Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Seismotectonics of the East Mediterranean-Red Sea region, Hamimi Zakaria, Editör, Springer, Zug, ss.83-111, 2025
The
correct tectonic, geomorphological, and geodynamic interpretation of the
Anatolia-Arabia-Africa triple junction has a key role in both understanding the
plate dynamics in the area where these three plates come closest to each other
and in explaining the regional seismotectonics. However, despite many studies
over many years, an agreed upon model has not yet been developed and a
satisfactory explanation has not been provided. This is due to the fact that
the region has been very active in the tectonic sense in the recent geological background,
and that it does not exhibit a simple, flat, and easily identifiable geometry
in terms of plate boundaries. The main purpose of this study is to make a
strong contribution by adding the geomorphological and paleogeographical
perspective to the studies aimed at analyzing this problematic area with
classical and modern geological, geophysical, and seismological methods in the
literature. Within the methodological framework based on the interpretation of
the data obtained to date together with the tectonic geomorphology of the field,
a new perspective and seismotectonic interpretations based on different
tectonic models have been included, and the blurred image of the triple
junction has been tried to be clarified. During the study, it was clearified
that different findings and explanations regarding the kinematics, localization
and correlation of the faults in the field were the main handicaps in revealing
the geometry of the triple junction. In this context, a comprehensive
literature research was conducted and the existing information was re-evaluated
in the light of current findings and spatial parameters. As a result, it is not
possible for the Anatolian, Arabian and African plates to come into contact at
a single point; It has been understood that the blocks that broke away from the
Anatolian Plate since the Plio-Pleistocene formed a barrier between the current
Anatolian Plate, whose southern border is formed by the East Anatolian Fault
Zone, and the African Plate subducting along the Cyprus Arc, thus cutting the
connection between the two plates in this region. In addition, it has been
pointed out that the westward escape of the Anatolian Plate, which has
undergone severe internal deformation, to escape the stress between the Arabian
and Eurasian plates, continues to occur with new tectonic lines developing
further north, as in the model presented in this study, and the Anatolian Plate
is very close to losing its appearance as a rigid plate by separating into
completely independent blocks. This situation became especially evident with
the earthquakes of February 6, 2023, which also revealed that conditions under
which the southern boundary of the Anatolian Plate may need to be redefined
have prevailed in the region.