Seafloor Geodesy Revealed Partial Creep of the North Anatolian Fault Submerged in the Sea of Marmara

Abstract

Abstract In this study, the creep rate across the North Anatolian Fault was directly measured in the western Sea of Marmara using the seafloor acoustic ranging technique; the data reveal coupling conditions on the fault interface and stress accumulation with implications for regional seismic risk evaluation. Continuous measurements over a period of 3.5 years at a site in the Western High clearly indicate right‐lateral displacement at a rate of 10.7 ± 4.7 mm/year (95% confidence level); approximately half of the regional block motion at this location is released by this steady motion. A simple model of three elastic layers—a partially creeping sedimentary layer (8 km) at the top with the observed rate, a locked (3 km) and fully creeping layer in the middle, and a bottom layer—assumed from seismicity, reasonably explains onshore Global Navigation Satellite System data for the surrounding region.