An Updated Homogeneous GPS Velocity Field for Studies of Earthquake Hazard Prediction and Assessment in Turkey
Abstract
While the GPS-based crustal deformation studies in Turkey date back to early 1990s, a homogenous velocity field utilizing all the available data is still missing. Regional studies employing different site distributions, observation plans, processing software and methodology not only create reference frame variations but also heterogeneous stochastic models. While the reference frame effect between different velocity fields could easily be removed by estimating a set of rotations, the homogenization of the stochastic models of the individual velocity fields requires a more detailed analysis. Using a rigorous Variance Component Estimation (VCE) methodology, we estimated the variance factors for each of the contributing velocity fields and combined them into a single homogenous velocity field covering whole Turkey. Results show that variance factors between velocity fields including the survey mode and continuous observations can vary a few orders of magnitude.In this study, we present the most complete velocity field in Turkey rigorously combined from 20 individual velocity fields including the 146 station CORS network with 8 years continuous stations. In addition, two GPS campaigns were performed at 35 stations along the North Anatolian Fault to fill the gap between existing velocity fields. The homogenously combined new velocity field is nearly complete in terms of geographic coverage, and will serve as the basis for further analyses such as the estimation of the deformation rates and the determination of the slip rates across main fault zones. As the Active Fault Map of Turkey was recently revised and 500 faults were tagged as having the potential of generating destructive earthquakes, the new velocity field is also expected to have a direct impact on the earthquake hazard studies.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016AGUFM.G51A1063O
- Keywords:
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- 1209 Tectonic deformation;
- GEODESY AND GRAVITYDE: 1525 Paleomagnetism applied to tectonics: regional;
- global;
- GEOMAGNETISM AND PALEOMAGNETISMDE: 7230 Seismicity and tectonics;
- SEISMOLOGYDE: 8158 Plate motions: present and recent;
- TECTONOPHYSICS