Understanding the role of strike-slip faulting as oceans close, north central Turkey

The goal of this project is to compile and interpret remotely sensed imagery and produce maps intended to lessen hazards associated with Turkey’s North Anatolian Shear Zone (NASZ). These hazards include landslides and rock falls due to seismic activity. The NASZ contains the North Anatolian Fault, a right lateral strike slip fault extending approximately 1200 km in length. The NASZ is speculated to have accommodated from 25 to 110 km of displacement, depending on location. In the proposed field area, the shear zone is comprised of five major strands: Erbaa, Tosya-Ladik, Niksar-Kalekoy, Erzincan, and Tasova-Tekke faults with a combined estimated displacement of ~80 km. These strands, although named after villages and towns along the NASZ, do not have consistent names in the geological literature. The range of names highlights the fact that many details of these structures are unknown. By looking at surface expressions, it is possible to identify the extent of each fault and their relationship to one another; the resulting maps will help understand the tectonic history and identify geohazards of the region. In order to produce these maps, I developed objectives that will guide this research. The first is to compile aerial photographs, Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), geological maps, and strike and dip data of the field area. The next step is to propose locations, extent, and type of faulting based on data visible on the maps. The final step is to visit the proposed locations in outcrop and update the map according to the results. As an outcome, a series of maps focused in the region around the town of Amasya will be developed.Geological Science