Tectonics
M. Kouhpeyma; M. Talebian; L. Chen; A. Ghods; M. Ghorashi
Abstract
The Kopeh Dagh and Binalud-Alla Dagh mountains are important structural elements located in the northeastern boundary of Arabia-Eurasia collision zone. Due to existence of large cities with a long history of civilization, there is a relatively rich body of data on historical seismicity in this area. ...
Read More
The Kopeh Dagh and Binalud-Alla Dagh mountains are important structural elements located in the northeastern boundary of Arabia-Eurasia collision zone. Due to existence of large cities with a long history of civilization, there is a relatively rich body of data on historical seismicity in this area. Nonetheless, little adequate instrumental seismic data were available prior to this study. In this paper, we utilized the temporary China-Iran local seismic network data deployed in the area for 13 months. Based on this data, we determined 37 focal solutions through first motion polarity approach suggesting a combination of strike-slip, reverse and normal mechanisms. There is a significant concentration of epicenters and focal mechanisms around the eastern Alborz - Kopeh Dagh boundary along the Atrak River. The southern and western boundaries of the Binalud Mountains also show relatively high seismic activities. The Local magnitude (ML) of the events ranges from 3.5 to 4.9 with depths of up to 20 km, mostly concentrated at ~10 km. The principal stress axes and slip vectors obtained from the focal mechanisms agree well with kinematic state of main faults and tectonic regime of the area, confirming the seismogenic nature of these faults. In addition, they are consistent with right-lateral component of slip along thrust faults in eastern Kopeh Dagh and Binalud and both laft- and right-lateral motions in the central Kopeh Dagh.
N Saboor; M.R Ghassemi; M Eskandari; A Nazari.F; M Ghorashi; F Seenaian
Abstract
Depending on their structural maturity, seismogenic faults, , may rupture in one segment or as multiple segments; they also may show different slips on their segments. Mature faults break in long ruptures with small slip, while immature faults rupture as short segments but are more energetic. On the ...
Read More
Depending on their structural maturity, seismogenic faults, , may rupture in one segment or as multiple segments; they also may show different slips on their segments. Mature faults break in long ruptures with small slip, while immature faults rupture as short segments but are more energetic. On the other hand, the mature faults demonstrate clustering pattern in their earthquake recurrence pattern. Also, the ground motions produced by earthquakes on immature faults are larger than those generated by earthquakes on mature faults. In this paper, we defined maturity of major faults in EasternIranseismotectonicProvince, considering their segmentation, rupture length, displacement vector on the rupture and the history of clustered earthquake sequence on the fault. Then, the response spectrum of ground motions caused by large earthquakes occurred on these faults were calculated. To reduce the effect of unknown wave paths, we used ground motions recorded in the near field. Earthquakes of different mechanisms were selected in magnitude range from Mw=5.7 to 7.1. We compared the obtained response spectrum with those resulted from the experimental model presented by Boore et al. (1997). Study of this parameter can help to recognized ground motion potenial of the faults, and considering it in extracting attenuation equations increases the accuracy of the results for seismic hazard assessment. Using our evaluation for structural maturity of the faults, we try to present a model for evolution of seismic activity in Eastern Iran.
M Tatar; S.M Momeni; F Yaminifard
Abstract
The V shape kink of the AlborzMountains at its southern end reaches to the Garmsar city located 100 km southeast of Tehran metropolis. We investigated seismicity and seismotectonic features of the Garmsar area by precisely locating of microearthquakes recorded by our local dense seismological network ...
Read More
The V shape kink of the AlborzMountains at its southern end reaches to the Garmsar city located 100 km southeast of Tehran metropolis. We investigated seismicity and seismotectonic features of the Garmsar area by precisely locating of microearthquakes recorded by our local dense seismological network and by the Iranian Seismological Center (IRSC). Our results indicate high seismic activity at the central and western parts of the Garmsar fault. Three computed focal mechanisms revealed compressional movements of the central part of this fault. Very little seismic activity is observed on the Eyvanekey and the Pishva faults. The only computed focal mechanism for the northern hills of the Garmsar fault shows tensional movements in this area, which refers to strain release among the Garmsar and Sorkheh reverse faults. Most of the calculated focal mechanisms in the Garmsar area indicate compressional and strike slip motions with overall P axis direction of 10° to 35°. The calculated P axis with NW-SE trend, close to the Sorkheh fault, is different from the other calculated P axes that show NNE-SSW direction. This is probably due to rotating of structures in this area, as revealed by recent GPS measurements in this region.
Yahya Djamour; S. Hashemi Tabatabaei; M. Sedighi; H. R. Nankali
Abstract
In previous decades, using traditional geodetic observations such as distance and angle measurements was prevalent in the earth surface displacement studies. After accessing to satellite positioning systems with a high precision ability such as GPS, we encountered to an upheaval in the earth surface ...
Read More
In previous decades, using traditional geodetic observations such as distance and angle measurements was prevalent in the earth surface displacement studies. After accessing to satellite positioning systems with a high precision ability such as GPS, we encountered to an upheaval in the earth surface displacement studies. Indeed using temporal variations of the earth surface deformation, the seismotectonics of the area can be distinguished. Deformation modeling of the area can be accessed using the analyzing of repeated geodetic measurements. In Tehran area the earthquake studies is an important task and in this paper we are going to use GPS measurements for this field. Here 35 GPS stations cover whole of Tehran which consists North Tehran fault. These stations were occupied at least 2 annual epochs and some of them were measured more than 4 times. After processing the acquired data and analyzing the results, the velocity field was obtained. Deformation analysis of the velocity field shows a small left lateral movement about 0.5-2 mm/year and more or less the same value for shortening in the northern band Tehran area. This value is not constant along the northern band and it seems the eastern part where we reach the Mosha fault the deformation is more significant than western part. The observed rate is equal to a total movement of ~5km during 2.5-10 my which is consistent with geological studies carried out in this area.