Izmit earthquake postseismic deformation and dynamics of the North Anatolian Fault Zone

Abstract

We have modeled postseismic deformation from 1999 to 2003 in the region surrounding the 1999 Izmit and Düzce earthquake ruptures, using a three‐dimensional viscoelastic finite element method. Our models confirm earlier findings that surface deformation within the first few months of the Izmit earthquake is principally due to stable frictional afterslip on and below the Izmit earthquake rupture. A second deformation process is required, however, to fit the surface deformation after several months. Viscoelastic relaxation of lower crust and/or upper mantle with a viscosity of the order of 2 to 5 × 1019 Pa s improves the models' fit to later GPS site velocities. However, for a linear viscous rheology, this range of values is inconsistent with highly localized interseismic deformation around the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ) that was well observed prior to the earthquake sequence. The simplest solution to this problem is to assume that the effective viscosity of the relaxing material increases with time after large earthquakes, that is, that it has a power law or Burger's body (transient) rheology. A Burger's body rheology with two characteristic viscosities (2 to 5 × 1019 Pa s and at least 2 × 1020 Pa s) in the mantle is consistent with deformation around the NAFZ throughout the earthquake cycle.