Evaluate Tectonic Activity of Tehran City (Iran) Based on Geomorphic Indices, Field Investigation and Remote Sensing Study

Abstract

Active tectonics in the south part of Alborz Mountain (Iran) has greatly influenced the drainage system and geomorphic expressions. The metropolis of Tehran is located at the southern foothills of the Alborz Mountains at the abrupt topographic boundary between the mountain range and the northern border of the central Kavir Desert. The presence of active faults and tectonic activity, threatens the area and shows the vulnerability of this Tehran city. So the evaluation of active tectonics of Tehran City is necessary because of vast human activity, which has hidden geomorphic feature. Active tectonics of Tehran City was evaluated by using Digital elevation model (DEM) derived drainage network and three geomorphic indices basin (asymmetry factor (AF), basin shape index (Bs) and mountain front sinuosity (Smf)). The average of the three measured geomorphic indices was used to evaluate the distribution of relative tectonic activity in the study area. Furthermore to overcome some inevitable error in this method, field investigation was carried out also remote sense was studied, and finally the obtained results were compared with existing seismic data. The result confirms that the East South, East North and West North Tehran have high rate of relative tectonic activity (RTA) respectively.