R. Khavari; M. Ghorashi; M. Arian; Kh. Khosrotehrani
Abstract
The paper presents a method for evaluating relative active tectonics based on geomorphic indices useful in evaluating morphology and topography. Indices used include: stream length-gradient index (SL), drainage basin asymmetry (Af), hypsometric integral (Hi), ratio of valley-floor width to valley height ...
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The paper presents a method for evaluating relative active tectonics based on geomorphic indices useful in evaluating morphology and topography. Indices used include: stream length-gradient index (SL), drainage basin asymmetry (Af), hypsometric integral (Hi), ratio of valley-floor width to valley height (Vf), index of drainage basin shape (Bs), and index of mountain front sinuosity (Smf). Results from the analysis are accumulated and expressed as an index of relative active tectonics (Iat), which divided into four classes from relatively low to highest tectonic activity. The study area along the south flank of the central Alborz mountain range in north Iran is an ideal location to test the concept of an index to predict relative tectonic activity on a basis of area rather than a single valley or mountain front. The recent investigations show that neotectonism has played a key role in the geomorphic evolution of this part of the Alborz mountain range. Geomorphic indices indicate the presence of differential uplifting in the geological past. The high class values (low tectonic activity) for Iat mainly occur in the south and southeast of the Karaj drainage basin, while the rest of the study area has classes of Iat suggesting moderate to high tectonic activity. Around the Amirkabir Lake, Iat has the highest value. The distribution of the indices defines areas associated with different mountain fronts and estimates of relative rates of tectonic activity. More than half of the study area is classified into classes 2 or 1 of high to very high tectonic activity in terms of the apparent geomorphic response. In different tectonic environments with greater rates of active tectonics, the values of indices would differ as well as their range in value. The stream network asymmetry (T) was also studied using morphometric measures of Transverse Topographic Symmetry. Analysis of the drainage basin and a number of sub-basins in the study area results in a field of T-vectors that defines anomalous zones of the basin asymmetry. We test the hypothesis that areas with great stream migration are associated with indicatives values of Iat.
