Evidence of NW extension of the North Anatolian Fault Zone in the Marmara Sea: a new interpretation of the Marmara Sea (İzmit) earthquake on 17 August 1999

Evidence of NW extension of the North Anatolian Fault Zone in the Marmara Sea: a new interpretation of the Marmara Sea (İzmit) earthquake on 17 August 1999

Active faults aligning in NW-SE direction and forming flower structures of strike-slip faults were observed in shallow seismic data from the shelf offshore of Avclar in the northern Marmara Sea. By following the parallel drainage pattern and scarps, these faults were traced as NW-SE-directed lineame...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geo-marine letters Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 183 - 199
Main Authors: Goekaan, E, Gaziolu, C, Alpar, B, Yuecel, Z F, Ersoy, u, Guendodu, O, Yaltrak, C, Tok, B
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Heidelberg Springer Nature B.V 01-03-2002
Subjects:
Drainage patterns
Earthquakes
Fault lines
Lagoons
Marine
Oceans
Seismic activity
Anatolia
MED, Marmara Sea
MED, Turkey, Kocaeli, Izmit Bay
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Summary:Active faults aligning in NW-SE direction and forming flower structures of strike-slip faults were observed in shallow seismic data from the shelf offshore of Avclar in the northern Marmara Sea. By following the parallel drainage pattern and scarps, these faults were traced as NW-SE-directed lineaments in the morphology of the northern onshore sector of the Marmara Sea (eastern Thrace Peninsula). Right-lateral displacements in two watersheds of drainage and on the coast of the Marmara Sea and Black Sea are associated with these lineaments. This right-lateral displacement along the course of these faults suggests a new, active strike-slip fault zone located at the NW extension of the northern boundary fault of the Cnarck Basin in the Marmara Sea. This new fault zone is interpreted as the NW extension of the northern branch of the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ), extending from the Cnarck Basin of the Marmara Sea to the Black Sea coast of the Thrace Peninsula, and passing through Bueyuekcekmece and Kuecuekcekmece lagoons. These data suggest that the rupture of the 17 August 1999 earthquake in the NAFZ may have extended through Avclar. Indeed, Avclar and .zmit, both located on the Marmara Sea coast along the rupture route, were strongly struck by the earthquake whereas the settlements between Avclar and .zmit were much less affected. Therefore, this interpretation can explain the extraordinary damage in Avclar, based on the newly discovered rupture of the NAFZ in the Marmara Sea. However, this suggestion needs to be confirmed by further seismological studies.
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ISSN:0276-0460
1432-1157
DOI:10.1007/s00367-001-0088-0