Active tectonic and paleoseismologic characteristics of the Yenice-Gönen fault, NW Turkey, in light of the 18 March 1953 Yenice-Gönen Earthquake (Ms=7.2)

Abstract

The Yenice-Gönen Fault (YGF) is located in the central part of the Biga Peninsula between Gönen and Yenice and is a right-lateral strike-slip active fault with general trending N65°E. On 18 March 1953 there was an earthquake on the YGF that died 263 people (Ms=7.2) and a 70 km surface rupture developed during this earthquake. In this study measurements of slip distribution were performed on the surface rupture of the Yenice-Gönen Earthquake (YGE) and the annual slip rate on the YGF was calculated. Right-lateral displacements of between 1.70±0.1 and 3.20±0.2 metres were measured on the surface rupture of the YGE. The maximum displacements were in an area close to the central part of the YGF (between Çakır and Karaköy village) and these values decreased relatively in NE and SW directions, documenting that was the bilaterally surface rupture propogation during the YGE. In the last 300.000 years, a total offset of 800±50 metres was measured on Gönen River and annual slip rate of 2.65±0.15 mm was calculated along the YGF. Current GPS studies show right-lateral strike-slip faults in the South Marmara region have slip rates of 6-8 mm/year. This slip rate is assessed as being partitioned between the YGF, Sarıköy Fault and Çan-Biga Fault zones which represent extensions of the North Anatolian Fault system within the South Marmara region. Paleoseismology studies determined that in the last 6200 years 6 earthquakes resulting in surface ruptures have occurred on the YGF, including the 1953 earthquake. According to the 14C and OSL dating results, the variable and irregular earthquake recurrence interval of YGF is ranging from 505 to 1793 years. In this study average earthquake recurrence interval of YGF was determined as 1180 years.