Strain rate analysis on the Çankiri-Bingöl segment of the North Anatolian Fault in Turkey

The North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ) is one of the most important fault zones of Turkey and the world. It has produced several high magnitude earthquakes that have resulted in massive loss of lives and resources. National and international research on the North Anatolian Fault zone that Turkey resides on have been realized to better understand and predict the earthquakes produced by it. This study focuses on the Çankırı – Bingöl segment of the NAFZ. The aim of this study is to calculate the strain and latent earthquake potential of the studied area. For this purpose, geodetic data coming from several individual projects have been merged. Strain values have been calculated from the combined data and regions on the fault zone, and strain accumulations have been presented graphically. After calculation, Çankırı, Amasya and Kelkit regions were analyzed. The compressional and extensional deformation has been shown in north and south part of Çankırı basin, respectively. Eastern adjacent area of the Çankırı basin, Amasya region, has the primary branch of the NAF and its subbranches. In the Amasya region, the deformation is mostly on the main branch and the earthquake potential has risen to it. The Kelkit Valley has complex structures and inhomogeneous dispersion. Southeastern and Northwestern part of the Kelkit Valley has varied deformation in micro scale. Consequently, the study results indicate that strain accumulation is concentrated on areas such as the Çankırı basin, Amasya region, and various areas in the Kelkit Valley from west to east.