Kinematics of the Marmara Region: a fusion of continuum and block models

The Sea of Marmara has been the focus numerous marine geophysical studies during last couple decades. Determination interseismic slip distribution along Main Fault (MMF) observational difficulties due to fact that fault is under sea. In addition onshore geodetic studies, two underwater were carried out recently and brought new clues about locked/creeping status different segments. this study, we investigate deformation region from a kinematic perspective using both block continuum models. Block model inversion yields relative motion boundaries as well deficit on faults bounding blocks. Calculated long term rates are 19–20 mm/yr for MMF 3–4 Southern branch North Anatolian (SNAF). order determine sensitivity solution arbitrary spatial discretizations, perform series checkerboard tests optimize node accordingly. We also explore results assumptions regarding SNAF locking. This study shows data can be combined with GPS in joint inversion, bringing better constrained MMF. aseismic creep west Sea, approaching Central Basin. On other hand, appears locked $$\sim$$ 28.2°E eastward. best fitting model, segment across Silivri down 10 km. existence hazardous seismic gap Marmara, potentially yielding magnitude 7.5 earthquake, thus confirmed. approach used calculate strain rate fields alone, output (slip average rates) best-fitting residuals model. Our models show most accumulated indeed focused around MMF, but distributed within blocks cannot neglected. system differs it 50 km wide zone patchy reflecting activity individual faults.