Abstract
The Abu-Dabbab area, located in the central part of the Egyptian Eastern Desert, is an active seismic region where micro-earthquakes (≈ML < 2.0) are recorded regularly. Earthquake epicenters are concentrated along an ENE–WSW trending pattern. In this study, we used morphological indexes, including the valley floor width-to-valley floor height ratio (Vf), mountain front sinuosity (Smf), the asymmetry factor index (Af), the drainage basin shape index (Bs), the stream length–gradient index (SL), hypsometric integral (Hi) water drainage systems, and a digital elevation model analysis, to identify the role of tectonics. These indexes were used to define the relative tectonic activity index (RTAI), which can be utilized to distinguish low (RTAI < 1.26), moderate (RTAI = 1.26–1.73), and high (RTAI > 1.73) tectonic activity signals all over the study area. Firstly, our results indicate low to medium tectonic activity and general anomaly patterns detected along the major tectonic zones of the study area. Secondly, based on most of the low to medium tectonic activity distributed in the study area and the detected anomalies, we discuss two potential drivers of the seismicity in the Abu-Dabbab area, which are fault-controlled and deep-rooted activities.
Highlights
Examining active tectonic features plays a significant role in understanding how landforms are formed and developed
The active tectonic Class 2 occupies the majority of the study area by 40% of the total sub-catchments, while Class 1 is represented by only 17.5%
We examined the relative tectonic activity signals using ArcGIS, geospatial data, and five morphological indexes for the Abu-Dabbab region for the first time
Summary
Examining active tectonic features plays a significant role in understanding how landforms are formed and developed. Through quantitative analysis of data recovered via geospatial and remote sensing techniques, these indexes can be utilized to identify the distribution of the different tectonic signals. The mountain front sinuosity index can be erosional or tectonic (i.e., fault-controlled) The latter, in this case, can be considered as a tectonic signal and can be derived through quantitative geomorphology analysis [11,14]. Morphological anomalies are abnormal morphological structures that can be detected by comparing these results with computed tectonic activity degrees This method is very advantageous in examining the Abu-Dabbab seismic area, where there have been no sufficient studies on tectonics and morphology.
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