DEM and GIS analysis of sub-watersheds to evaluate relative tectonic activity. A case study of the North–south axis (Central Tunisia)

• Published in: Earth science informatics Vol. 6; no. 4; pp. 187 - 198
• Main Authors: Rebai, Noamen, Achour, Hammadi, Chaabouni, Rochdi, Bou Kheir, Rania, Bouaziz, Samir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-12-2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Deformation; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth System Sciences; Geographic information systems; Geomorphology; Information Systems Applications (incl.Internet); Ontology; Plate tectonics; Research Article; Rock deformation; Simulation and Modeling; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Tectonics; Watersheds; GIS; Relative tectonic activity; Morphometry; DEM
• ISSN: 1865-0473; 1865-0481
• DOI: 10.1007/s12145-013-0121-7

Morphotectonic analysis using geomorphic indexes has been developed as a basic tool to identify recent tectonic deformation in specific areas.This study was undertaken to develop an integrated quantitative geomorphic analysis of tectonic activity in the North–south axis, central of Tunisia. Different geomorphic indexes, including elongation ratio (E), drainage basin asymmetry (Af), hypsometric integral (Hi), Valley floor width-to-height ratio (Vf), mountain front sinuosity (Smf), and stream length gradient index (SL) were calculated. The relationships between the calculated indexes, their correlations and their significance (based on p-values) were also investigated.. Using the hierarchical cluster analysis based on Ward’s method, these indexes were classified into three classes describing the relative, different effect of tectonics in each fault segment. The higher deformation is concentrated in the NE-SW Boudinar fault, followed, in order of decreasing activity, by Goubrar, Gouleb, and Majoura normal faults. This pattern of variation in the relative degree of tectonic activity is consistent with field evidence.