MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ON FAULT ACTIVITY IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE NORTH ANATOLIAN ZONE

The main purpose of this project is to establish a laboratory which consist of various permanent observation stations in earthquake prone areas with emphasis on the acqusition of basic data for earthquake prediction by observing various geophysical parameters that might have some relation to premonitory effects of earthquakes. The western edge of  the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ) is selected as a site for establishing such as a laboratory for multidisciplinary research.

A dense network of different kinds of instruments for monitoring various precursory phenomena has been set up in the İznik-Adapazarı area since 1986.

The major trace of the North Anatolian Fault Zone seems to be seperated into two branches at the western end of the fault trace associated with the 1967 earthquake of magnitude 7.1 (Figure 1).
 

Figure 1 : Study Area

Seismological observations which have been made by the Kandilli Observatory indicate that seismic activity in the vicinity of the İznik-Mekece fault is fairly low. In order to examine seismic activty in more detail we decided to carry out seismic observations by establishing a local network. This network named IZINET and consists of 16 seismic stations. Distribution of the stations are shown in Figure 2.
 

Figure 2:  Seismic Stations of IZINET Seismic Network

In order to investigate changes in the geomagnetic field associated with the seismic avtivity along the North Anatolian Fault Zone, nine continuous measurements stations were set up in the İznik-Geyve region.

OTHER MULTIDISCIPLINARY OBSERVATOINS:

• Geomagnetic Field Measurements (Magnetic, Magnetotelluric, 9 stations)
• Repeat Magnetic Survey (24 sites)
• Electric Field Measurements (SP, Resistivity, 3 stations),
• Radon Gas Measurements in the Soil (3 stations),
• Seismic Refraction Experiments,
• Geochemical Observations,
• Temperature and Level Measurements of the Underground Water (7 wells)
• Continuous PH, Temperature, Conductivity and Pressure Mesaurements (3 stations)
• Temperature and Flow of Geothermal Spring Sources (7 stations)

Distribution of Geomagnetic and Multidisciplinary stations are shown in Figure 3.

 
Figure 3: Geomagnetic and Multidisciplinary Stations