Modeling radon time series on the North Anatolian Fault Zone,Turkiye: Fourier transforms and Monte Carlo simulations

Natural Hazards - Time series studies depend mostly on stochastic models for radon seasonal, annual or temporal variability explanations. Others solve radon transport steady state equation...     

Kinematic analysis and palaeoseismology of the Edremit Fault Zone: evidence for past earthquakes in the southern branch of the North Anatolian Fault Zone,Biga Peninsula,NW Turkey

The Edremit Fault Zone (EFZ) forms one of the southern segments of the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ) at the northern margin of the Edremit Gulf (Biga Peninsula, South Marmara Region, Turkey). Stratigraphic, structural and kinematic results indicate that basinward younging of the fault zone, in terms of a rolling-hinge mechanism, has resulted in at least three discrete Miocene to Holocene deformational phases: the oldest one (Phase 1) directly related to the inactive Kazda? Detachment Fault, which was formed under N–S trending pure extension; Phase 2 is characterised by a strike-slip stress condition, probably related to the progression of the NAFZ towards the Edremit area in the Plio–Quaternary; and Phase 3 is represented by the high-angle normal faulting, which is directly interrelated with the last movement of the EFZ. Our palaeoseismic studies on the EFZ revealed the occurrence of three past surface rupture events; the first one occurred before 13178 BC, a penultimate event that may correspond to either the 160 AD or 253 AD historical earthquakes, and the youngest one can be associated with the 6 October 1944 earthquake (M_w = 6.8). These palaeoseismic data indicate that there is no systematic earthquake recurrence period on the EFZ.     

Seismo-Tectonic Characteristics of the North Anatolian Fault Zone Between Akyazi and Duzce (Bolu,Turkey)

The active North Anatolian fault zone (NAFZ) presents very complex seismotectonic activity. The occurrence of the Abant earthquake in 1957 (Ms = 7.1) and the Mudurnu earthquake in 1967 (Ms = 6.8) are only two examples of several seismic events associated with intense tectonic activity of the NAFZ. Statistical analyses of earthquakes in an area extending between 30° 30′ to 31° 30' E Long. and 40° 15′ to 41° 00′ N Lat. reveal that epicenters generally were shallow. However, a few deep epicenters also were located, some of which reached a depth of 30 km. The epicenters were found to concentrate in a zone lying between the Duzce and Akyazi Plain to the north of Almacik Mountain and in the Adapazari Plain. The Northern Anatolian fault displays an en echelon character in the area, except for the eastern part, where it extends as a single segment. The en echelon character of the NAFZ is interpreted as a structure distributing the potential energy and consequently reducing the intensity of earthquakes, giving rise to micro-earthquakes of magnitudes less than 4.2.     

The Bekten Fault: the palaeoseismic behaviour and kinematic characteristics of an intervening segment of the North Anatolian Fault Zone,Southern Marmara Region,Turkey

The Bekten Fault is 20-km long N55°E trending and oblique-slip fault in the dextral strike-slip fault zone. The fault is extending sub-parallel between Yenice-Gönen and Sar?köy faults, which forms the southern branch of North Anatolian Fault Zone in Southern Marmara Region. Tectonomorphological structures indicative of the recent fault displacements such as elongated ridges and offset creeks observed along the fault. In this study, we investigated palaeoseismic activities of the Bekten Fault by trenching surveys, which were carried out over a topographic saddle. The trench exposed the fault and the trench stratigraphy revealed repeated earthquake surface rupture events which resulted in displacements of late Pleistocene and Holocene deposits. According to radiocarbon ages obtained from samples taken from the event horizons in the stratigraphy, it was determined that at least three earthquakes resulting in surface rupture generated from the Bekten Fault within last ~1300 years. Based on the palaeoseismological data, the Bekten Fault displays non-characteristic earthquake behaviour and has not produced any earthquake associated with surface rupture for about the last 400 years. Additionally, the data will provide information for the role of small fault segments play except for the major structures in strike-slip fault systems.     

Structural,geomorphological and geomechanical aspects of the Koyulhisar landslides in the North Anatolian Fault Zone (Sivas,Turkey)

. Recently, numerous landslides occurred in the northern part of Koyulhisar. In 1998 and 2000, which were very wet years, landslides in different masses affected the geological formations which are well known for being prone to slope movements. Detailed geological, geomorphological and geotechnical surveys were carried out, and stability conditions in Koyulhisar village, located NE of Sivas (Turkey), are discussed in this paper. Kinematical analyses showed that the potential slope instabilities are in two main directions: the first direction is SE and the second is SW, these directions corresponding to the dominant slope directions of the study area. Geomechanic surveys confirmed that most of the rock slopes analysed are highly prone to instability. The SMR criterion gave results which correspond well with real stability conditions. Jointing and faulting, steep topography, water incisions, and heavy rainfall played a significant role in the occurrence of the landslides.     

Superimposed Basins and Their Relations to the Recent Strike-Slip Fault Zone: A Case Study of the Refahiye Superimposed Basin Adjacent to the North Anatolian Transform Fault,Northeastern Turkey

Compressional or extensional troughs occupied by at least two sedimentary fills of dissimilar age, origin, facies, internal structure, and deformation pattern are herein termed superimposed basins. The lower and older fill of such basins is inherited from the latest compressional paleotectonic regime, and therefore is highly deformed (folded to thrust faulted). In contrast, the upper fill (neotectonic fill) is nearly flat, or undeformed, resting on the erosional surface of the lower fill with an angular unconformity. Superimposed basins occur mostly in or adjacent to recently active extensional terrains and recent strike-slip fault zones cutting across suture zones.

Within the framework of neotectonics, recent geologic studies such as field geologic mapping, measured stratigraphic sections, aerial photography, and remote-sensing studies conducted in Turkey have shown that a number of well-developed and preserved superimposed basins occur along and adjacent to the North Anatolian transform fault (NATF), obliquely crossing the late Tertiary Izmir-Ankara-Erzincan suture zone (IAESZ). One such superimposed basin is the Refahiye, previously and erroneously interpreted to be a strike-slip basin of Pliocene age. In contrast, this study demonstrates that it is a well-preserved superimposed basin consisting of a combination of both an early-formed, early-middle Miocene piggy-back basin (the older Refahiye basin) and a newly developing strike-slip basin (the Kova basin). The Refahiye basin, located on the southern block of the Niksar-Erzincan segment of the Northern Anatolian fault master strand (NAFMS), contains two fills: (1) lower-middle Miocene latest paleotectonic fill (lower fill), and (2) Plio-Quaternary neotectonic fill (upper fill). The lower fill consists mostly of fluvial red clastics approximately 1 km thick with intercalations of gypsum lenses and shallow-marine reefal limestone of early-middle Miocene age. It is intensely folded, thrust-faulted, and not confined the present-day configuration of the Refahiye basin. The lower fill and its deformational structures, such as folds and thrust faults, are crossed and displaced dextrally by an active strike-slip fault system, the NATE In contrast, the upper fill, which rests on the erosional surface of the lower fill with an angular unconformity, consists of Plio-Quaternary terrace conglomerates, Quaternary imbricated gravels, and fine-grained Quaternary plain sediments (mostly silt and clay); these were deposited within a newly developing strike-slip basin—the Kova pull-apart basin—superimposed on the lower fill of the Refahiye basin. The upper fill is undeformed and nearly flat-lying. All these characteristics reveal that the present configuration of the Refahiye basin is a superimposed basin, herein termed the Refahiye superimposed basin.     

Late Cenozoic tectonics and stratigraphy of northwestern Anatolia: the effects of the North Anatolian Fault to the region

In northwest Anatolia, there is a mosaic of different morpho-tectonic fragments within the western part of the right-lateral strike-slip North Anatolian Fault (NAF) Zone. These were developed from compressional and extensional tectonic regimes during the paleo- and neo-tectonic periods of Turkish orogenic history. A NE-SW-trending left-lateral strike-slip fault system (Adapazari-Karasu Fault) extends through the northern part of the Sakarya River Valley and began to develop within a N–S compressional tectonic regime which involved all of northern Anatolia during Middle Eocene to early Middle Miocene times. Since the end of Middle Miocene times, this fault system forms a border between a compressional tectonic regime in the eastern area eastwards from the northern part of the Sakarya River Valley, and an extensional tectonic regime in the Marmara region to the west. The extension caused the development of basins and ridges, and the incursions of the Mediterranean Sea into the site of the future Sea of Marmara since Late Miocene times. Following the initiation in late Middle Miocene times and the eastward propagation of extension along the western part of the NAF, a block (North Anatolian Block) began to form in the northern Anatolia region since the end of Pliocene times. The Adapazari-Karasu Fault constitutes the western boundary of this block which is bounded by the NAF in the south, the Northeast Anatolian Fault in the east, and the South Black Sea Thrust Fault in the north. The northeastward movement of the North Anatolian Block caused the formation of a marine connection between the Black Sea and the Aegean/Mediterranean Sea during the Pleistocene.     

Petrology and Ar/Ar chronology of Erdembaba and Kuyucak volcanics exposed along the North Anatolian Fault Zone (Eastern Pontides,NE Turkey): Implications for the late Cenozoic geodynamic evolution of Eastern Mediterranean region

The Cenozoic geodynamic evolution of the Eastern Pontides Orogenic Belt (EPOB), which geographically corresponds to the northeastern part of Turkey, is still controversial due to lack of systematic geological, geochemical and chronological data. This paper provides new geochemical and chronological data from the Kuyucak and Erdembaba volcanics exposed along the North Anatolian Fault Zone, which is one of the most seismically-active intracontinental strike-slip fault systems on the globe, in the Reºadiye (Tokat) area that is situated in the southern part of the EPOB. Kuyucak volcanics consist predominantly of basaltic rocks including mainly olivine, augite and plagioclase. Erdembaba volcanics comprise mainly dacite and minor trachydacite-trachyandesite that are composed mainly of augite, plagioclase, hornblende and rarely biotite. The Geochemical properties of the Erdembaba volcanic define small amounts of magma mixing events and it follow a linear trend from a primitive end member through to upper crustal evolution. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age determinations of whole rock of volcanic rock samples yielded the ages ranging from 1.33 to 6.31 Ma (late Miocene- Pleistocene). Both groups display an enrichment in LIL and LREE elements relative to HFS and HREE elements, strong negative Nb and Ti anomalies. All geochemical and Ar/Ar chronological data indicate that the late Miocene Kuyucak volcanic rocks, which are characterized by low concentrations of SiO₂ (<50 wt.%), were generated by mantlederived magmas that underwent contamination processes during their transfer to the surface. Whereas, Erdembaba volcanic rocks including high concentrations of SiO₂ were derived from partial melting of the plunging continental crust beneath the Eurasian plate in Pliocene, after closure of Neotethys ocean that was situated in the southern part of the EPOB.     

Airborne detection of ecosystem responses to an extreme event: Phytoplankton displacement and abundance after hurricane induced flooding in the Pamlico-Albemarle Sound system,North Carolina

Airborne laser-induced fluorescence measurements were used to detect and monitor ecosystem wide changes in the distribution and concentration of chlorophyll biomass and colored dissolved organic matter in the Pamlico-Albemarle Sound system, North Carolina, U.S., following massive flooding caused by a series of three hurricanes in the late summer of 1999. These high-resolution data provided a significantly more detailed representation of the overall changes occurring in the system than could have been achieved by synoptic sampling from any other platform. The response time for the distribution of chlorophyll biomass to resume pre-flood conditions was used as a measure of ecosystem stability. Chlorophyll biomass patterns were reestablished within four mo of the flooding, whereas higher chlorophylla biomass concentrations persisted for approximately 6 mo. The primary trophic level in the Pamlico-Albemarle Sound system returned to equilibrium in less than a year of a major perturbation.