Appraisal of Active Tectonics in the Salmas Region(Northwestern Iran): Insights from Geomorphic Indices

Appraisal of Active Tectonics in the Salmas Region(Northwestern Iran): Insights from Geomorphic Indices

Landscape and morphology in active regions are in part controlled by tectonic movements. They therefore play an important role in assessing tectonic evolution and earthquake risk. The Salmas region in the West Azerbaijan province of northwest Iran experienced a great earthquake in 1930. The dynamics, tectonic activity and earthquake risk of the Salmas region have been studied using geomorphic indicators such as mountain front sinuosity, valley floor width to height ratio and drainage basin asymmetry index. Mountain front sinuosity for twenty basins across the region was calculated to be between 1 and 3.5 but the southern part of the region, with average 1.4 sinuosity, shows the highest degree of activity.