Investigation of crustal movements along Tuzla fault-Izmir

Abstract

Earthquakes are the most dangerous natural catastrophe which have affected adversely the humanity both spiritually and morally for centuries. Turkey is home to several devastating and disastrous earthquakes for many years. Earthquakes occur due to the deformation along the crust. For years, studies of monitoring crustal deformation have been conducted by geoscientists with different backgrounds. Geodetic surveying techniques have been used in this area since the beginning of 1900s. Nowadays, deformation and displacement parameters monitored by geodetic techniques are recognized as a favorable method in many studies focusing on crustal movements. The Aegean Region including Western part of Turkey, mainland of Greece, the Hellenic Arc is the most active domain and deforming part in terms of seismological and geodynamical which is placed in the Alpine Himalayan Belt. This region mainly is under pure shear stress caused by an internally deforming counter-clockwise rotation of the Anatolian Plate relative to the Eurasian Plate. İzmir, historically named as Smyrna, is a touristic and commercial center not only for Aegean Region but also for Turkey. It is the third, largest city and it has the second biggest port of Turkey. The objective of this study is to monitor crustal deformation along Tuzla Fault and its vicinity by geodetic techniques. Tuzla Fault, located between Menderes Town and Doğanbey Cape, has NE-SW lineament trending. It has a significant importance in terms of its seismicity, as the earthquakes which occur near or along this fault which is extremely close to the third largest city, Izmir. Reconnaissance for the sites was performed. Then, a geodetic network was established in August 2009 and followed by observations of the first GPS campaign and leveling measurement within the same year. In the subsequent year, second GPS campaign and leveling measurement were carried out. Two different geodetic techniques are used for the determining the crustal movement along the Tuzla Fault. The result of the measurements will guide in determining the movements of the subjected fault. With the increase of the crustal movement monitoring for this region, this type of study should continue and observation interval should be densified.