Tectonic geomorphology of Türkiye and its insights into the neotectonic deformation of the Anatolian Plate

Abstract

Quantitative geomorphic analyses are usually powerful in identifying active tectonics across global orogenic belts. Our present study will focus on the Anatolian Plate which hosts a lot of recent catastrophic earthquakes in Türkiye. Six geomorphic indices for 100 sub-basins around Türkiye have been computed including local relief, slope, normalized steepness index (k_Sn)), hypsometric curve and integral (HI), transverse topographic symmetry factor (Tf), and the basin asymmetry factor (Af). The averaged k_Sn and Af values have shown four high-value anomalous zones, suggesting relatively high uplift rates featured by high river incision and regional tilting. The values of 0.35 ​≤ ​HI ​< ​0.6 for basins with S-shaped curves imply intensive tectonic activities along the eastern part of the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ), the Northeast Anatolian Fault Zone (NEAFZ), the East Anatolian Fault Zone (EAFZ), and the Central Anatolian Fault Zone(CAFZ). All results of the geomorphic indices analysis suggest a relatively high degree of tectonic activity in the following four areas, the Isparta Angle, the Eastern Black Sea Mountains, the South-eastern Anatolia Region, and the Central Anatolian fault zone. We further suggest that the eastern part of the NAFZ, NEAFZ, EAFZ, and CAFZ will be more active in tectonic activities, with a greater potential for strong earthquake occurrence.