bs) and Stream Length Gradient (Hack-SL) for Eastern Pontides were performed for first time, and show the characteristics of areas subjected to active uplift
The hypsometric curve-hypsometric integral results applied to the drainage basins along with the geomorphological indices and gradient analyses of the tectonically controlled mountain fronts were tectonically active in the Eastern Pontides, and the tectonic levels were relatively high when evaluated according to the Smf and Vf analyses of the region
Summary
Landscape evolution is mostly related between active tectonics and surface processes These events cause the formation of remarkable geomorphic indicators along the fault-controlled landforms. The methods applied to the study of drainage basins are sensitive to active faulting and tectonics, especially uplifting areas. Analyses such as, mountain-front sinuosity, drainage basin shape, stream channel asymmetry, and stream length gradients, are tools for analyzing the tectonically active areas (Bull, 1977; Bull & McFadden, 1977; Gürbüz & Gürer, 2008; Keller, 1986; Keller & Pinter, 2002; Özkaymak, 2015; Özkaymak & Sözbilir, 2012; Ramírez-Herrera, 1998; Silva, Goy, Zazo, & Bardajı,́ 2003; Tepe & Sözbilir, 2017; Troiani, Galve, Piacentini, Della Seta, & Guerrero, 2014; Wells et al, 1988; Yıldırım, 2014)
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