Primary Results Related To Crustal Deformation Study Of The Eastern Part Of NAFZ, Turkey (By GPS Measurements)

Eastern sector of North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ) is an ideal region to investigate crustal deformation and block kinematics by Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements. Due to the northward movement of the Arabian Plate, the Erzincan-Karliova region is squeezed, crushed, and expelled westward along the NAF and East Anatolian Fault Zones. The active fault pattern indicates that maximum crustal shortening and crustal deformation in Turkey takes place in this region. This region is the most tectonically active region in Turkey and it is capable of generating major earthquakes in every 3-4 years. The area needs to be monitored using seismic, geodetic, and geochemical techniques. This project are being performed with the collaboration of Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute (KOERI) of Bogazici University and the Marmara Research Center of the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK-MAM). The study includes the investigation of seismicity and earthquake potential. First period and also second period of GPS measurements were performed at sixteen GPS stations in the area, despite the hard conditions. This paper presents the study and the primary results obtained from these GPS observations.