Tolga Bekler

Characterization of a Landslide using Seismic Refraction, Electrical Resistivity and Hydrometer Methods, Adatepe – Çanakkale, NW Turkey

Seismic refraction and electrical resistivity surveys were carried out to characterize a landslide that occurred near the Canakkale-Lapseki-Bursa highway, in northwest Turkey. Hydrometer analyses were also performed to highlight the composition of the slip surface material. The combined interpretation of the methods yielded the mass of the landslide body and the possible subsurface nature of a basal slip plane. Sediment-size fraction maps show that the slip surface material contained an excessive amount of clay. The clay-rich slipping layer was observed to a maximum depth of 4–5 m marked by a low (2–4 ohm‐m) resistivity zone, contrasting with the underlying sand-rich beds with relatively higher resistivities (<6 ohm‐m) . A velocity variation ranging between ∼1,250–1,500 m∕s also characterized this water-saturated slipping zone. Results indicated a buried failure surface under the studied shallow slide mass, which appeared to be a prolongation of the long upward-concave slip surface of the old landslide ar...

An active extensional deformation example: 19 May 2011 Simav earthquake (Mw = 5.8), Western Anatolia, Turkey

The Simav Earthquake that occurred on 19 May 2011 in western Turkey was investigated on the basis of seismological data and geological observations. Approximately WNW?ESE trending surface ruptures were observed on the Simav Fault. The focal mechanism parameters of the earthquake (Mw = 5.8) and its aftershocks (Mw??>??3.5) were estimated using time-domain moment tensor inversion. A total of 2245 events were located with Geiger?s conventional absolute location method then relocated using the double difference (DD) algorithm. The calculated locations at a depths between 2 and 16?km were found to be consistent with Coulomb stress variation in the area. Average variance reduction (VR) of the solutions was calculated as ~70%. The focal parameters of strike dip and slip of the main shock, occurring at a depth of 11?km dipping towards the NNE, were estimated at 277, 62 and ?92, respectively. The most striking indication of the study is that the area is dominated by normal faults with mainly WNW?ESE trends. It is also concluded that earthquakes in the region are caused by an active and regional NNE?SSW (N 12? E) trending (?3 axis) extension regime. The mean stress ratio is 0.80, indicating a triaxial stress state. This extension is probably associated with a slab?pull force and /or roll-back due to the complex subduction process of the African Plate beneath Anatolian block along both the Hellenic and Cyprus arcs in the eastern Mediterranean region.