Abstract
ABSTRACTThe North Anatolian Fault (NAF) represents one of the most seismically active transform zones on Earth. It is characterized by high rates of crustal deformation that generate destructive earthquakes. These rates are induced by convergence of the northward-migrating Arabian and African plates with respect to the stable Eurasian plate. Therefore, the NAF represents a natural earthquake laboratory with a wide range of earthquake sizes (M ≤ 7.9) to investigate by using interdisciplinary approaches (seismological, magnetism, geological, gravitational, and geodetic studies). In this study, we compare the results of an analysis of b-values from seismicity and GPS (Global Positioning System) measurements of the strain rate to understand their coupling in terms of faulting and earthquake hazard implications. In particular, this comparison allows investigation of the spatial correlation between b-value and strain rate maps and is thus able to locate fault segments that have a high potential of generating large earthquake(s). b-Values range from 0.5 to 1.5 along the central NAF. The maximum principal strain rates are positive (tensile), and the minimum principal strain rates are negative (compressive). The surface strain is positive, showing that tensile strain is predominant in areas with high strain rates, consistent with the trend of the corresponding stresses.
Highlights
Turkey is one of the most seismically active regions in the world
The frequency–magnitude distribution (FMD) method is fully capable of resolving the temporal changes in magnitude of completeness (Mc), as we demonstrate here for the case of the North Anatolian Fault (NAF) seismicity (Figure 2)
The results indicate that a significant strain accumulation occurs around Niksar, where low b-values are prominent (Figure 8)
Summary
Turkey is one of the most seismically active regions in the world. Tectonic evidence suggests that Anatolia is moving westward relative to Eurasia (McKenzie 1972). The tectonic structure of Turkey is dominated by the Hellenic arc, North Anatolian Fault (NAF) and East Anatolian Fault (EAF). The NAF is a 1200-km-long strike-slip fault running from Karliova to the west (Seng€or et al 2005). The NAF has a long history of seismicity and is characterized by dextral strike-slip motion. Many studies have used seismic data and geodetic methods along the NAF, the central NAF is less studied using the combination of these datasets (b-values and strain)
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