Crustal Deformation in NW Iran: Insights from Different Invariant and Variant Components of Geodetic Strain Rate Tensors
Paper ID : 1049-GEOSPATIAL (R4)
Authors:
Mina Rahmani *1, Vahab Nafisi1, Jamal Asgari1, Alireza Nadimi2
1Department of Geomatics Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Transportation, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
2Department of Geology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract:
Northwest of Iran, as a tectonically active region, has experienced numerous devastating earthquakes. That is why it is so important to study the earth deformation in this area and to provide more precise insights. So far, most researchers have had the preference of using the invariant component of strain rate tensor for investigating the Earth's shape deformation in the region. However, to examine the efficiency of the variant components of the geodesic strain rate tensor in interpreting deformations of north-western Iran, we have in this article maps of variant components of the geodetic strain rate tensor (normal strain rate along north and eastbound). Using the velocity field gathered from a previous article, and also using a simple and straightforward method, the strain rate tensors were calculated. The obtained contraction along the north direction (from the normal strain along this axis) confirms the Eurasia-Arabia collision. Besides, the obtained extension along the east direction and the derived expansion of the dilatation, show the effect of Anatolian motion to the west and eastward movement of the central Iran plateau on the tectonic structure of the studied area. These two results showed that the variant component of strain rate tensor also provides us with useful information about a region shape deformation.
Keywords:
Arabia-Eurasia convergence, NW Iran, Shape deformation, GPS, Geodetic strain rate tensors, North Tabriz Fault (NTF).
Status : Paper Accepted (Oral Presentation)