Fault modeling around Southern Anatolia using aftershock sequence of Maraş earthquakes (Mw=7.7 and Mw=7.6) and interpretation of potential field data

Abstract

Abstract On 6 February 2023, southeastern Turkey experienced devastating doublet earthquakes (Mw = 7.7 and Mw = 7.6) with a series of aftershocks along the East Anatolian fault zone. The main shocks were followed by ~ 15.000 aftershocks that are mainly distributed along the NNE-SSW direction, including ~ 400 events Mw ≥ 4.0 in the first 30 days. Although many moderate to large earthquakes occurred in the historical and instrumental periods in this region, these double earthquakes with aftershocks caused major impacts on life and released great seismic energy. In this study, we interpreted the gravity-magnetic data and the epicenter and hypocenter distribution of aftershocks to correlate the tectonic structures and the active fault zones. The results of potential field anomalies reveal the rotational anomalies in the southwestward direction associated with the tectonics structure of Anatolia. Further, shallow aftershocks are associated with high gravity anomalies, whereas in deeper depth gravity values demonstrated low anomalies. Finally, the findings of gravity-magnetic anomalies and aftershock sequences present that the first mainshock occurred in the unbroken segment of the East Anatolian fault zone.